Senate Bill Would Void Same-Sex Marriage From Other States (Updated X2)
A Senate bill sponsored by Sen. Martin Golden, R-Brooklyn, would void same-sex marriage from other states and was quietly introduced today.
The bill does not have an Assembly sponsor or a bill memorandum attached.
The measure comes as Gov. Andrew Cuomo and a coalition of advocacy groups continue to push for same-sex marriage legalization by the time session wraps up in June.
New York currently recognizes gay marriages from other states. In 2008, Gov. David Paterson issued an executive order requiring state agencies to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages. The order was challenged, but later upheld by the state courts system.
The unannounced introduction of the bill comes as a Siena College poll shows 54 percent of voters supporting same-sex marriage legalization, up from the Marist College survey showing just over half of voters approved.
The timing of the bill’s introduction also comes as some in the gay community fear momentum for gay marriage legalization is faltering. Cuomo was criticized by some advocates for not introducing a bill in the Senate.
But the governor is trying to avoid a repeat of 2009, he says. That was when the bill came before the then-Democratic-led Senate and failed, 38-24.
Update: For a little more context, check out Nick Confessore’s profile of Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long. The chairman, an opponent of gay marriage, has threatened to withhold support from Senate GOP lawmakers who vote in favor o the bill. Also, it includes a great and telling quote from Golden: “That fear of God he can put into people as a party leader is important.”
Update II: Senate Democratic spokesman Austin Shafran responded to the bill’s introduction saying, “It’s unfortunate the Senate Republicans continue to show hostility to protecting equal rights for all New Yorkers. Whether it’s on rent regulations or marriage equality, Marty Golden has proven he is out of touch with his district by once again putting the political priorities of his Republicans colleagues over the city he’s supposed to represent.”
| Print article | This entry was posted by Nick Reisman on May 19, 2011 at 12:18 pm, and is filed under Gay Marriage. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |
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Roger Murdock
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Roger Murdock
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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