"What we’re about to do is redefine what the American family is. And that’s a good thing."

June 13, 2011 2:22 PM

"This is it." This week, the final push is on for marriage equality in New York and it looks like the state is closer than ever.

The NY State Senate voted against a marriage equality bill in 2009 despite Sen. Diane Savino's awesome floor speech, but the political landscape has changed. There are more Democrats in the Senate, public support for marriage equality is at an all--time high, and Governor Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg have thrown their considerable political weight behind a bill.

Until today, supporters of the bill needed to find six additional yes votes for passage. But morning brought a report that seven Republican senators have indicated they could support the bill. This afternoon, three Democrats who opposed the 2009 bill announced that they are switching their vote. (The lone remaining Democrat who will vote no is Ruben Diaz, whose openly gay granddaughter recently described her feelings about his stance.)

If a bill is passed New York will be, by a wide margin, the largest state with legal same-sex marriage.

[previously]

posted by lalex (274 comments total)

Good luck, New York, we're counting on you.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:30 PM on June 13, 2011 [19 favorites]

But morning brought a report that seven Republican senators have indicated they could support the bill.

If this works out, awesome. Thank you in advance, NY Republicans.
posted by jaduncan at 2:30 PM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

Justice demands doing the right thing once in a while, instead of the partisan thing.
posted by Astro Zombie at 2:30 PM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

Lalex, there are fewer Democrats in the State Senate now than in 2009. While Democrats switching will bring passage closer, the bill will pass only if a number of Republicans switch.
posted by MattD at 2:32 PM on June 13, 2011

Please don't break my heart again on this one, New York.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:33 PM on June 13, 2011 [4 favorites]

YEEEEEEEEEE-


[to be continued]
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 2:33 PM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

Lalex, there are fewer Democrats in the State Senate now than in 2009. While Democrats switching will bring passage closer, the bill will pass only if a number of Republicans switch.

Ugh, I misread something along the way. Thanks for the correction.
posted by lalex at 2:34 PM on June 13, 2011

I'm not holding my breath, but only because I can't hold my breath very long when I'm this excited!

Go NY!
posted by darkstar at 2:41 PM on June 13, 2011

Goddamn, that bit from his granddaugher is gutting.
posted by klangklangston at 2:48 PM on June 13, 2011 [9 favorites]

Interesting comment from the NY Post:

"Some of the things I read about people supporting her grandfather sicken me. If you don't like homosexuality, there is a simple way around it: Don't use the computer. The computer was invented by a man by the name of Alan Turing, who was also a homosexual. He also helped us win World War II. He was chemically castrated for being a homosexual and committed suicide because of it two years later."

Somewhat oversimplified history of computing aside, when pro same-sex marriage equality comments come to the Post, there are not many places left to conquer.
posted by jaduncan at 2:49 PM on June 13, 2011 [10 favorites]

Yeah, I was all kinds of excited by the way this was framed, only to click through and realize that we're still at the mercy of the Republican majority there. To boot, securing the final three democratic holdouts (leaving Diaz as the only Democratic holdout) says to me that few - if any - Republicans are just going to suddenly decide to come over and support this measure and risk their careers in doing so. If it passes, great, I will send a campaign contribution to every single Republican who crossed the aisle to make it happen. If not, it's business as usual. (Read: Flaming bags of human excrement on their front porches.)
posted by jph at 2:49 PM on June 13, 2011

I am the gay granddaughter of Albany's most outspoken marriage-equality opponent.

My grandfather, state Sen. Rev. Ruben Diaz, spoke about marriage equality on a Spanish radio station in April. He was joined on the airwaves by a priest who said, "Gay people are worthy of death."
Papa didn't say anything. I was shattered.


Mr Diaz, you are a bad man and a wretched human being.
posted by five fresh fish at 2:49 PM on June 13, 2011 [28 favorites]

From Ruben Diaz' granddaughter's article:

My grandfather introduced me to the crowd and kissed me on the forehead. "This is my granddaughter," he said. "She chose her way of life, but I chose God's way, but I love her."

When did the separation of Church and State end? Great for you, sir, you believe that are following your God. But other people have different God(s), or even no God at all. People can (and do) get married in court houses, devoid of God(s), and unless you want to change that, this shouldn't be about religion.

Please put your religious beliefs aside, and tell us any other reason that your granddaughter and so many like her should not be allowed to marry.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:50 PM on June 13, 2011

I'm mostly on board with this. My only reservation is that I might have to dig out all those awful bridesmaid dresses if friends start having in-state do-overs.

Same-sex marriage should be legal. Taffeta and shantung silk should not.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 2:52 PM on June 13, 2011 [5 favorites]

five fresh fish: Mr Diaz, you are a bad man and a wretched human being.

I prefer to see him as a politician and a coward. It doesn't make his lack of response any better, but there's more to a person than cowardice in the face of courting their constituents. (Also, that lowers the bar for wretchedness, in my eyes.)
posted by filthy light thief at 2:53 PM on June 13, 2011

But then I approached a police officer who escorted me to the podium where he spoke. My grandfather introduced me to the crowd and kissed me on the forehead. "This is my granddaughter," he said. "She chose her way of life, but I chose God's way, but I love her."

"I chose 'Judge not lest ye be...' err, I mean, I chose, 'Let he who is without sin cast...' uh, what I meant to say is that I chose "Turn the other chee...', err, well as the good book says 'Whatever you've done, you've done to the least...', Hmm. isn't there some passage that allows me to ignore all the others to make my single petty point?"
posted by quin at 3:05 PM on June 13, 2011 [12 favorites]

I'm not going to even get excited about this. I watched how the last one went. Those who promised to vote for it, didn't.

If it happens, I think it would be the most awesome thing in the world. But it won't.
posted by Malice at 3:06 PM on June 13, 2011

"First NY Republican Says He’ll Back Marriage Equality Bill."
posted by lalex at 3:12 PM on June 13, 2011

Awesome. Fingers crossed.
posted by V4V at 3:13 PM on June 13, 2011

I would vote for Bloomberg for president SO HARD.
posted by eugenen at 3:17 PM on June 13, 2011

If Ruben Diaz wants to be the Strom Thurmond of gay rights in New York then that's his deal. I I suppose he at least he cops do his gay granddaughter. Congratulations Ruben Diaz! You are slightly more moral than Strom Thurmond!
posted by Doublewhiskeycokenoice at 3:21 PM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

From the first link: And then there are the sticks. If marriage passes, the wealthy gay-rights groups can lay off State Senate Republicans, instead of aiming to pick them off one by one, as they’ve been doing—as they did to Padavan, who was bounced last November. They might even support GOP senators who vote their way. In March, the Human Rights Campaign hosted a benefit for Maine’s Susan Collins to reward her for her role in repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

So the gay movement tells New York legislators "We'll sell our soul for a marriage license."

Justice demands doing the right thing once in a while, instead of the partisan thing.

You can read that statement two ways.
posted by layceepee at 3:21 PM on June 13, 2011

When did the separation of Church and State end? Great for you, sir, you believe that are following your God. But other people have different God(s), or even no God at all. People can (and do) get married in court houses, devoid of God(s), and unless you want to change that, this shouldn't be about religion.

I wholeheartedly believe that there is a significant percentage of Americans who would love to ban marriage for atheists, agnostics, non-Christians, etc. I expect Mr. Diaz is one of those people.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 3:22 PM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

Everyone's forgiven me for that other thread, right? I trusted the wrong people.
posted by gerryblog at 3:26 PM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

I prefer to see him as a politician and a coward. It doesn't make his lack of response any better, but there's more to a person than cowardice in the face of courting their constituents. (Also, that lowers the bar for wretchedness, in my eyes.)

If he's gonna be all "family values yay" then he should, at the minimum, have had the fucking guts to tell that priest to shut up and not talk about his granddaughter that way.
posted by rtha at 3:31 PM on June 13, 2011 [13 favorites]

Oh, and I'm not holding my breath, NY. I learned the last time that that shade of blue is not a great color on me. I know you'll get there. Eventually.
posted by rtha at 3:32 PM on June 13, 2011

My expectations are low, but hopefully the right thing will happen.
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:33 PM on June 13, 2011

I'm delighted to see that New York may follow in the footsteps of Iowa.
posted by Mental Wimp at 3:34 PM on June 13, 2011 [3 favorites]

Michael Strahan's commercial spot in favour of marriage equality.

Strahan joins Sean Avery and Steve Nash as prominent athletes to join the fight in NY, and is notable as being, to my knowledge, the only prominent African American athlete to explicitly support marriage rights.
posted by auto-correct at 3:37 PM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

...the final push is on for marriage equality in New York.

I certainly hope THIS vote goes well. But I also would hope that if it did not it wasn't the final push.

do good new york.
posted by edgeways at 3:41 PM on June 13, 2011

Not sure if they serve knob creek on the plane
posted by The Whelk at 3:59 PM on June 13, 2011 [3 favorites]

"(UPDATE from Glenn Blain after Alesi left the governor's meeting.

Alesi said: "Two years ago I voted against a marriage equality bill and it was a very anguishing vote for me. I believe that if you live in American and if you expect equality and freedom for your self that you have to extend it to other people…” Alesi said his 2009 vote was a “political vote” that he has been struggling with ever since. He said he has since apologized Sen. Tom Duane and other friends and relatives for that vote.

“I am doing this on my own initiative. I really am not down here because I have been guaranteed that we will have enough votes to pass this. It is my hope, not just here in New York State, but all across the nation that if a Republican senator can stand before his constituents and say that he supports marriage equality, that he supports equality for all Americans without regard for their gender or their sexual preference that we can start here in New York State and look at it as is a national initiative that America is for Freedom and equality.”)"

I'm not sure if this makes him more impressive or less impressive.
posted by trojanhorse at 3:59 PM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

I'm not sure if this makes him more impressive or less impressive.

Was previously a dick, wasn't the casting vote. Has a consistence, first to stick the head above the parapet and might lead to bringing across the casting vote. It's going in the right direction at the least, surely.

I'm just glad we have one more person on Team Equality (you know, when we combine our powers we make Captain Equality and have a rainbow spandex suit made of awesome. Then we go and stick up for other disempowered people who merely ADD TO OUR COMBINED POWER).
posted by jaduncan at 4:03 PM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

It's the night before Law finals. I may be giddy.
posted by jaduncan at 4:06 PM on June 13, 2011

I'm delighted to see that New York may follow in the footsteps of Iowa.

To be fair, Iowa got it through a court decision. It's been clear that getting marriage equality legislatively is a much bigger challenge anywhere.

Also, Republicans in Iowa are currently trying to overturn that via a constitutional amendment, although I'm not familiar with the current status of that effort. One of the backers of the amendment recently came out in favor of gay marriage, but I don't know if that indicates a general derailment or is an isolated case.
posted by wildcrdj at 4:07 PM on June 13, 2011

Though I firmly support marriage equality throughout the nation I do note in passing that for more and more straight couples, marriage is becoming less and less an attractive option.
The anarchist Paul Goodman wrote that he never married because he did not think it was the business of the State to make his love and living arrangements something to be licensed by the government.
posted by Postroad at 4:08 PM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

"(Alesi) has since apologized to Sen. Tom Duane"

People have voted against the civil rights of their own co-workers, their kids and their grandchildren, but... they can make the right choice this time, right? They've had some time to watch Senator Savino's speech a couple times and come to their senses. Right?
posted by santaslittlehelper at 4:09 PM on June 13, 2011

I have a challenge to all opponents of same-sex marriage: Defend your position without using any arguments used in the 20th century by opponents of interracial marriage.

Go.
posted by Faint of Butt at 4:09 PM on June 13, 2011 [22 favorites]

I remember how close NJ was before cowards and dirtbags like Sen Christopher Bateman refused to stand by their constituents. I hope NY's senators are smart enough not to want to be remembered in the same breath as George Wallace. (Or Chris Bateman.)
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 4:22 PM on June 13, 2011

What, you mean we're just now getting around to this?

It's good that it's (hopefully) happening now, but good lord people are lame.
posted by LordSludge at 4:24 PM on June 13, 2011

"I am doing this on my own initiative. I really am not down here because I have been guaranteed that we will have enough votes to pass this. It is my hope, not just here in New York State, but all across the nation that if a Republican senator can stand before his constituents and say that he supports marriage equality, that he supports equality for all Americans without regard for their gender or their sexual preference that we can start here in New York State and look at it as is a national initiative that America is for Freedom and equality.”)"

aka: "I live in hope it is possible to be Republican and not a bigot!" It says something that this is what it's come to when considering the Republican electoral base. And that's me saying that.
posted by Hosni Mubarak at 4:32 PM on June 13, 2011 [4 favorites]

Go New York. It would be a great 25th Anniversary Present for the last time a major gay rights bill was passed in your area.
posted by hippybear at 4:39 PM on June 13, 2011

wildcrdj: "To be fair, Iowa got it through a court decision. It's been clear that getting marriage equality legislatively is a much bigger challenge anywhere."

California's legislature passed it twice, and in each case it was vetoed by that stalwart of family values, Schwarzenegger.
posted by gingerbeer at 4:43 PM on June 13, 2011

California's legislature passed it twice, and in each case it was vetoed by that stalwart of family values, Schwarzenegger.

Exactly --- getting it signed is part of the legislative process, and even when the Assembly was able to pass it it couldn't get done (Schwarzenegger too busy breaking his own marriage vows, I guess). Getting through the whole process and producing a bill to legalize marriage equality has been very rare --- has it happened anywhere but Vermont?
posted by wildcrdj at 4:55 PM on June 13, 2011

vetoedstalwartvaluesschwarzenegger

What? It was mildly cathartic to smush the words together. Sue me.
posted by panaceanot at 5:16 PM on June 13, 2011

(Schwarzenegger too busy breaking his own marriage vows, I guess)

Well if Prop 8 hadn't been opposed by those godless liberals maybe he would have been able to keep them?

Or something like that, right?
posted by Talez at 5:18 PM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

And today in the Ongoing Saga of Prop 8, its proponents are arguing that Judge Walker should've recused himself because he's gay and has a partner and that means he's biased in favor of teh gays marrying.

*bangs head on table*
posted by rtha at 5:24 PM on June 13, 2011

Go New York!!
posted by lazaruslong at 5:31 PM on June 13, 2011

Boy, if this passes I'm gonna need to figure start checking cheap airfare like a year out....gonna be a lot of weddings to attend.
posted by lazaruslong at 5:32 PM on June 13, 2011

And today in the Ongoing Saga of Prop 8, its proponents are arguing that Judge Walker should've recused himself because he's gay and has a partner and that means he's biased in favor of teh gays marrying.

Ha. Awesome. That's like saying judges who speak must recuse themselves from First Amendment cases. Keep fishing, guys.
posted by Sticherbeast at 5:36 PM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

Is there a way to find out when the bill will come to a vote?
posted by prefpara at 6:00 PM on June 13, 2011

Is there a way to find out when the bill will come to a vote?

The Legislature is in until June 20th, I believe. If it doesn't happen in seven days, you get to see the whole dog and pony show again.
posted by mrgoat at 6:21 PM on June 13, 2011

I have a challenge to all opponents of same-sex marriage: Defend your position without using any arguments used in the 20th century by opponents of interracial marriage.

Same-sex marriage in antithetical to the spirit of liberation engendered by the radical gay movement developed in the wake of the Stonewall Riots.

It's not surprising that many are unaware of a critique of gay marriage that comes from the left instead of the right, but it is unfortunate.
posted by layceepee at 6:24 PM on June 13, 2011

Same-sex marriage in antithetical to the spirit of liberation engendered by the radical gay movement developed in the wake of the Stonewall Riots.

Okay, but that critique would apply to people choosing not to get married, not forbidding others from getting married, unless this liberation is a "freedom from" Handmaid's Tale sort of thing.
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:30 PM on June 13, 2011 [3 favorites]

layceepee- That "spirit of liberation" might have included the idea that gays should choose not to marry. But there's a big difference between saying that people should choose not to do something, and saying that they should be denied the very choice. After all, it's not particularly radical to not do something that the law won't let you do anyway.

hippybear- Thanks for posting that link. As frustrating and mind-numbing as the current debate is, it's important to remember how far we have come. I am eternally grateful to everyone who has spent their life demanding legislative rights, or societal tolerance, or hell, just personal dignity. I was 5 in 1986. Because of the work of the individuals in that documentary, I grew up in a much more livable and just world. And that is an amazing thing.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 6:44 PM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

Please don't break my heart again on this one, New York.

Yeah, I'll thank them when they actually do it. Amazing how some of those sure votes seemed to magically disappear when push came to shove last year. And now we're counting on Republicans?

Yeah, I'll thank them when they actually do it. Meanwhile, the asshole bigots in my newly Republican-controlled state legislature are almost certain to pass an anti-gay marriage amendment to the state constitution this fall. Ugh.
posted by mediareport at 7:01 PM on June 13, 2011

In a New York Minute, everything can change.
posted by Splunge at 7:07 PM on June 13, 2011

Not counting the fabulous gay weddings before they hatch, but yes, like the rest of you I believe New York will legalize gay marriage eventually but hope New York gets the job down now. There are too many people who have waited too long already.
posted by orange swan at 7:07 PM on June 13, 2011

Looks like the bill's going to be introduced tonight!
posted by darkstar at 7:52 PM on June 13, 2011

Though it may be tooHmm...no reports confirmed that it was introduced tonight. So maybe tomorow?
posted by darkstar at 7:55 PM on June 13, 2011

(Okay, that was weird.)
posted by darkstar at 7:56 PM on June 13, 2011

If it passes, great, I will send a campaign contribution to every single Republican who crossed the aisle to make it happen.

Email/call and tell them this. Seriously.
posted by BenS at 8:11 PM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

There are Republican senators who could vote for this (Ball and Grisanti come to mind). But to cross the aisle like this no one wants to be the 31st vote. They want to be the 32nd. They want to be the hero that bravely battled their party to do what is right... or some such nonsense. I hope this turns out differently than all the other times it has. But my wounded experience leads me to believe that we will have yet another example of why the senate is where we send our worst local politicians to do the least harm.
posted by munchingzombie at 8:12 PM on June 13, 2011

Is there a way to find out when the bill will come to a vote?
posted by prefpara at 9:00 PM on June 13

The legislature will be in session (I think...) through Friday the 17th.

They'll post the session calendar here: nysenate.gov (on the left column, "This week in the Senate")

As of right now, they haven't yet posted the calendar for the rest of the week. (Typically, it's a long list of the impressively boring bills that they're voting on.) But I imagine if/when this is put on the calendar (and it's not yet certain that it WILL be, though it's rumored to be imminent ...), this will probably be nearly alone on that day's session schedule, to leave time for statements.
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 8:13 PM on June 13, 2011

Yeah, I was all kinds of excited by the way this was framed, only to click through and realize that we're still at the mercy of the Republican majority there. To boot, securing the final three democratic holdouts (leaving Diaz as the only Democratic holdout) says to me that few - if any - Republicans are just going to suddenly decide to come over and support this measure and risk their careers in doing so.

It's hard to believe that right now, in 2011, after we've learned this lesson so many times about equality, that it can reasonably be considered risking your legislative career to support equality for all people. It's also hard to believe that so many legislators wouldn't jump at the opportunity to do just that if only because it's a guarantee to go down in the record on the right side of history.

It must be a great thing to be handed such a plain opportunity to do the right thing as part of your daily job. Hopefully our legislators can see that this time around.
posted by howlingmonkey at 8:22 PM on June 13, 2011 [1 favorite]

BenS: "If it passes, great, I will send a campaign contribution to every single Republican who crossed the aisle to make it happen.

Email/call and tell them this. Seriously."

I'd be on this... But for a long while now they seem to have stopped returning my calls. Perhaps I've said one or two things in the past that they took badly. Maybe someone else could help you.
posted by Splunge at 8:54 PM on June 13, 2011

Interesting political strategy -- get a huge news story on every politician who votes against the party line. Hope that works out for them come next election
posted by salvia at 10:44 PM on June 13, 2011

I have a challenge to all opponents of same-sex marriage: Defend your position without using any arguments used in the 20th century by opponents of interracial marriage.

Go.

I am most definitely in no sense an "opponent of same-sex marriage", but here goes nothing:

Don't a bunch of them often argue that the god-endorsed purpose of marriage is procreation?

I want to be clear:

• I think this is a dumb argument on its face in multiple ways;
• And that's just speaking logically, e.g. ignoring the fact that it's also a vile argument and an unconstitutional argument;
• I'm strongly in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage;
• I wouldn't put it past anti-interracial types to have used the same argument at least in some sense (e.g. "the purpose is procreation of the race", but it doesn't seem like they could have possibly used it in the same direct manner.

posted by Flunkie at 11:08 PM on June 13, 2011

Flunkie: anti-miscegenation arguments did, in fact, stem largely from protecting poor innocent children from being born mixed-race. THE HORROR.
posted by KathrynT at 11:22 PM on June 13, 2011

Good luck, NY! FWIW, we've had same-sex marriage here in Norway a couple of years now, and the country still hasn't sunk into the sea.
posted by Harald74 at 11:55 PM on June 13, 2011 [2 favorites]

Good luck, NY! FWIW, we've had same-sex marriage here in Norway a couple of years now, and the country still hasn't sunk into the sea.

MWA HA HA, Harald74, you wait until you see the conservative position on carbon emissions before you get too comfortable.

They will, eventually, have their way with that.
posted by jaduncan at 12:21 AM on June 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

Flunkie: anti-miscegenation arguments did, in fact, stem largely from protecting poor innocent children from being born mixed-race. THE HORROR.

Yes, but "children should be protected from being born into this (supposedly) horrible situation" is a different argument than "you are incapable of procreating with the person that you want to marry". They're perhaps related arguments, but they are different arguments.
posted by Flunkie at 12:44 AM on June 14, 2011

I don't know how Ruben Diaz Sr. can live with himself.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:46 AM on June 14, 2011

Good luck, NY! FWIW, we've had same-sex marriage here in Norway a couple of years now, and the country still hasn't sunk into the sea.

We've had it in Canada for almost six years, and our divorce rate is not only not going up but is still significantly lower than the U.S.'s (roughly 40% for us compared to roughly 50% for Americans).
posted by orange swan at 5:00 AM on June 14, 2011

Flunkie: "Don't a bunch of them often argue that the god-endorsed purpose of marriage is procreation?"

My uncle and his wife can't have children. This was understood when they got married. Does that make their marriage less valid?
posted by notsnot at 5:28 AM on June 14, 2011

layceepee- That "spirit of liberation" might have included the idea that gays should choose not to marry. But there's a big difference between saying that people should choose not to do something, and saying that they should be denied the very choice. After all, it's not particularly radical to not do something that the law won't let you do anyway.

Faint of Butt asked for an argument against same-sex marriage, so that's what I provided. And nothing in my argument implied that people should be "denied the very choice" to marry, nor is it the case that the law won't let gays get married. It's true that New York state does not recognize or confer special privileges on gays who exercise that choice. I don't think the state should confer those privileges on married gays, which is consistent with my anarchist belief that the state should not confer those benefits on married straights.
posted by layceepee at 6:11 AM on June 14, 2011

I am most definitely in no sense an "opponent of same-sex marriage", but here goes nothing: Don't a bunch of them often argue that the god-endorsed purpose of marriage is procreation?

I get that you weren't arguing your own position, layceepee, but rather trying to quote an argument you heard gay marriage opponents make.

However, I'm not sure this IS a position they take all that often -- because it's too easy to come up with the "but, you let infertile straight people get married!" counterargument.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:31 AM on June 14, 2011

I agree with you, EmpressCallipygos, that it's a position that is rare because it's easily rebutted and therefore a reasonable person would soon learn it carries no weight, but I have heard anti-gay marriage types argue that while it would be "too hard" to restrict marriage to fertile hetereosexual couples, it makes no sense to extend marriage rights to a class that by definition cannot produce children. Imbecilic argument, of course. Marriage is not solely or even chiefly about having children. But some people are just so entrenched in their own bigotry on this issue that they'll fight to the last ditch.
posted by orange swan at 8:30 AM on June 14, 2011

Bad news from France, though.
posted by Lemurrhea at 9:57 AM on June 14, 2011

My mother has decided not to attend my brother's wedding in Canada this fall. She just sent me a check for my birthday. Where is the best place to donate the money she gave me toward legalizing gay marriage in my state (NY)?

(I'd contribute it towards the fight in NJ, where my brother and his partner live, but I don't think that's on the table with Christie in power.)
posted by Eideteker at 10:30 AM on June 14, 2011 [2 favorites]

(There's this gawker thing, but gawker doesn't exactly inspire confidence in me.)
posted by Eideteker at 10:40 AM on June 14, 2011

Yes, but "children should be protected from being born into this (supposedly) horrible situation" is a different argument than "you are incapable of procreating with the person that you want to marry". They're perhaps related arguments, but they are different arguments.

They're both bullshitty 'think of the children (or lack thereof)' arguments, tho - aiming to brand the bigoted distaste as some handwringing concern for the future generations. The people who think that gay people shouldn't marry for lack of child-spawning capability are the same people who are fucking horrified at the concept of gay adoption, or parenthood in general, because that much proximity to a gay parent would corrupt the soul of a child into irrevocable gayity (if those sexual deviant parents didn't just rape their own child first, because that's the obvious next step of perversion past gay-ness, of course).
posted by FatherDagon at 10:52 AM on June 14, 2011

And, here we go.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 12:46 PM on June 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

any word on when they'll take up the vote?
posted by qnarf at 1:12 PM on June 14, 2011

A second GOP senator has switched to a yes vote.
posted by lalex at 1:29 PM on June 14, 2011 [3 favorites]

any word on when they'll take up the vote?

I think Friday? Not sure.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:42 PM on June 14, 2011 [1 favorite]

Not sure if it is linked yet, but A federal Judge in Calf. just upheld the former ruling that prop 8 in Calf was unconstitutional
posted by edgeways at 2:12 PM on June 14, 2011

Flunkie: "Don't a bunch of them often argue that the god-endorsed purpose of marriage is procreation?"

My uncle and his wife can't have children. This was understood when they got married. Does that make their marriage less valid?

I tried to be clear, and I'm pretty sure that you already realize this, but I just want to be certain:

(1) I am strongly in favor of legalized same-sex marriage.

(2) I am not arguing that the god-endorsed purpose of marriage is procreation.

(3) I think that the argument that the god-endorsed purpose of marriage is procreation is dumb on its face, in multiple ways, one of which is shown by the type of situation that you have brought up.

(4) No, I don't believe that that makes their marriage less valid.

Yes, but "children should be protected from being born into this (supposedly) horrible situation" is a different argument than "you are incapable of procreating with the person that you want to marry". They're perhaps related arguments, but they are different arguments.

They're both bullshitty 'think of the children (or lack thereof)' arguments, tho

Yes, as I said, they're perhaps related, in that the first could conceivably be thought of as "you are incapable of procreating correctly with the person that you want to marry", but they are nonetheless different arguments.
posted by Flunkie at 2:17 PM on June 14, 2011

I get that you weren't arguing your own position, layceepee, but rather trying to quote an argument you heard gay marriage opponents make.

I think you've got me confused with somebody else. I didn't make the argument about procreation, and the argument I am making is my own position.
posted by layceepee at 6:24 PM on June 14, 2011

N.Y. Senate Republicans Undecided on a Gay Marriage Vote (nytimes link)

The State Assembly's set to vote on it today (with virtually guaranteed passage), but there's no indication yet as to the Senate's plans.
posted by qnarf at 11:58 AM on June 15, 2011

But to cross the aisle like this no one wants to be the 31st vote.

Sen. Roy McDonald (R-Saratoga) is the 31st vote.

Gay marriage now just one vote shy of becoming law in New York despite Archbishop Dolan's objections.

I kinda like this guy.

"You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing," McDonald, 64, told reporters.

"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f--- it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing.

"I'm tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I'm trying to do the right thing, and that's where I'm going with this."
posted by TwoWordReview at 4:21 PM on June 15, 2011 [7 favorites]

As predicted, the Assembly passed the bill.
posted by qnarf at 6:29 PM on June 15, 2011 [2 favorites]

WOOT
posted by scody at 11:29 PM on June 15, 2011

Super Bowl hero warns of 'anarchy' if NY approves gay marriage
posted by hippybear at 4:41 AM on June 16, 2011

Yeah, I remember those 173 days in California — it was Mad Max times. Thank God Prop 8 went through to stop all the gays burning and looting Pottery Barn, crumpled copies of bloody registries in their hands. I had to get gay married seven times just to survive the carnage — at least I can still use the salad spinner.
posted by klangklangston at 9:42 AM on June 16, 2011 [5 favorites]

Republican New York Senator Roy McDonald made my whole week with this quote in support of gay marriage:

“You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing."

“You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing."

“I'm tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I'm trying to do the right thing, and that's where I'm going with this.”


You're doing the right fucking thing, Senator.
posted by black rainbows at 11:58 AM on June 16, 2011

Some of the debate here.
posted by prefpara at 5:23 AM on June 17, 2011

at least I can still use the salad spinner.

You didn't like the ottoman I got you? What about the hand soap dispenser? God, you straight people who were forced to get gay married are so effing ungrateful.
posted by rtha at 5:54 AM on June 17, 2011 [2 favorites]

I think Friday? Not sure.

so......?
posted by John Kenneth Fisher at 6:13 PM on June 17, 2011

No vote yet. The Senate Republicans are still in caucus about whether to bring it forward for a vote or not.

There are / have been talks between the Senate Republicans and Cuomo about stronger protections for religious institutions against being sued by married gay couples they deny their services to.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:27 PM on June 17, 2011

There are / have been talks between the Senate Republicans and Cuomo about stronger protections for religious institutions against being sued by married gay couples they deny their services to.

Wait, what? THAT is a stumbling block?

Is there a current rash of non-Jews who are suing Rabbis for not marrying them? Or non-Catholics suing Catholic priests for not performing the service in the cathedral?

This is an utter non-issue all around in real life, and it's just a smoke screen which people have put forward forever when talking about keeping gay marriage illegal. State recognition of the legal status of marriage has NOTHING to do with whether churches will or won't perform the ceremony.

If anything, they should be talking about civil employees who refuse to perform the service out of some kind of statement of conscience in the same way that some pharmacists won't fill prescriptions for RU-486 or give out contraceptives because of their stance on abortions.
posted by hippybear at 6:40 PM on June 17, 2011 [4 favorites]

Is there a current rash of non-Jews who are suing Rabbis for not marrying them?

No, services to gays who are already gay-married to each other in their full gayness. Adoptions and stuff.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:39 PM on June 17, 2011

Again, there is no such thing where religious institutions are the sole provider of things like adoptions. There are plenty of secular agencies which will provide those services where the religious groups won't provide them based on whatever arbitrary grounds they choose.

Are there any real issues in this, or is it just a bullshit stalling tactic?
posted by hippybear at 7:52 PM on June 17, 2011

No, it's a real thing. Catholic Charities has closed adoption agencies in states/cities where they might have been required to place in gay-married or gay-civil-unioned homes. Some of the Republicans want to make sure that religious social service providers can still discriminate against gays even after they're gay-married.

OTOH, my understanding is that you can already *be* gay-married in NY, you just can't *get* gay-married in NY. ISTR that NY recognizes SSMs performed in other states, so you'd think religious social-service providers would already have to deal with the occasional married homosexual couples.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:22 PM on June 17, 2011

No vote yet. The Senate Republicans are still in caucus about whether to bring it forward for a vote or not.

Yep, assuming that all the senators who have committed their vote stick to their pledge, the bill (a) needs one more yes vote and (b) the Republican conference must agree to bring the bill to a floor vote.

For those who are interested, Albany Twitter feeds to follow: Capitol Tonight | Capitol Confidential | Nick Confessore

Also, I still fucking love Diane Savino:

Senator Diane J. Savino, Democrat of Staten Island, taped a handwritten sign outside her legislative office this week that said, “Bigots and homophobes please put your literature here,” with an arrow pointing to a box lid on the ground.
posted by lalex at 10:11 PM on June 17, 2011 [3 favorites]

Will the Senate be willing to take up gay marriage before rent stabilization is settled? Or is that another hurdle to jump?
posted by evidenceofabsence at 10:52 PM on June 17, 2011

Catholic Charities has closed adoption agencies in states/cities where they might have been required to place in gay-married or gay-civil-unioned homes.

Why would Catholic Charities be required to do anything? They're a religious group, and are free to discriminate against people who don't share their beliefs as much as they want.

Alert me when state agencies are fighting to be able to discriminate against legally married couples. As long as there are state actors who do the same thing as religious groups, I don't give a fuck what the religious groups do or don't allow.

And frankly, the more Catholic Charities offices that close, the better off the world is, IMO.
posted by hippybear at 3:45 AM on June 18, 2011

Catholic Charities and other religious service organizations are often required to comply with various regulations because they are state or municipal contractors. In San Francisco, years back, any organization that was contracted with the city to provide services (for services to the homeless, or health clinics, etc.), was going to have to allow any of its workers who had domestic partners to to sign up for health insurance coverage for those partners.

What's interesting is that the CC here didn't just up and go "Fine, okay, we quit." They changed their internal rules so that their workers could declare any person as a domestic partner - it could be a parent, or an adult child, for instance - and thus eligible for group health insurance.

I probably have some of the details wrong, because it's been at least a decade since the initial kerfuffle, but that's the gist of it.
posted by rtha at 8:17 AM on June 18, 2011

Catholic Charities and other religious service organizations are often required to comply with various regulations because they are state or municipal contractors.

Wait, what?

Wow, that seems like a big problem with the whole separation issue, if you ask me.

I had no idea that the government was hiring churches to do social programs. That's insane, and should probably not be happening.
posted by hippybear at 12:35 PM on June 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

Did you miss the whole Bush-era Faith Based organizations thing?

It's not even like that was a new thing - it just expanded and popularized what's been happening for a long time in certain service sectors. The religious orgs that have city contracts to, say, run a health clinic can't use city money to convert people, and they can't require that employees who serve soup or give injections be of their religion. There's a lot of grey area and I'm vastly oversimplifying, but that's the basics.
posted by rtha at 12:43 PM on June 18, 2011

I guess I didn't realize the implications of it or how it was going to work or something. I don't know what I thought the results of that whole Bush-era thing was going to be, but having it be "we're contracting social services to faith-based groups to take the place of government agencies" wasn't it.

Oh well. The world continues to astound me. I guess that's a good thing.
posted by hippybear at 12:48 PM on June 18, 2011

The world is indeed endlessly astounding. Sometimes it makes me happy, and sometimes it makes me stabby.
posted by rtha at 2:30 PM on June 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

Still no decision. It's all horsetrading now:

...gay marriage is tied up in negotiations with other issues including rent control in New York City and a statewide property tax cap...A vote by the majority Republican conference to send the marriage bill to the Senate floor or kill it could still be days away.

I remain deeply skeptical that the NY Senate will approve gay marriage this week.
posted by mediareport at 8:42 PM on June 20, 2011

the senate just passed a bill making sweet corn the official state vegetable.
they still haven't decided whether they're letting same sex marriage come to a vote.
posted by qnarf at 9:27 AM on June 21, 2011

Sen. Jim Alesi addressed a marriage equality rally in West Capitol Park with a speech that sounded at times like a conversion testament. Alesi, the first GOP senator to declare his support for same-sex marriage, called his vote — which according to alphabetical order will be the first Republican vote when/if the bill comes to the floor — “the most important thing I think I can do in my 20-year career as a legislator.”

“I’m a Republican — I was born that way,” Alesi said by way of introduction.
posted by qnarf at 10:16 AM on June 21, 2011 [1 favorite]

a bill making sweet corn the official state vegetable.

CONTROVERSY
posted by shakespeherian at 10:29 AM on June 21, 2011

It's on!

Apparently the bill is going to be brought to the senate floor.

http://twitter.com/#!/nickconfessore/status/84372453102600192
posted by TwoWordReview at 2:32 PM on June 24, 2011 [3 favorites]

video of the senate floor is here, though they haven't yet gone live.
posted by qnarf at 2:50 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Whose bright idea was the nonseverability clause?
posted by Sticherbeast at 3:04 PM on June 24, 2011

Some guys at Stonewall watching the empty NY Senate chamber waiting for a vote.
posted by qnarf at 3:11 PM on June 24, 2011

This is pretty damn exciting, y'all. Watching the video feed and cheering on NY here from AZ!
posted by darkstar at 3:18 PM on June 24, 2011

senate video is live!
posted by qnarf at 3:22 PM on June 24, 2011

Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence...
posted by darkstar at 3:23 PM on June 24, 2011

Tearing through some initial business...
posted by darkstar at 3:24 PM on June 24, 2011

jesus, watch the counter of people viewing the live feed.
posted by qnarf at 3:25 PM on June 24, 2011

Heheh, seriously...approaching 5800 viewers now.
posted by darkstar at 3:26 PM on June 24, 2011

.....tension!
posted by The Whelk at 3:28 PM on June 24, 2011

arg. they just went back into meetings.
posted by qnarf at 3:30 PM on June 24, 2011

Senate stands at ease?
posted by darkstar at 3:30 PM on June 24, 2011

Blerg.
posted by darkstar at 3:30 PM on June 24, 2011

From what I'm hearing it could be a few hours before they get to it. There's also the big everything-but-gay-marriage (rent control and other stuff) bill to deal with first.
posted by TwoWordReview at 3:32 PM on June 24, 2011

Double blerg
posted by The Whelk at 3:33 PM on June 24, 2011

yeah, some sources are saying it will be the very last thing they vote on this evening.
posted by qnarf at 3:36 PM on June 24, 2011

Um...I just saw them wrap up a meeting, but didn't catch the topic. Are they headed back to the senate floor now?
posted by darkstar at 3:37 PM on June 24, 2011

6800 viewers now, though the live feed is off.
posted by darkstar at 3:38 PM on June 24, 2011

Ah, no...back in meeting.
posted by darkstar at 3:41 PM on June 24, 2011

Aaaand adjourned again. Damn this Byzantine procedural wrangling.
posted by darkstar at 3:42 PM on June 24, 2011

i'm pretty sure the guy who picks the music on the live feed when they're in recess is fucking with everyone who is watching.
posted by qnarf at 3:44 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

So... I haven't paid attention for a few days. Anyone know if they have the votes? Likely have the votes? Is too close to tell? Or...?
posted by edgeways at 3:47 PM on June 24, 2011

Don't know, but the vote is now said to be TONIGHT, maybe around 11 PM or midnight Eastern Time.
posted by Asparagirl at 3:49 PM on June 24, 2011

edgeways, the times's political reporter, nick confessore, just tweeted For those counting at home: #gaymarriage still one vote short. Two R senators, Mark Grisanti and Stephen Saland, remain publicly undecided.
posted by qnarf at 3:53 PM on June 24, 2011

Officially still 31 votes, one vote short. Lanza who was one of the undecideds has now said he'll be voting no. Still two republicans publicly undecided.

Reports from the conference including quotes such as "They spoke from the heart" and "The day of just bottling up thins...as far as I'm concerned as leader, its over with"

So yeah, definitely too close to tell.
posted by TwoWordReview at 3:54 PM on June 24, 2011

I hope like hell I'm wrong, but I suspect another heartbreaker then. May I eat crow
posted by edgeways at 4:01 PM on June 24, 2011

ny1 is interviewing an assemblyman who claims to know for sure that there's a 32nd vote, states he knows who it will be, but will not say the name.
meanwhile, on the live feed, they're talking the education bill and reuben diaz sounds increasingly deranged.
posted by qnarf at 4:11 PM on June 24, 2011

i'm pretty sure the guy who picks the music on the live feed when they're in recess is fucking with everyone who is watching.

Please tell me they went with "It's Raining Men."
posted by evidenceofabsence at 4:20 PM on June 24, 2011 [2 favorites]

Dear Senators: Please do remember that your constituents will be taking to the streets of your district this weekend, whether you pass this measure or not.

You have, in your hands, the historic opportunity to make it the happiest pride of all.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 4:56 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

an odd mix of techno and classical, evidenceofabsence.
the assembly passed the senate's suggested amendments.
posted by qnarf at 5:32 PM on June 24, 2011

I played both No Children and Going To The Chapel on the jukebox, to cover my bases.
posted by The Whelk at 5:41 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

livery bill passed, they went into recess, the intern running the live feed put up some kind of gregorian chant.
posted by qnarf at 5:51 PM on June 24, 2011

now it's some kind of steel drum, organ and flute arrangement.
posted by qnarf at 5:53 PM on June 24, 2011

truly, something for everybody!
posted by evidenceofabsence at 5:57 PM on June 24, 2011

twitter indicates that when they return from this fifteen minute majority conference, they'll take up same sex marriage.
the live feed is up to 17k viewers.
posted by qnarf at 5:57 PM on June 24, 2011

NYC is going to be chaotic tonight if this passes, and increasingly so over the weekend.
posted by hippybear at 5:58 PM on June 24, 2011

I want the camera to pull out to reveal that the intern is the one playing the piano.
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:04 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Shazam doesn't have any of these songs. Once this is over, I seriously want to know where they're getting their music from.
posted by schmod at 6:05 PM on June 24, 2011

Crowds gathering outside the Stonewall Inn in NYC.
posted by schmod at 6:06 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

This music is distressingly pop-y. Are TMBG playing along in the hotel bar of my civil union vote?
posted by The Whelk at 6:10 PM on June 24, 2011

the music sounds like it comes from mid 90s fighting games. what's on right now could have been the background for tekken's beach level.
posted by qnarf at 6:10 PM on June 24, 2011

This sounds like DVD menu music for a straight-to-DVD kids' movie.

Oh wait, it's breaking down kinda hard right now.
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:12 PM on June 24, 2011

Ruben diaz sr standing alone on empty republican side of the aisle looking up at the gallery and whistling

fuck that guy.
posted by qnarf at 6:12 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

I finally checked out the live stream. 19000 viewers!
posted by lullaby at 6:13 PM on June 24, 2011

Cave level video game music now.
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:14 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

and now the intern has decided we're in a soft core cinemax movie about a private detective getting to close to his client.
posted by qnarf at 6:15 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Man, qnarf, you weren''t kidding. I have never been so grateful for brief stretches of plain 'ol muzak.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 6:16 PM on June 24, 2011

senators are filing back in, ushers are asking the gallery to be seated. should be starting in moments.
posted by qnarf at 6:19 PM on June 24, 2011

live feed back up.
posted by qnarf at 6:21 PM on June 24, 2011

Ruben diaz sr standing alone on empty republican side of the aisle looking up at the gallery and whistling

So, what's the northern-bigot version of "Dixie" anyhow?
posted by evidenceofabsence at 6:22 PM on June 24, 2011

Um... Does anyone else not hear anything? I see the video but no volume. Just my laptop or something?
posted by lullaby at 6:23 PM on June 24, 2011

NY1 just explained that there won't be audio until they're officially in session.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 6:24 PM on June 24, 2011

ah, ok. Thanks!
posted by lullaby at 6:25 PM on June 24, 2011

Fingers crossed folks.
posted by gerryblog at 6:28 PM on June 24, 2011

audio is up
posted by qnarf at 6:30 PM on June 24, 2011

tom duane is confused.
posted by qnarf at 6:33 PM on June 24, 2011

A LIGHT YEAR IS NOT A MEASUREMENT OF TIME GRAHHHHH
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 6:34 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

saland speaking to explain is important. his vote is one of the unknowns.
posted by qnarf at 6:34 PM on June 24, 2011

in spite of how boring a speaker he is, gannet news service has saland as yes number 32.
posted by qnarf at 6:43 PM on June 24, 2011

he's also, evidently, responsible for the bill's inseverability clause, in answer to an earlier question.
posted by qnarf at 6:46 PM on June 24, 2011

@TheFix: If this gay marriage bill passes NY Senate, you may be looking at 2016 Dem frontrunner Andrew Cuomo.
posted by gerryblog at 6:47 PM on June 24, 2011

Fingers crossed on one hand.

(Other hand is trying to figure out how to buy like a ton of Crate & Barrel stock.)
posted by evidenceofabsence at 6:48 PM on June 24, 2011 [3 favorites]

he's saying he'll support! and he's crying a bit.
posted by qnarf at 6:48 PM on June 24, 2011

Ah, a Republican who honestly works through issues. Why can't we have more like this guy?
posted by tivalasvegas at 6:49 PM on June 24, 2011

saland refuses to yield to diaz.
because fuck diaz.
posted by qnarf at 6:49 PM on June 24, 2011

Christ, what an asshole.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 6:50 PM on June 24, 2011

First, YES! 32 VOTES!

Second, what was that yielding thing about?
posted by grapesaresour at 6:51 PM on June 24, 2011

diaz, grapesaresour, wanted to ask saland questions, terrible terrible questions, because he's a jerk, and was asking him to yield to do so.
saland told him to suck it.
posted by qnarf at 6:53 PM on June 24, 2011

Really, Senator Ball? YOUR NAME IS SENATOR BALL.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 6:53 PM on June 24, 2011

Whose bright idea was the nonseverability clause?

Small-word explanation or link to same? What is that kind of clause?
posted by rtha at 6:54 PM on June 24, 2011

Previously, on TMKF:

YEEEEEEEEEE-

[to be continued]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 6:54 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Did we win? Did we win!?!?!?!?!?!
posted by scody at 6:54 PM on June 24, 2011

the amendment to the bill just passed, but the bill has not yet been passed. the amendment establishes the religious exemptions saland was discussing.
posted by qnarf at 6:54 PM on June 24, 2011

Holy shit.

did they just say the bill passed?
posted by hippybear at 6:54 PM on June 24, 2011

NEW YORK IS FREE
posted by schmod at 6:54 PM on June 24, 2011

*nervously munches metaphorical popcorn*
posted by Asparagirl at 6:55 PM on June 24, 2011

God not Albany? Fuck you some more, Senator Diaz.
posted by gladly at 6:55 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

diaz, grapesaresour, wanted to ask saland questions, terrible terrible questions, because he's a jerk, and was asking him to yield to do so. saland told him to suck it.

That's kind of what I suspected. Awesome :)
posted by grapesaresour at 6:55 PM on June 24, 2011

they're now taking up the bill, proper. diaz is vomiting words. shitty, shitty words.
posted by qnarf at 6:55 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

If you turn the volume down really low, you can pretend Ruben Diaz is the evil Swedish Chef.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 6:57 PM on June 24, 2011 [2 favorites]

rtha, inseverability means that the bill's seen as a whole. if any part of it is found by a court to be illegal, the whole bill is invalid.
posted by qnarf at 6:57 PM on June 24, 2011

God he's really rambling isn't he?
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 6:58 PM on June 24, 2011

Gotcha thanks qnarf.

*passes out from anxiety*
posted by rtha at 6:58 PM on June 24, 2011

someone just muttered 'he's out of order' into a live mic.
posted by qnarf at 6:59 PM on June 24, 2011

Petulant. Petulant is the word I was thinking of.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 6:59 PM on June 24, 2011

2 MINUTE LIMIT DOUCHE DIAZ
posted by grapesaresour at 7:00 PM on June 24, 2011

Holy shit, Diaz. Get a blog or something.
posted by lullaby at 7:00 PM on June 24, 2011 [2 favorites]

So, Diaz is upset that people are trying to take away his rights? That poor man was born without any sense of irony.
posted by gladly at 7:00 PM on June 24, 2011 [5 favorites]

Showboating dipshit.
posted by Asparagirl at 7:00 PM on June 24, 2011

diaz is having an actual hissy fit.
posted by qnarf at 7:00 PM on June 24, 2011

He could not make his side look worse if he tried.
posted by Asparagirl at 7:02 PM on June 24, 2011

"Maybe if I talk long and loud enough, all of this will just go away!"
posted by evidenceofabsence at 7:02 PM on June 24, 2011

diaz officiated hiram monsaratte's wedding. just... you know. he's awful.
posted by qnarf at 7:02 PM on June 24, 2011

Bring it home now, Duane!
posted by Asparagirl at 7:04 PM on June 24, 2011

the live feed's up to 40 thousand.
posted by qnarf at 7:04 PM on June 24, 2011

oh, snap. i apparently don't understand NYS parlimentary procedure at all
posted by schmod at 7:05 PM on June 24, 2011

Aw shit. Senator Duane is making me cry.
posted by grapesaresour at 7:05 PM on June 24, 2011

No offense, senators, but I really just want you to vote already.
posted by lullaby at 7:05 PM on June 24, 2011 [2 favorites]

diaz officiated hiram monsaratte's wedding

Fucking hell. Really? You wanna talk about unholy matrimony....
posted by evidenceofabsence at 7:05 PM on June 24, 2011

On the topic of another kind of equality, the New York State Senate deserves props for open captioning their live feed.
posted by Asparagirl at 7:10 PM on June 24, 2011

Is that his partner behind him? He is so crying!
posted by evidenceofabsence at 7:11 PM on June 24, 2011

OK, now Duane is making me cry, too. "Marriage says that we are family. Louis and I are family! ...I'm asking my colleagues to vote Yes for all New Yorkers, and yes for me and Louis."
posted by scody at 7:12 PM on June 24, 2011

grisanti, another undecided, is up.
posted by qnarf at 7:13 PM on June 24, 2011

"As a Catholic I was raised to believe marriage is just between a man and a woman. But I am not just a senator as a Catholic."

I don't know a damn thing about this Mark Grisanti, but I like him for this speech a lot.
posted by Rory Marinich at 7:14 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

'i cannot legally come up with an argument against same sex marriage'. he's voting for it.
posted by qnarf at 7:15 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

I cannot deny, a person, a human being, a taxpayer... the same rights that I have with my wife.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:16 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

NY1 has some live shots of the crowd gathering outside of Stonewall, off and on. Woot.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 7:16 PM on June 24, 2011

Shit, now we have to go thank Lady Gaga. She targeted him to get him to change his vote.
posted by Asparagirl at 7:16 PM on June 24, 2011

I may need to send fan mail to Grisanti. And maybe money. Awesome fucking speech.
posted by Mavri at 7:17 PM on June 24, 2011

Sen. Grisanti: "I believe a person can be wiser today than yesterday. I cannot deny a person, a human being, a worker, a fellow worker... the same rights I have with my wife." YEAH!
posted by scody at 7:17 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Hopefully the President of the Senate went to get an egg timer.
posted by ob1quixote at 7:18 PM on June 24, 2011 [3 favorites]

"if this bill fails I'm afraid the religious protections won't be in the next bill, so I'm voting yes"

that's an interesting tack to take.
posted by hippybear at 7:18 PM on June 24, 2011

that's an interesting tack to take.

It's a reasonable tack. He's put himself on the right side of history while still being able to say "I fought the good fight" to his more conservative constituents.
posted by jedicus at 7:19 PM on June 24, 2011

And now, a dramatic pause.
posted by Asparagirl at 7:20 PM on June 24, 2011

Whoever came up with that amendment on exemptions and protections for religious organizations deserves a freaking medal.
posted by ob1quixote at 7:20 PM on June 24, 2011

any links to a live feed at Stonewall?
posted by scody at 7:21 PM on June 24, 2011

Headed to Stonewall right now.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:22 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

WTF is the holdup?
posted by grapesaresour at 7:23 PM on June 24, 2011

I can be soooo slow sometimes. I saw the photo outside of The Stonewall Inn, and thought "Oh right -- what they pass in Albany will apply to Manhattan."
posted by benito.strauss at 7:23 PM on June 24, 2011

A jeep just drove by honking. The person in the passenger seat was waving a huge rainbow flag out the window. Hurray.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 7:23 PM on June 24, 2011

Everybody ready?

(I just got out my chocolate ice cream bar out of the freezer in anticipation.)
posted by Asparagirl at 7:24 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

WTF is the holdup?

I have fond hopes that Diana Ross is just running a little late for the part where she will burst into the senate to start singing "I'm Coming Out" when it passes.
posted by scody at 7:25 PM on June 24, 2011 [5 favorites]

I used the break to order some Thai food. Hoping I can run past Ginger's and high-five everyone when I go pick it up.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 7:25 PM on June 24, 2011

I have fond hopes that Diana Ross is just running a little late for the part where she will burst into the senate to start singing "I'm Coming Out" when it passes.

If that's what it is, then I am fine with the holdup!
posted by grapesaresour at 7:26 PM on June 24, 2011

"We have a request for one more speaker. NO SENATOR DIAZ, YOU CANNOT SPEAK AGAIN, EVEN IN COSTUME."
posted by scody at 7:26 PM on June 24, 2011 [5 favorites]

idk, I think he'd be a lot easier to listen to dressed as Shirley Temple.
posted by elizardbits at 7:28 PM on June 24, 2011

More blah blah blah about the "new" religious protections in this bill. Whatever. If that's what it takes to give otherwise wobbly supporters a fig leaf, then that's fine with me.
posted by Asparagirl at 7:29 PM on June 24, 2011

Kruger: "Tonight is what a reaffirmation of what a family really is.... The rights and the freedoms of this Empire State will live forever."
posted by scody at 7:29 PM on June 24, 2011

Here we go.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:29 PM on June 24, 2011

they're taking the roll of the votes.
posted by qnarf at 7:29 PM on June 24, 2011

There's a new thread, folks.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:29 PM on June 24, 2011

YAY! Congrats NY!
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:29 PM on June 24, 2011

YES!!!!!!1
posted by scody at 7:29 PM on June 24, 2011

Oh Farley, why couldn't you come around?
posted by pjenks at 7:29 PM on June 24, 2011

BOOM!

Well done New York.
posted by Doublewhiskeycokenoice at 7:30 PM on June 24, 2011

FUCK YES!
posted by evidenceofabsence at 7:30 PM on June 24, 2011

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
posted by FelliniBlank at 7:30 PM on June 24, 2011

33-29
DONE DEAL
posted by qnarf at 7:30 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

any links to a live feed at Stonewall?

I don't know of any but Maureen Johnson is tweeting some pics.
posted by grapesaresour at 7:30 PM on June 24, 2011

FULL AND EQUAL CIVIL RIGHTS TO THOSE LOVABLE CHARACTERS THE GAYS!
posted by The Whelk at 7:30 PM on June 24, 2011 [4 favorites]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by grapesaresour at 7:30 PM on June 24, 2011

EQUALITY, BITCHEZ!
posted by Asparagirl at 7:30 PM on June 24, 2011

New York, you did it!!!
posted by lullaby at 7:30 PM on June 24, 2011

chanting USA in the chamber.
posted by qnarf at 7:31 PM on June 24, 2011

*clinks glasses*

SLAINTE, YOU WONDERFUL NEW YORK BASTARDS
posted by scody at 7:32 PM on June 24, 2011

I can hear celebrating out my window here in SF!
posted by grapesaresour at 7:32 PM on June 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Mazel Tov! You all better invite us to your weddings.
posted by Asparagirl at 7:33 PM on June 24, 2011

"The senate is adjourned. Cue weird music."
posted by scody at 7:33 PM on June 24, 2011 [5 favorites]

Woo!!!! YAY!
posted by zarq at 7:45 PM on June 24, 2011

New thread. :-)
posted by Asparagirl at 7:45 PM on June 24, 2011

I put this comment in the newer thread, but dammit I worked hard on it, so I'm putting it here, too.

***

The New York City Pride Parade is Sunday.

Photo of what it looks like outside The Stonewall Inn right now.

If this passes, it will be the first gay marriage bill to pass in a Republican-majority state senate.

Come senators, congressmen / please heed the call
don't stand in the doorway / don't block up the hall
for he that gets hurt / will be he who has stalled
there's a battle outside / and it is ragin'
it'll soon shake your windows / And rattle your walls
for the times / they are a-changin'.

And an additional note.

"Let us realize: the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." — Martin Luther King.
posted by tzikeh at 7:45 PM on June 24, 2011 [9 favorites]

Woot! Congrats!
posted by various at 7:46 PM on June 24, 2011

Thank you, New York. Thank you, so much.

Folks here in Arizona look from afar with a grateful eye at your historical step forward, eagerly awaiting the day when your example will spread westward.

Thank you.
posted by darkstar at 12:00 PM on June 25, 2011

Er...*historic.
posted by darkstar at 12:32 PM on June 25, 2011

New York is cool once again.
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:28 PM on June 25, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm just gonna wrap this up with an explanation, of sorts, of the Senate music.
posted by lalex at 7:57 PM on June 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

I♥NY
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:04 AM on June 27, 2011