Results tagged “gaymarriage”

Hiram Monserrate has found one constituency that will stand behind him as he tries to fight his way back into the state Senate—people who don't like gays. Thanks to his vote against the same-sex marriage bill, the former Queens legislator has won the support of Corona Rev. Ricardo Reyes. "I have seen a generation sunk down by the gay community," Reyes told the Queens Village Times. "If we vote for a gay marriage situation ... we are sending our children to practice something against the Bible." more ›

Possible Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. was booed and heckled by a gay Democratic club for his past record on same-sex marriage. Since voting twice to amend the Constitution to ban gay marriage as a Congressman in Tennessee, Ford claims he has come to support marriage equality. But that wasn't enough to win over the Stonewall Democrats in the West Village. more ›

According to Pentecostal minister and state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., Gov. Paterson's campaign isn't in trouble because he's unpopular and has no money. Diaz claims that the Governor is in trouble because of gay marriage. "Where is the gay community now that the Governor needs them?" asked Diaz, who did everything he could to defeat same-sex marriage legislation last year. more ›

After being named Stephen Colbert's "Alpha Dog of the Week" for brazenly changing his positions as he considers a Senate race in New York, former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. sat down with the comic and addressed insinuations that he's a carpet-bagger and a flip-flopper. more ›

A Columbia University social scientist was called to testify yesterday in the high-profile federal trial to decide if Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution. For the past decade, Ilan Meyer has studied the effects that public health issues have on the mental health of minority populations. Yesterday Meyer testified that California's voter-enacted ban on same-sex marriages amplified the social stigma that makes homosexuals more susceptible to depression, suicide and substance abuse. When asked if mental health outcomes for gay and lesbian in CA would improve if Prop. 8 were not law, Meyer said: more ›

After letting her powerful Democratic friends try to scare former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. out of running for office in New York, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand lashed out against her potential rival for the first time yesterday — mainly because he wrote her a letter. Gillibrand took Ford to task for a note he penned urging Senators to oppose the health care reform bill to "protect hardworking New Yorkers from paying the additional fees and taxes." more ›

After a week of widespread Democratic opposition against his proposed Senate campaign, former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. launched his own publicity tour, which got really interesting when he sat down with the Times for a lengthy interview yesterday. There are gems throughout the far-reaching Q and A, but it's likely that no part of it will be as closely scrutinized as his statements on gay marriage — which he twice voted to ban: more ›

Since he said he was considering challenging Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. has received the coldest welcome of any politician in New York since Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke at Columbia. Influential Democrats including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and Gov. David Paterson have discouraged the 39-year-old from running, while pro-choice and gay rights groups have been on the attack against the former Congressman's record. So Ford took to the pages of the Post to tell potential voters how he really feels: more ›

Update Below: In another sign that he's serious about challenging Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr. went on the record in support of same-sex marriage. Though he twice voted to change the constitution to ban gay marriage as a congressman, the 39-year-old who moved to New York three years ago stated: "My support for fairness and equality existed long before I moved to New York." more ›

A bill that would have granted same-sex couples the right to marry has been voted down by the New Jersey State Senate. Just over a month after New York State Senate rejected a similar piece of legislation, Garden State pols following suit, voting 20-14 against it. Gay marriage advocates had been trying to push the bill through before Gov. Jon Corzine, who supports gay marriage, leaves office on Jan. 19 and is replaced by Gov.-elect Chris Christie, who opposes it. more ›

Just weeks after New York State Senate voted down a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry, a similar piece of legislation is on the rocks in New Jersey, the Times reports. Though Garden State supporters of gay marriage were optimistic of their chances as recently as last month, the legislation has "become bogged down in both chambers" before the looming Jan. 19 deadline, when Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, who supports gay marriage, is replaced by Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who opposes it. more ›

The NJ State Senate, whose Judiciary Committee had okayed gay marriage legislation on Monday night, decided to postpone today's planned vote on the bill. According to the Star-Ledger, a "survey of senators yesterday showed only 13 publicly support the bill, and 18 said they were against it. The remaining nine were either undecided or would not state their position." But the bill's sponsors say they did not postpone the vote due to lack of support; instead, the Times reports, "they wanted to first allow a hearing in the General Assembly, where support for same-sex marriage is believed to be stronger." more ›

Last night at 10:06 p.m., the NJ Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in a 7 to 6 vote. The Star-Ledger reports vote came "after more than seven hours of emotional debate and testimony"—over 1,000 people packed the Statehouse room—and was welcomed by cheers. more ›

Just days after the New York State Senate voted down a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, the Garden State is getting ready for the debate. According to the Times, the New Jersey State Senate's Judiciary Committee is gearing up for a vote on gay marriage as early as Monday — with the full Senate preparing for a vote possibly on Thursday. more ›

Yesterday City Council Speaker Christine Quinn urged angry New Yorkers to keep the blame focused on the politicians who voted down a bill legalizing gay marriage in the Senate Wednesday. But blame is a burning thing and it makes a fiery ring, and at the center is Governor David Paterson, a longtime supporter of same-sex marriage. Some Democratic party officials believed that Paterson, with his basement-level approval ratings, didn't have any leverage to apply to swing-vote Senators. But others, like suddenly known Staten Island Senator Diane Savino, thinks he could have made the difference. more ›

State Senator Diane Savino, who represents Staten Island and Brooklyn, is getting praise for her speech in favor of gay marriage during the ultimately unsuccessful vote in the Senate yesterday. She pointed out, "We're giving away husbands on a TV show," referred to fellow State Senator Thomas Duane's relationship with his partner, "I will tell you, I'm over the age of 40--and that's all you're going to get from me--but I have never been able to maintain a relationship of the quality and length that they have. We have nothing to fear from love and commitment. My only hope, Tom, is that we pass this bill and the governor signs it and that we can learn from you, and that you don't learn from us," and ended with, "We have nothing to fear from love and commitment." more ›

After a lengthy debate, the New York State Senate voted 38-24 against a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. The Marriage Equality Act was finally brought to the floor for an up or down vote today after overcoming legislative roadblocks from opponents. During the emotional debate, one of the bill’s sponsors, State Senator Thomas K. Duane of Manhattan, who is gay, said, "This legislation would merely provide me and tens of thousands of other New Yorkers with equal rights in New York State. It would make me equal in every way to everyone else in this chamber." more ›

Passing longstanding legislative roadblocks, the State Senate has finally brought a bill to legalize same-sex marriage to the floor for a debate and vote. Here's live streaming video from the historic debate: more ›

In a 4-3 decision, New York State's highest court rejected a Christian legal group's argument that same-sex marriage was akin to incest and polygamy, and should therefore be denied government benefits for spouses. But the court's narrow ruling did not address the broader question of whether same-sex marriages performed in other states should be recognized in New York. The minority vote came from judges who argued that the case should have been tossed altogether, "on the ground that same-sex marriages, valid where performed, are entitled to full legal recognition in New York." more ›

Whether gay marriage manages to make it to a vote in the State Senate is another question entirely, but State Senator Thomas Duane thinks the Senate will vote yes on the matter. According to WNYC, the bill's supporters say that there are "secret yes votes...Duane, the bill’s chief sponsor, says he’s had the votes locked up all along. But Duane won’t release the names of those yes votes because, he says, when it comes to gay marriage, senators have to come out of the closet on their own." Of course, Duane isn't naming names, "I’m not releasing my vote count until we’re ready to vote. What people have told me, they’ve told me in confidence. It just wouldn’t be appropriate for me to share that." more ›

The State Senate failed to vote on a measure legalizing same-sex marriage yesterday, but after a two hour closed door meeting with Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson, Senate President Malcolm Smith, and bill sponsor Thomas Duane, Governor Paterson finally emerged to tell reporters that an up-or-down vote on same-sex marriage will be held "at a date not certain between now and the end of the year." Earlier, when pressed about the bill's chances in the Senate, Paterson said, "I can't explain the dynamic of the Senate, because nobody can." more ›

One of the staunchest opponents to same-sex marriage is a Bronx state senator with two gay brothers, a gay grandchild, and a gay chief counsel. Democrat Ruben Diaz, Sr., a Pentecostal minister, has been a die hard foe of any bill that would legalize gay marriage in New York State, despite his supposedly convivial relationship with many homosexuals. "I love them. I love them," says Díaz, who grew up one of 17 children in Puerto Rico. "But I don’t believe in what they are doing." more ›

Earlier this week, Paterson announced he would put the bill in front of the Senate during next week's special session. He had proposed the bill back in April, and the Assembly passed it in in May, but the bill was placed on the back burner after the Senate coup. However, the Senate is notoriously split on the issue and Paterson doesn't have much juice to twist Senators' arms. more ›

Uber-popular Gov. Paterson is not only pushing ahead with his fat tax, he's also bringing the same-sex marriage bill back to the Legislature in next week's special session, which will deal with unresolved bills and other matters that were tabled in the midst of the summer coup. According to aides, the Gov. wants to force the Senate to deal with Senator Tom Duane's marriage-equality bill one way or the other—even though he can't force them to vote on it. Some think, considering his dismal ratings, this is a go-for-broke move that aides hope can help his ailing political fortunes. more ›

Mayor Bloomberg thinks that he could strong-arm local Republican state senators into voting for a gay marriage bill, but he doesn't seem to believe that the Democrats have the cajones to bring Governor Paterson's same-sex marriage legislation to the floor. Asked why he thought he could change the minds of some pretty staunch GOP gay marriage opponents, Bloomberg said, “I’m the main funder. You know, you can’t dictate every piece of legislation, and I don’t want to say that they’re bribable. But they know where I stand, and they want me to be a supporter.” more ›

Governor Paterson may have spent his summer struggling through a legislative mess brought on by the Senate coup and continually sagging poll numbers that threaten the possibility of his 2010 bid, but he wants to make it clear that he hasn't forgotten his pledge to bring gay marriage to New York. Paterson told that he intends to put his same sex marriage bill on the floor when senators convene for a special session he expects to call later this month. Lawmakers are not required to vote on legislation brought up by the governor, but there may be more of a chance for that now that John Sampson is Democratic Conference Leader. Former Majority Leader Malcolm Smith had a deal with the Three Amigos not to bring same sex legislation to the floor. But the most vocal opponent of gay marriage, Senator Ruben Diaz Jr., told the News, "I tell you - as a man, before God - if that issue comes to the floor, there's going to be chaos in the Democratic conference. You can take that to the bank." However Diaz also said, "(But) I'm not going to join the Republicans. Never. Never." more ›

A couple from New York became the first wed in Vermont as the state's same-sex marriage law went into effect after midnight. WPTZ reports, "Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan waited 17 years before finally tying the knot in a midnight ceremony at a lodge in Duxbury... Slimback said he and Sullivan -- who are from Whitehall, N.Y. -- have long wanted to cement their relationship by marriage. Since they can't legally marry in New York, they chose to have their wedding in Vermont." Aw. Gay marriage, supported by NY Governor David Paterson, has been put on the back burner by the State Senate. In brighter news, Ben & Jerry's is now offering Hubby Hubby-a temporary renaming of Chubby Hubby to honor Vermont's decision. more ›

After hoping and pledging that his same-sex marriage bill would come before state senators before their (official) summer vacation began, now Governor Paterson is backing off and saying that he will delay pushing the bill forward until the Senate returns in September. As the senators prepare to finish up their session Wednesday and Thursday, the new Majority Leader Pedro Espada said, “There was a general consensus that we wouldn’t take on extremely controversial bills in the next week.” A spokesman for Paterson said he would probably call a special legislative session in early September. The governor did some courting on the gay marriage issue while the Senate worked out their issues, even having the bill backed by former Republican Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. But strong gay marriage opponent Democrat (and Pentecostal minister) Senator Ruben Diaz said, “We just got unity. Don’t start to un-unify us. Let us have some kind of honeymoon.” A honeymoon with 80% dudes. more ›

In what is truly a case of politics making for strange bedfellows, it's reported that Governor Paterson's right-hand man, Charles O'Byrne (pictured), recently had a meeting with GOP operative Roger Stone. Stone of course is the man best known for helping bring down former Governor Eliot Spitzer, outing his penchant for socks-on time and chewing out Spitzer's elderly father along the way. Stone has publicly stated that he would like to see Paterson, and not Andrew Cuomo, get the Democratic nomination next year because he knows the governor appears more vulnerable to a GOP opponent. Could O'Byrne have been looking for assistance from a man eager to aid the governor's ultimate defeat? more ›

With "active" members of the State Senate a little indisposed this week, Governor Paterson must have turned up the heat in lobbying Former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno to come out and endorse his gay marriage bill. Today the Republican leader hopped in the leather captain's chair of the Brunomobile and potentially put the state's legalization of same-sex marriage into the fast lane. Bruno told the AP, "As a Republican, I believe in personal freedom. I opposed same sex marriage largely because the overwhelming majority of my caucus opposed it. As a relatively conservative Roman Catholic, I instinctively view marriage as the foundation of the family. However, that view really does conflict with the rights that are afforded all of us. This is America and we have inalienable rights ... life is short and we should all be afforded the same opportunities and rights to enjoy it." The AP mentions that Bruno's wife of 57 years Barbara just passed away in 2008. With several Democrats already opposing the bill, Paterson and company hope that Bruno's endorsement could pave the way for undecided GOP senators to come over and support it. more ›