The Assembly Wednesday passed a bill to legalize gay marriage while Senate Republicans battled over whether to let the measure come to a floor vote.The measure passed 80-63, the lowest margin in the four times it has been approved by the Assembly since 2007.The fate of the bill is still up in the air in the GOP-controlled Senate, where 31 senators are on record as supporting it - one shy of the 32 needed for passage.
Senate Republicans discussed the issue behind closed doors for four hours Wednesday. Saying they were unable to decide how to proceed, they were scheduled to continue the talks today. But as of now the talks are still unresolved.
"For too long, same-sex couples have been denied the freedom to marry, as well as hundreds of rights that other New Yorkers take for granted," Cuomo said."Marriage Equality is a matter of fairness and legal security for thousands of families in this state - not of religion or culture."
The long anticipated proposal requires the same legal rights for same-sex couples who marry as heterosexual couples. And it prohibits local clerks from nixing marriage license applications from gay couples.
In hopes of attracting key Senate Republican votes, Cuomo's bill also offers exemptions from anti-discrimination laws to religious groups and affiliated organizations. The bill also specifies that no clergy would be forced to perform marriage ceremonies for gay couples.
Gay marriage bills have cleared the Assembly three times in previous years, but has never passed the Senate.
This year, 31 senators, including one Republican, have committed to supporting the measure, meaning one more vote is needed.
Cuomo's move came hours after New York's top Catholic sought to slow momentum toward a state Senate vote.Sources said those who oppose the bill were split over what the Senate should do.Some senators argued against bringing the measure to the floor.Others are said to have pushed for a floor vote to get the issue off the table in time for next year's elections as the GOP tries to maintain its slim majority.
The legalization of gay marriage in New York now falls squarely on the shoulders of Republican state senators. Who are under intense political pressure from the important Conservative Party and internal polling that shows growing, but not necessarily majority, support for same-sex marriage.
Information courtesy of: http://www.nydailynews.com/ , http://online.wsj.com/This morning while checking out the news and weather app on my phone an article about gay marriage caught my eye. i just skimmed the article and realized that Gay marriage was not yet legalized here in New York so I just went on with my day. While surfing the web I saw a post which said Gay marriage is legal in the US, I was confused, so of course I googled. I found three articles on the subject.
I feel that gay marriage should be legalized. From the information I read, I agree with Cuomo's bill and I feel it is fair. I was shocked to read that bills to legalize gay marriage have been cleared three times in the past but still not approved by the senate. I literally cannot see what the problem is. Why is that one person unsure? May be childish of me to ask such a question, but valid. It makes no sense. I've never understood why gay marriage was illegal to begin. It only shows that this nation was based on religion and still is.
New Yorkers' Thoughts on Gay Marriage
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