New York Senate also votes down same-sex marriage
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Another blow to the “same-sex marriage” movement yesterday, as the New York State Senate easily voted down a gay marriage bill.
This vote in the state of New York comes after last month’s defeat of a ballot measure in Maine and several months after the Prop 8’s denial of “same-sex marriage” in California.
This means that, all in all, thirty-one states in the U.S. have now voted down “same-sex marriage” by referendum.
On Wednesday, New York’s Senate easily voted down a bill to legalize “same-sex marriage” in the state.
There were 24 votes in favor of the bill, euphemistically named the “Marriage Equality Act”, and 38 votes against it.
A total of 32 votes were needed for passage. The New York State Assembly had already passed the legislation.
The measure needed Republican support because while there are 32 Democrats in the State Senate, some in that party clearly and unequivocally opposed the bill.
Among them were Queens Senator Hiram Monserrate and Bronx Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. (a Latino originally from Puerto Rico). No Republicans backed the bill.
Sen. Ruben Diaz, the Senate’s most vocal opponent of gay marriage, spoke on the floor of the Senate.
Diaz began his remarks by explaining how much money gay marriage advocates raised in support of the bill.
He accused Senate President Pro Tempore Malcolm Smith of going back on his promise not to bring gay marriage to the floor. “To go back on your word is treason,” Diaz said.
He then talked about the way gay marriage has passed in other states, and listed all the states where it is not legal. “Let the people decide,” he said.
Diaz concluded by appealing to the Republicans: “Remember your values, remember you standing — family values, moral values. … Join me, the Democrat, join me, the Hispanic, join me, the Puerto Rican, join me, the black man, the minority. ….”
As it was expected, New York Gov. David Paterson, a Democrat facing a difficult election campaign in 2010, strongly backed the bill.
The state of New York does afford gay couples some of the rights granted to married couples.
Many Senators say they expected the outcome and believe because of that the issue should have never been brought to the floor.
The Americano / Agencies
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