Prop 8 Trial Tracker

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• 1. Sagesse  |  June 23, 2011 at 6:02 am

  I was not getting email notifications on yesterday's post for most of the day. Let's see if I do better this time.

• 2. James Tuttle  |  June 23, 2011 at 6:19 am

  Is everyone ready for another fun filled, heart stopping, edge of your seat legislation session??? I am! Who's with me?

• 3. Ronnie  |  June 23, 2011 at 6:20 am

  Subscribing & sharing……<3…Ronnie:

  Anderson Cooper speaks with Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson & CNN legal expert Jeffrey Toobin about Marriage Equality in NY:

  [youtube tcQlBhW-qho http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcQlBhW-qho youtube]

• 4. MFargo  |  June 23, 2011 at 6:21 am

  I'm here. I'm queer. And I'm ready and waiting.

• 5. LCH  |  June 23, 2011 at 6:36 am

  ♀♀=♂♂=♀♂=∑♡

• 6. AnonyGrl  |  June 23, 2011 at 6:37 am

  I will be going back to the Senate Gallery tonight, because hours of sitting on those wooden pews (yes, ok, they do have padding, but still…) listening to Senators mumble about whether people who use absentee ballots because they are travelling or in Iraq or are college students living at school are possibly committing voter fraud by keeping a rent controlled apartment and not voting in the right district even though they have to mail them back…. honestly, at that point I fell asleep.

• 7. Ann S.  |  June 23, 2011 at 6:37 am

  I'm here. I'm a straight ally. I'm waiting for equality for all New Yorkers!

• 8. unmentionables  |  June 23, 2011 at 6:39 am

  Yes, New York, bow and scrape to religion before you agree to grant equality under the law. It's disgusting that those holy bigots have to be promised they won't get sued for their hatred before some NY senators will go along with equality. Shit.

• 9. AnonyGrl  |  June 23, 2011 at 6:44 am

  I am hoping that the proposed changes to the legislation don't go too far, and that if they do, they can be easily overturned in court. But the fact that we are even ENTERTAINING them does bother me quite a bit!

• 10. ChaChaCha  |  June 23, 2011 at 6:45 am

  I don't see how you can prevent anyone from filing a lawsuit that makes a claim against the consitutionality of a group's actions. They can try to protect religion all they want, but there is no guarantee of those protections.

  Surely the legislators know this, so it seems that we have a situation where those senators who want to deny marriage equality can hang their hat on the genuine impossibility of providing the protection that the religious public demands, and those senators who want marriage equality can draft language strong enough that will convince the public the false perception (and thereby protect their seats) that religion has an impenetrable guantlet of protection.

• 11. wiseowl13  |  June 23, 2011 at 6:46 am

  They really are dragging this out. Our State representatives are wholly on board. We have our fingers crossed here in Rockland County. My spouse and I were married in California in 2008, during the window of validity. We would much rather have had it in NY, our home. Just think, also, about the industry this approval will create. It's mind-boggling…

• 12. Str8Grandmother  |  June 23, 2011 at 6:55 am

  Me too, me too. However I did read a direct quote from Rep Senator Ball where he said something like, we cannot codify Discrimination. And he is one who is on the fence, so I took that as a positive comment.

• 13. Ozymandias71  |  June 23, 2011 at 7:06 am

  I've got more coffee brewing, broke out the French Vanilla creamer – I'm ready!

• 14. LCH  |  June 23, 2011 at 7:10 am

  As odious as these discriminatory carve outs are, I firmly believe that those groups that cleave to them will wither away once marriage equality becomes the norm. Here in San Francisco, if you delve into the old records you'd still find things like housing covenants that bar Asians, Mexicans and Blacks from living in certain neighborhoods except for servants. No one follows them anymore and the people who put them in the covenants are long dead as is the attitude that put them there in the first place.

• 15. LCH  |  June 23, 2011 at 7:10 am

  As odious as these discriminatory carve outs are, I firmly believe that those groups that cleave to them will wither away once marriage equality becomes the norm. Here in San Francisco, if you delve into the old records you'd still find things like housing covenants that bar Asians, Mexicans and Blacks from living in certain neighborhoods except for servants. No one follows them anymore and the people who put them in the covenants are long dead as is the attitude that put them there in the first place.

  ♀♀=♂♂=♀♂=∑♡

• 16. Shannon  |  June 23, 2011 at 7:35 am

  I hate to be pessimistic, but I'm a little worried that these holdouts will NEVER be willing to concede marriage equality just in exchange for the carve-outs they're talking about. I almost feel like they're just trying to drag it out, belabor their point, and in the end, no matter how many exceptions may be written into the bill, they'll say "No, we just aren't confident that religious protections are adequate." But perhaps those folk will just be the "no" votes but not the ones blocking the path to the vote.

• 17. Ronnie  |  June 23, 2011 at 7:35 am

  Five bills the New York Senate thought were more important (as of this moment) to vote on than our rights. More important then protecting the 14,000 NY children who have 2dads or 2moms. More important then finally giving the thousands of LGBT New York tax payers what their hard earned money pays for. More important then fulfilling the wishes of a couple that has been together for 61years but can't get married because some people have a selfish issue with it. More important then finally ending the unconstitutional violation of the religious liberty of houses of worship & denominations that are LGBT affirming & recognize marriage btw. 2men or 2women.

  Five Bills The NY State Senate Has Voted On Instead Of Gay Marriage http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/22/sweet-co…

  1.) Now I love sweet corn as much as the next guy/gal. I eat it as a snack. But somehow voting on a bill to make it the state vegetable is more important then providing legal Civil Marriage & the rights, benefits, privileges, & protections it comes with to the LGBT people who may purchase the sweet corn, help sell the sweet corn, help farm the sweet corn, etc. etc. etc……..That's right people the NY Senate has deemed sweet corn more important to vote on then Marriage Equality.

  2.) A bill to allow disabled people to hunt big game with crossbows. I'm against hunting in general so I'll just leave it with this……That's right people the NY Senate has deemed voting on killing innocent animals for sport more important then voting on Marriage Equality.

  3.) A bill to allow some tightrope walker to risk his life crossing the Niagara gorge….So let me see if I'm reading this correct. The NY Senate is ok with voting on allowing this guy to put his life in danger but they have issues with voting on whether tax payers can obtain a marriage license that their tax dollars pay for to be printed & pays the clerks who issue them out. Gotcha, circus tricks important & Marriage Equality is expendable.

  4.) Bill to refine the rules of BINGO……really?…..REALLY????!!!!!

  5.) Bill to make the quartz variety Herkimer Diamond the NYS mineral. All the better to stone you with my dear……. Renowned Interior Designer Nate Berkus highly recommends bringing nature into your home & one of his favorite elements of nature is quartz but I doubt he thinks that making it the state mineral is more important then the right to marry his boyfriend.

  All of these passed by the way…..BRING IT TO A VOTE & VOTE YES NOW!!!!!!!!!!……&lt;3…Ronnie

• 18. Straight 4 Equality  |  June 23, 2011 at 7:45 am

  Although I am straight and I live in a state where marriage equality is a fact of life, I will be watching anxiously to see if New York does the right thing.

• 19. Gelo  |  June 23, 2011 at 7:53 am

  Waiting in Northern CALI =)

• 20. Judy  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:07 am

  Waiting in Sacramento.

• 21. 415kathleenk  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:12 am

  still waiting in SF. We cannot give up hope. Its not over

• 22. AdamJC  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:15 am

  I was born and raised in NY, but now live in CA. I'm (im)patiently waiting for this to be a win for our side. Come on NY!!!!!

• 23. Rich  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:19 am

  Waiting in Maine. Let's get it done!

• 24. Casey  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:24 am

  {face in hands}

  Waiting hopefully for the moment I'm proud to be from NY, instead of ashamed (as I was when I read the bingo thing)…

• 25. MFargo  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:26 am

  I do think this makes them look…awful. At least to my eyes. It only reenforces the degree of hatred fueling all of this..

• 26. Ronnie  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:28 am

  LOL…..It is refreshing to know that the rules of recreational games are being refined using tax dollars. Maybe the senate can take on Hungry Hungry Hippos tournaments in the next session…..Oh, you laugh, but they do exist…… ; ) …Ronnie

• 27. loaferguy  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:31 am

  Also waiting in Sacramento.

• 28. MFargo  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:31 am

  Sonoma County, CA…waiting…refreshing…. waiting…refreshing…

• 29. LD1  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:32 am

  Senator Ball said that? He is the one that's been pushing for exemptions not just to religious-affiliated organizations, but to individuals with religous beliefs. (?)

• 30. loaferguy  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:34 am

  And while we're all waiting, here's a short wedding video I ran across and wanted to share with you all. Thought it was beautiful.
  http://vimeo.com/16663742

• 31. Ronnie  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:37 am

  OMGrain…….I just spit coffee everywhere…… XP …Ronnie

• 32. Waxr  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:39 am

  Waiting in Los Angeles. It will get worse when the bill does come to the floor and we will have to wait for all those senators making speeches explaining their vote.

• 33. Reformed  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:39 am

  Incorporating language that is already state law is acceptable, however, when will we be able to pass legislation without a discriminatory considerations.

  I do think Bingo legislation should included carveouts so that Bingo hall operators can decide for themselves whether or not gay people should be allowed to participate at the same odds as the straight people, if at all. Ya know, increased risk of cheating when immoral people participate. Bingo is a very catholic thing in many places, ya know, in spite of the immoral nature of GAMBLING!

• 34. AnonyGrl  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:43 am

  Ronnie, I think you should enter the one in NJ and I will enter the one in NY. Hopefully we will both make it to the National Hungry Hungry Hippo Championship and get to play against each other! By the way, you got your picture in the Times Union here in Albany yesterday. When you were inside the building, standing next to the gay Mormon. There you were, big as life! The front page picture was a group on another floor, and it happened that when it was taken, I was standing just out of frame, so I did not make it into the paper.

• 35. Rae  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:43 am

  Born and raised in NY, now waiting in Japan for marriage equality back home

• 36. MFargo  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:43 am

  Did he call N31, yet? I fell asleep.

• 37. _BK_  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:44 am

  Well, I'm leaving in a few hours for a nine-day trip without internet access or television. And of course, the vote for marriage equality will not occur until I am already gone. Still – New York, you have my thoughts and prayers 'til the very end! Good luck!

• 38. _BK_  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:46 am

  You're in Japan? (cool!) I'm in Turkey, but waiting just the same for marriage equality in the USA. : )

• 39. _BK_  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:47 am

  ROFL! Go, Ronnie! Hilarious. : ) We should make that an ad…

• 40. mas  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:48 am

  Waiting in PA–come on NY!

• 41. Ronnie  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:50 am

  YAY!!!….I'm famous….lol…..I don't know, I'm more of a Connect Four guy but entering an HHH tournament could be fun…. ; ) …Ronnie

• 42. Don in Texas  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:55 am

  FWIW: Texas Governor Rick Perry To Headline Fundraising Dinner For A Group That Promotes Ex-Gay Therapy.

  (As a native-born Texan, I apologize to the world for this miscreant.)

• 43. Anthony  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:56 am

  Why wouldn't they be re-elected Franklin?

• 44. Dave D.  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:57 am

  Forget the corn. Bingo is the big issue here. If they change the rules, they are redefining it. We need to have a vote of the people before they can do that. We need religious protections, too. The Catholic church runs a lot of charity bingo games, they need to be exempt from having to give jackpots to LGBT people.

• 45. Ronnie  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:58 am

  There's Drag Queen Bingo in NYC…… : ) …Ronnie

• 46. 415kathleenk  |  June 23, 2011 at 8:58 am

  On the NY senate video feed- there is no window and it says the camera is turned off. Yet their calendar says session 11 am today. I can't decide if this is a good sign or a bad sign.

• 47. Ann S.  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:00 am

  LCH, those old deed restrictions are not followed anymore because enforcement has become illegal. Unfortunately, I imagine there are still some who would like to follow them, but they can't. Hopefully in a few decades the lack of marriage equality will seem as outdated.

• 48. John  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:01 am

  The same way none of the assemblymen and women were not…

  Oh, wait. All of the GOP marriage equality voters were reelected. So much for that.

• 49. Franklin  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:04 am

  Because despite the press bias, despite the errant framing of the issue that uses the right buzz words… most people don't believe in ssm.

  Lawmakers if you vote yes you will not be reelected! Do you really want to end your career?

• 50. Anthony  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:08 am

  When you say that most people don't believe in same-sex marriage, who do you mean? Because every poll shows marriage equality support carrying the majority. So technically, most people do believe in same-sex marriage.

  Any other facts you need fixed? I know it gets hard, I know. I'm here to help, Franklin.

• 51. Ronnie  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:10 am

  You do know that several of the ones that voted "No" last timed lost in the following election right?

  I'm going to ignore the rest of your FAIL….ok moving on…. 8 / ….Ronnie

• 52. AnonyGrl  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:10 am

  I would love to hear more about the "errant framing of the issue" and the "right buzz words" please.

• 53. LD1  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:12 am

  It's starting now

• 54. AnonyGrl  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:13 am

  I'll help you out there, too, Franklin. 58% of New Yorkers support marriage equality, in the reputable, unbiased polls. I don't know who doesn't "believe in SSM", as though belief were required. Some states and countries already HAVE marriage equality, so it is an established fact that stands whether you believe it or not.

• 55. Casey  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:15 am

  I don't believe in ignorant backasswards trolls. But clearly, they exist, despite what happens in my tiny little mind.

• 56. AnonyGrl  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:16 am

  All that would mean is that they have not finished up with their morning conference and/or rules committee meeting, both of which have to happen before they go back into session. They EXPECT to be on the floor by a certain time, but do not always make it by that time.

  I don't see that as being much of a sign either way at this point.

• 57. Alan_Eckert  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:16 am

  It's like the anti-sodomy laws that are still on the books in many states. It's illegal to enforce them, but people still love to cite them.

• 58. Anthony  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:16 am

  Let's not get distracted by the errant ramblings of a random person. Let's all focus our attention on today's session and keep each other motivated and inspired and believing that today will be the day. We'll be here together, our little community and family. And that will be enough.

• 59. Alan_Eckert  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:16 am

  Dazed, I forgot, which part of the state are you in?

• 60. Alan_Eckert  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:20 am

  I don't have to "believe" in ssm. I just know it as a fact.

• 61. Str8Grandmother  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:21 am

  I hope you are wrong Shannon

• 62. Str8Grandmother  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:23 am

  Ronnie-"Maybe the senate can take on Hungry Hungry Hippos tournaments in the next session."
  SG-ROTFLMAO!

• 63. Bob  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:24 am

  waiting in Canada,,,,, loved the Anderson Cooper inteview,,,,, come on New York,,,, the big apple,,,, you represent everything American,,,,,,,, be brave,,,, carve out that line between church and state,,,, stand up for EQUALITY,,,,,, you can do it!!!!!!!!

• 64. Waiting in SF  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:25 am

  Obvious troll is obvious

• 65. AnonyGrl  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:27 am

  They have not put it on the calendar yet… which they can continue to not do forever if they choose. That is how it works here in NY. The majority party sets the calendar, so they can kill things in conference, off the floor, without a full vote by simply not bringing it out for a vote. This is why we have been calling Skelos (the majority leader) and telling him to please bring the bill to the floor.

  So really, that is what we are all waiting for… the Republicans to bring the bill to the floor.

• 66. Franklin  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:27 am

  I suggest you do some research on how polls work. It's all in the way it's asked.

  Lawmakers you will NOT be reelected if you vote yes. Count on it!

  Your sarcasm is not lost just ignored. I realize that when the facts are not really on your side yet you believe they are, sarcasm is one of the results.

• 67. Sagesse  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:28 am

  As of about 20 minutes ago, I stopped getting email notifications for this post.

• 68. Shannon  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:28 am

  I hope I'm wrong too… but I have yet to see many charitable intentions among those who deny us our civil equality. My optimism comes from knowing they are becoming a minority.

• 69. Franklin  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:29 am

  Just as the Iowa judges were dismissed, NY lawmakers will also be if they vote yes.

• 70. chris from CO  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:30 am

  I believe it will be one of the last bills to be voted on they want to vote on this and get the hell out of Albany so their votes wont have to e explained till things calm down.

• 71. Ronnie  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:34 am

  Second verse same as the first……Just more FAIL on your part….ok moving on… 8 / ….Ronnie

• 72. Ronnie  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:36 am

  Hahahahahahah….. more FAIL…yaaaaaaaaawn……….. 8 / …Ronnie

• 73. Waxr  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:38 am

  If the bill is not brought to the floor, can't the governor prevent the legislature from adjourning until it is brought to the floor and voted on?

• 74. Maggie4NoH8  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:38 am

  I'm from west Texas originally, and if memory serves me correctly, Jayzzzus doesn't like corn either…

  Background – it wasn't until I was a teenager that I realized Jazzzus and Jesus were one in the same… Church of Christ Jesus, Baptist Church – Jayzzzus Long story, but grandparents went to different churches, very small town (as in 14 in my graduating high school class)….

  Being an ex-farmer, this "redefining" corn thing does cause me concern.

• 75. 415kathleenk  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:40 am

  thanks!- i hoped/thought it was something like that

• 76. Maggie4NoH8  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:45 am

  Me too… And I used to work with Perry's sister. Seeing him, and looking back, it's hard to believe!

  I SO apologize nation! For dubyah too!

• 77. DazedWheels  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:46 am

  I live between Charleston and Huntington, and work in Charleston. I've lived in southern and mid-WV, too.

• 78. Bob  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:49 am

  gotta repeat,,, waiting in Canada,,, first post lost in moderation,,,,, but I'm still with you all,,,,,

• 79. Mike  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:50 am

  Hubby and I are sitting on pins-and-needles in California watching, reading, waiting for the good news from New York. Not getting much work done tho :>) It'll be great to celebrate the NY victory this PRIDE weekend in SF.

• 80. AnonyGrl  |  June 23, 2011 at 9:52 am

  Thanks for your continuing support!!!

• 81. AnonyGrl  |  June 23, 2011 at 10:04 am

  Thanks BK and have a great trip! I hope we have good news for you when you come home!!

• 82. AnonyGrl  |  June 23, 2011 at 10:20 am

  That has not proven to be true in NY. The opportunity existed to do so during the last election cycle, and yet it ran entirely counter to your theory.

• 83. Ronnie  |  June 23, 2011 at 10:26 am

  And Matt Morris strung his guitar to raise money for Haiti while some Mormons refused to help anybody who didn't bow down to their version of "God" despite having plenty of room to spare in their church located in Haiti…..points to rolling eyes already rolled….. 8 / ….Ronnie

• 84. AnonyGrl  |  June 23, 2011 at 10:34 am

  What has Nero to do with this discussion? We here are presenting you with facts to correct your misinformation about how things stand here in NY. If you have different facts, feel free to present them, please.

• 85. Maggie4NoH8  |  June 23, 2011 at 10:39 am

  My posts are going thru….

• 86. Franklin  |  June 23, 2011 at 10:40 am

  I see no facts only wishful thinking.

• 87. Ronnie  |  June 23, 2011 at 10:50 am

  BWAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!…. ok moving on….. XP …Ronnie

• 88. LesbosLoveBoies  |  June 23, 2011 at 11:18 am

  Waiting in Arizona

• 89. MFargo  |  June 23, 2011 at 11:18 am

  I'm painting the downstairs and for once something is actually slower than watching paint dry.

• 90. MFargo  |  June 23, 2011 at 11:23 am

  I too was born in Texas but I fled to California 20 years ago, proving that indeed you can run away from your problems.

• 91. Mike  |  June 23, 2011 at 11:33 am

  I know we'll be thrilled by the good news at SF PRIDE and I can only imagine how it will be in NYC for PRIDE there. I'm investing in more Kleenex lately as the tears here come more often too. Good grief, there are just so many emotions in play.

• 92. Ozymandias71  |  June 23, 2011 at 11:37 am

  Waiting in Oklahoma…

• 93. AnonyGrl  |  June 23, 2011 at 11:38 am

  Since you seem reluctant to look it up yourself…

  FACT: 58% of New Yorkers are in favor of marriage equality. Check the Quinnipac poll. Check the Sienna poll. Check other polls which may not all say 58%, but are well above 50%.

  FACT: Senators who voted FOR marriage equality in 2009 still hold their seats… Diane Savino, Ruth Hassell-Thompson and Thomas Duane being some of the most outspoken advocates continue to lead the fight from the floor, despite threats that they would be ousted from office for their previous "yes" votes.

  In fact, the only wishful thinking I see is yours. But once again… if you have some facts, let's hear them.

• 94. Tim in Sonoma  |  June 23, 2011 at 11:47 am

  Makes me sick too! Religion recieves the "special rights" NOT US! When in the hell are we going to keep politics and religion (cults) seperate?! Discusting!

• 95. Tim in Sonoma  |  June 23, 2011 at 11:54 am

  Waiting in Sonoma California for someone to vote on someone elses civil rights, Again!

• 96. Straight 4 Equality  |  June 23, 2011 at 12:57 pm

  Still watching and waiting in New Hampshire.

• 97. Rhie  |  June 23, 2011 at 1:10 pm

  Yup. In fact, the GOP is starting to distance themselves from the bigotry, at least in words and publicly. Very soon, it will no longer pay to hate.

• 98. Rhie  |  June 23, 2011 at 1:17 pm

  I've always found the framing of it as a belief to be particularly silly. Legally married same sex couples exist all over the country and all over the world. It's a fact. Someone saying that they don't believe in it brings to mind a child with their hands over their eyes thinking they are invisible because they can't see. It's adorable in a two year old. It's just sad in an adult.

• 99. JonT  |  June 23, 2011 at 1:19 pm

  Ain't it the truth.

• 100. Rhie  |  June 23, 2011 at 1:19 pm

  Ok, you show us. Show us an example of a biased poll that supports marriage equality and an example of a non-biased poll that is against it. If that is as prevalent as you think it is it should take you thirty seconds or so on Google to find it.

• 101. Waxr  |  June 23, 2011 at 1:21 pm

  I could have watched some good movies today, such as "Gandhi", but instead I am tuned to this computer and nothing is happening.

• 102. Rhie  |  June 23, 2011 at 1:22 pm

  Prove it.

• 103. JonT  |  June 23, 2011 at 1:27 pm

  Oh Anonygrl… you know he isn't interested in actual facts. His type never is.

  Kudos for trying though

• 104. JonT  |  June 23, 2011 at 1:29 pm

  Same here!

• 105. JonT  |  June 23, 2011 at 1:31 pm

  Yeah this happens alot to me too. Wonder what the deal is.

• 106. Waxr  |  June 23, 2011 at 3:37 pm

  Senator Rubin Diaz is the only Senate Democrat who refuses to vote for the Marriage Equality Bill. With nothing else to do, I checked his page in the Senate web site. His credentials as a Democrat are solid, and generally liberal. I knew that he was a reverend in the Pentecostal Church but it was surprised to see that most of the time his biography referred to him as "Reverend" rather than "Senator". He has an anti-gay marriage video on his site. Also on his site can be found a statement which Senator Diaz posted yesterday under the heading, "If the NY Senate Passes Gay Marriage, It’s Republicans Who Will Take the Heat".

  In that recently posted statement Senator Diaz attempts to make three points:

  "First, marriage is and should remain the union of husband and wife. Same-sex marriage is a government takeover of an institution the government did not create and should not redefine.

  "Second, gay marriage is not inevitable. . . .

  "Third, as practical pols we agree: If gay marriage passes, it is Republicans across the state who will pay the biggest price."

  I don't know where he got the idea that the church had anything to do with the origin of marriage. He quotes NOM's poll showing that most New Yorkers are opposed to same sex marriage, and seems to be under the impression that civil rights should be subject to a popular vote. However, his main object appears to be to scare Republican Senators into believing that if the Marriage Equality bill passes, that voters will blame Republicans for giving into Governor Cuomo.

• 107. Chris in Lathrop  |  June 23, 2011 at 3:41 pm

  Waiting in the Central Valley… How 'bout this heat wave?

• 108. Chris in Lathrop  |  June 23, 2011 at 3:45 pm

  Yup. "Believing in" implies doubt of existence, just like "belief in (insert your own archetypal being here)."

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