New Poll: New York is Good with Gay Marriage

New York has spoken in a latest NY1/Marist poll that covers the recent Gay Marriage law.

Here are some key findings:

• 55% of NYS adults support the legalization of same-sex marriage. 36% oppose it, and 9% are unsure.


• Similar proportions of registered voters share these views. 


• About 66% of Democratic voters support the law. A majority of Republican voters -- 52% -- oppose the law. Nearly six in ten non-enrolled voters -- 58% -- support it. 


• About 62% of New Yorkers under the age 45 back the legislation; 50% of those 45 and older do. 


• When it comes to a suit filed to overturn the law, 63% of adults statewide don’t want the law to be overturned, 32% do and 5% are unsure. 


• 72% of Democratic voters and 66% of non-enrolled voters want to keep the law. Republican voters divide: 48% of GOPers think it should be overturned; 47% disagree.


• Nearly seven in ten suburban residents -- 69% -- and about two-thirds of those upstate -- 66% -- don’t want the law overturned. 57% of NYC adults agree.


• 44% of registered voters in New York report they are more likely to vote for a state senator who voted to pass the same-sex marriage law. Three in ten are less likely to do so while 19% say it makes no difference and seven percent are unsure.


• Although 79% of New York State residents don't expect to be a guest at the same-sex marriage of a family member or friend in the next year, 70% would attend asked, including 34% who oppose the law legalizing same-sex marriage.

 Now what, NOM and Ruben Diaz?

VIDEO: Maggie Gallagher on Overturning NY Gay Marriage: It's Gonna Be A Bloody Mess In NY

New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms has filed a suit against NY Gay Marriage

	The Rev. Jason McGuire, executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms with Sen. Ruben Diaz

The Rev. Jason McGuire, executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms with Sen. Ruben Diaz

And now the fools rush in. This group New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms has filed a suit against the Senate for NY's gay marriage. See their press release:

New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, Rev. Jason J. McGuire, Rev. Duane R. Motley and Rabbi Nathaniel S. Leiter are listed as plaintiffs. The plaintiffs, represented by the Liberty Counsel, contend that same-sex “marriage” legislation was only able to pass the State Legislature through:

• meetings that violated New York State Open Meetings Laws.
• the suspension of normal Senate voting procedures to prevent Senators who opposed the bill from speaking.
• failure to follow Senate procedures that require that a bill must be sent to appropriate committees prior to being placed before the full Senate for a vote.
• unprecedented Senate lock-outs by which lobbyists and the public were denied access to elected representatives.
• the Governor’s violation of the constitutionally mandated three-day review period before the Legislature votes on a bill by unjustifiably issuing a message of necessity.
• promises (which were fulfilled) by high-profile elected officials and Wall Street financiers to make large campaign contributions to Republican senators who switched their vote from opposing to supporting the Marriage Equality Act.

Rev. Jason J. McGuire, Executive Director, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, said, “Constitutional liberties were violated. Today we are asking the court to intervene in its rightful role as the check and balance on an out-of-control State Legislature.”

“It is unfortunate that state senators chose to protect their personal interests, rather than the people they were elected to represent. Some of the players may have changed, but it looks like same old Albany game. It is time the curtain be pulled back and the disinfecting light of good government shine upon the Cuomo Administration and our State Legislature,” McGuire concluded.

Go here to see the complaint

Gays Are Getting Married in New York!

Please watch the clip

New Report: Anti-LGBT Violence has Increased in New York

In New York, a new report points out the increased level of hate crimes against the LGBT community:

There were 114 bias attacks against gay males in the state in 2010, a nearly 40 percent increase from 82 attacks in 2009, according to a new report from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.


Offenses against gay men were the most commonly reported hate crime in 2010, followed closely by crimes against blacks and Jews.


Two-thirds of the hate crimes in New York City against gay men occurred in Brooklyn and Manhattan.


Ejeris Dixon of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, an organization that tracks violence against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, said the increase in numbers may mean more victims are willing to come forward — not that more crimes are committed. 

Interesting, right? I never thought of New York this way at all. Below, is the report:
Hate Crime in Nys 2010 Annual Report

Pic of the Week: NOM's Brian Brown

This is Brian after New York won marriage equality. This is Priceless!

 Brian Brown, the President of the anti-marriage equality National Organization for Marriage, sat in the galley openly weeping with sadness when the 33 to 29 vote was announced. (The bulk of the galley erupted spontaneously in chants of "USA, USA, USA", and even some members of the press couldn't keep themselves from clapping and cheering.) 

Love it

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WATCH: Dennis Prager and John Aravosis argue over the Reporting of the NY Gay Marriage Win

Read NOM's Broke Ass Plan to Save Marriage

Oh NOM, they just can't move on. A few days ago, I talked about their 'attack' on New York. Now, here is their 3 step plan:

We're putting together a 4-year campaign strategy that will reverse same-sex marriage in New York. We'll have many more details, and ways for you to get involved, in the days ahead but the overall plan will have three phases:

PHASE 1:
Elect pro-marriage majorities next November that will approve a marriage amendment in both the Assembly and Senate during the 2013 legislative session.
PHASE 2:
Protect pro-marriage candidates in the 2014 elections, so that the amendment can receive final legislative approval in the 2015 legislative session.
PHASE 3:
Successfully pass the ballot measure when it goes before voters in November 2015.

I guess they never watched 'Alias' or took a Strategy Planning course. All super villain knows you never post your plans in public, especially broke ass plans.

The marriage amendment is a bust. Who would really risk their political career over that? Then if the vote went to the people, well that's a bust. Over half of the NY peeps support gay marriage.

So just deal with it, you lost!

NY Sen. Ruben Diaz thinks he has Made History

Oh Ruben... After he gave his 'Best Actress in a Drama' scene last Friday; he is now playing a new role, History Maker.

But before I get there, Ruben goes on a rant about how Christians lost the gay marriage battle:

We have to organize better. The problem with the Christian movement, with the Christians and pastors, is that they pray too much and act too little," the Bronx state senator told CP.

Diaz has blamed the failure to block gay marriage in New York on switch-vote Republicans for "becoming a tool of the Democratic party" and in part on Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos for allowing the bill to come to a vote.

Don't you love it? You got to blame somebody, right? But here's the part that gets me:

I made history. I'm the only New York State Democrat that voted against the bill. I will wear it as a badge of honor," he said.

"No one will make abandon my faith. No one can make me change my life. I love Jesus. All what I am or what I do, all of what I have is because of His grace."

When asked what he thought about Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti of Buffalo, who went against his Catholic faith and original position to eventually vote "yes" on the gay marriage bill, Diaz said he would back any churches that wanted to "teach him a lesson."

Boy please, this mess right here

You didn't make history, you just made a fool of yourself.

Interesting Quote: Tony Perkins

Despite all of the disappointment, God is on the move. Regardless of how things appear, never doubt that He is at work behind the scenes. Rainbow colors may cut through the New York night, but shadows are where you and I are called to shine. The world takes advantage of the darkness, but only the church can set it ablaze. "Arise... for your light has come... See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (Isaiah 60:1-3)

Basically, he's upset about the gay marriage vote in New York.


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Is Ken Mehlman the Hidden Hero of the NY Gay Marriage Vote?

So when folks think of Ken Mehlman, they remember the guy who worked for Bush and led the campaign to federally ban gay marriage. Later, he came out and spent the last year trying to redeem himself. He has played some minor roles moving LGBT issues within the GOP. But his biggest role may have went semi unnoticed.

According to this latest piece from The Daily Beast, Ken may be the unsung hero of the NY gay marriage vote:

On May 6, Mehlman traveled to Albany to attend a meeting with the leaders of New York’s GOP-controlled legislature, and make his pitch. “There’ s a strong Republican and conservative case to be made in favor of the right to marry,” Mehlman told the room. “If we are all endowed by a creator with unalienable rights including the pursuit of happiness, how can that not include marrying the person you love?” And like any good campaign strategist, he buttressed his argument with poll data: nearly 60 percent of New Yorkers said in recent polling that they support same-sex marriage. The GOP should not, he hinted, wind up on the wrong side of history.

On June 6, two weeks before the legislative session was officially set to end, Mehlman was back in the state capitol to drive his argument home. He met one-on-one with 13 lawmakers, including the four Republican state senators who eventually voted in favor of the bill. Mehlman took pains not to draw too much attention to his efforts. As his friend, Bill Smith, political director at the Gill Action Fund, a gay-rights organization that orchestrated the conservative lobbying in New York, puts it, “he has been careful not to leave many fingerprints, like people who are looking for credit.” But the four Republican votes ended a deadlocked legislative session and made New York the sixth, largest, and most influential state to adopt same-sex marriage.

Ken is working hard to get in the gays' good graces. I'm kind of curious to see what he does next.

Let the Cultural Wars Begin! NOM attacks New York

Still bitter about their lost, NOM has started their attack toward the senators who supported gay marriage. Brian Brown put out this mess over the weekend.

Last night we were sold out by the Republican Party in New York.  Shortly before 10:30 last night, the New York Senate voted 33 to 29 in favor of same-sex marriage. Four Republicans – Jim Alesi, Roy McDonald, Steve Saland, and Mark Grisanti provided the margin of passage.

But this fight is far from over. In response to last night's vote, I have doubled our pledge to New York, committing at least $2 million dollars to make sure that New York Republicans understand that voting for gay marriage has consequences.

Marriage isn't a partisan issue – in fact, the hero of the past month has been Democratic Senator Ruben Diaz, a courageous friend who has withstood threats, bigotry and hatred while working tirelessly to protect and defend marriage. NOM pledges to stand with Senator Diaz and any Democrat who would share his courage in standing for marriage.

But the responsibility today rests squarely with the Republican Party. The Republican Party has torn up its contract with the voters who trusted them.  When Democrats are in control, they regularly refuse to permit a vote on a marriage amendment. When they are in the minority, they may even leave the state to prevent a vote when their base disapproves. And yet tonight, the Republican Party has sold out, and it is the Republican Party that will pay the worst price for this vote to redefine marriage.

Don't they sound like super villains? Anywho, NOM is asking for $50, $100 to a $1000 dollars to... Well... Raise money for themselves. It's highly unlikely they can get this overturned. So why are they raising money? They hope to get those Repubs out of office. Well, good luck with that.

Headlines

NOM's Brian Brown Threatens NY GOP for supporting Marriage Equality

After their huge defeat in New York, NOM's president Brian Brown vows vengeance against the GOP senators who supported gay marriage.

See here in their press release:

The National Organization for Marriage’s (NOM<http://www.nationformarriage.org/>) president, Brian Brown doubled his previous pledge, promising to commit "at least $2 million" in elections in 2012 to make sure Republicans understand that voting for gay marriage has consequences:

“The Republican party has torn up its contract with the voters who trusted them in order to facilitate Andrew Cuomo’s bid to be president of the U.S. Selling out your principles to get elected is wrong. Selling out your principles to get the other guy elected is just plain dumb.

Gay marriage has consequences for the next generation, for parents, and for religious people, institutions and small business owners. Politicians who campaign one way on marriage, and then vote the other, need to understand: betraying and misleading voters has consequences, too. We are not giving up, we will continue to fight to protect marriage in New York, as we are actively doing in New Hampshire and Iowa.”

NOM’s pledge to commit at least $2 million in the 2012 elections to hold politicians accountable for their vote includes independent expenditures as well as through NOM PAC New York.

These haters are ridic. 2 million dollars? They could actually do some real 'Christian' work with that money like: feeding the homeless, helping schools stay afloat or send kids who can't afford college to school. But no, they want to keep the legacy of hate alive. Bastards!

WATCH: The NY Gay Marriage Saga

Brought to you by Anderson Cooper

NOM Tweets their Loss in New York

Child Cheese, get used to it. There is more to come!

New York Has Marriage Equality!

The vote is done, kids! The gay marriage vote passes 33-29! New York has marriage equality!

Today, On the 'NY Gay Marriage Vote'...

Majority Leader Dean Skelos

Here's an update the mini-series known as NY Gay Marriage.

From the NY Times

Frustrations flared in the Capitol on Friday as Democratic lawmakers and gay rights advocates suggested that the Republicans in the State Senate were deliberately delaying a vote on whether to legalize same-sex marriage in New York.

It was a marked change of tone from proponents of gay marriage, and it seemed to indicate that their collaborative relationship with the Republicans, in whose hands the fate of the measure rests, had begun to fray.

“It’s outrageous,” said State Senator Liz Krueger, a Manhattan Democrat. “We were sent home last night without really any explanation.”

But Thomas W. Libous, the Senate Republican deputy majority leader, said that negotiations were on track and that he expected votes on most issues early Friday afternoon. Asked whether gay marriage could be voted on Friday, Mr. Libous said yes.



“Nobody wants to stay here tomorrow,” he said.

So today, maybe?  We will see.

WATCH: Anderson Cooper discuss the New York Gay Marriage Vote

Could the NY Gay Marriage Vote happen in a few Hours?

The NY gay marriage could happen today. On Sunday, I received word from a lobbyist in New York that today could be the day. Maybe they are  right? Here's more:

State legislative leaders said Wednesday afternoon there are no major obstacles to a vote on whether to legalize gay marriage.


Democrats and Republicans emerged from meetings with Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and said there is progress toward proposed additional religious protections that could bring a gay marriage bill to the Senate floor for a vote as early as Wednesday night. No deal had been struck as of Wednesday afternoon.


More protection for religious organizations such as adoption agencies and marriage counselors is sought by undecided Republican senators who are key to the vote.


Currently, the Senate appears to be one vote shy of making New York the sixth state where gay marriage is legal. It's viewed as a critical moment in the national gay rights movement.

Fingers Crossed.

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