Pro-Gay Marriage NY Lawmaker: ‘I’m A Republican — I Was Born That Way’

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Though no deal has been reached yet in the fight over the New York marriage equality bill, there's one Republican state Senator who's dropped his poker face.

James Alesi told a crowd in Albany Tuesday that he's supporting the bill, adding: "I'm a Republican -- I was born that way."

Alesi announced his support for the bill last week, the first Republican to do so. He had previously voted against marriage equality in 2009 when it failed to pass the state Senate.

"Passing marriage equality is the most important thing that I think I can do in my 20-year history as a legislator," Alesi said.

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/pro-gay-marriage-ny-lawmaker-im-a-republican----i-was-born-that-way.php?ref=fpblg

[RKP5637]

1. Excellent! Hopefully more people are coming around to realize that

civil rights and equality are good things. Every time some person/group is discriminated against we all lose IMO.

[boppers]

2. That's a lot of Gaga in one article.

poker face+born this way...

[Frisbee]

3. This quote...

"Passing marriage equality is the most important thing that I think I can do in my 20-year history as a legislator," Alesi said.

That is a huge statement, coming from a republican.

[Snoutport]

5. +1

[SpankMe]

4. Well, okay.

I'm glad that a Republican is finally seeing this as a civil rights issue. But, being born gay is clearly a genetic reality whereas being conservative has a whole lot less to do with genetics and is far more influenced by how much Archie Bunker you're exposed to as a child.