One 'I do' for gay marriage (New York)

[brooklynite]

Source: Albany Times-Union

ALBANY -- After more than three hours of impassioned debate, the Assembly on Tuesday night approved a bill to allow same-sex marriage in New York.

Even though the bill is not slated for discussion in the Senate, proponents said the Assembly action was an important first step if New York is ever to legalize such marriages.

"I'm very proud of my colleagues," said a buoyant Daniel O'Donnell, D-Manhattan, an openly gay lawmaker who carried the bill on behalf of Gov. Eliot Spitzer. The bill passed 85-61, more than he'd expected.

"This was one of those nights where the debate changed votes," said Assemblyman Ronald Canestrari, D-Cohoes. "It doesn't happen that often."

Read more: http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=599353&category=CAPITOL&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=6/20/2007

[More Than A Feeling]

1. C'mon senate, quit dragging your collective feet!

It would be so delicious to have another state legislate the freedom to marry, and maybe someday my home state of Illinois will be so enlightened.

[TheWraith]

5. Not likely. The NY State Senate is Republican-controlled.

It's due to the vast upstate areas that are rural and heavily Repub-leaning. I wouldn't entirely lose hope, though. Eliot Spitzer is not a man with whom to fuck.

[More Than A Feeling]

7. Time to bring out the steamroller. n/t

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. A second state, without Mass' silly out-of-state prohibition, would be nice

Maybe, finally, we can have a test case to defeat Clinton's signature on the abominable "Defense" of Marriage Act.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. NY Gay Marriage Bill Declared 'Dead On Arrival' In Senate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x53492

Please direct responses to this bit of news to the thread linked above.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Ronald Canestrari, D-Cohones

Well, that's the way I read it.

[aquart]

6. It is ridiculous for New York not to legalize gay marriage.

This is the Stonewall state.