marriage equality in NY State
Dec. 2nd, 2009 02:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rmAs I've mentioned before, even earlier today, marriage equality stuff in NY State is weird.
Due to unrelated political drama in the state capital, the issue has largely been side-lined, along with the rest of the legislative agenda for a while now. And, since NY State recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, there's been a certain lack of urgency on the subject.
Our assembly as passed a bill for marriage equality three times. But our state senate is notoriously conservative and this has largely been a fight no one wanted to have or thought we could win.
Well, the fight is happening right now. And no one knows what the outcome will be (very weird for a state body that hashes everything out in private before anything happens in public, often leaving public debates meaningless on done deals).
But it seems the discourse on the bill is remarkable in and of itself.
ETA: voting is happening now, after a long, rambling and pretty weird speech from Senator Duane, a gay man who has been at the front of this fight for a while.
ETA2: watching the vote now. It looks like we're going to lose.
ETA3: "The bill is lost."
ETA4: and now there will be nattering about "momentum" from the bigots; cowards one and all.
Due to unrelated political drama in the state capital, the issue has largely been side-lined, along with the rest of the legislative agenda for a while now. And, since NY State recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, there's been a certain lack of urgency on the subject.
Our assembly as passed a bill for marriage equality three times. But our state senate is notoriously conservative and this has largely been a fight no one wanted to have or thought we could win.
Well, the fight is happening right now. And no one knows what the outcome will be (very weird for a state body that hashes everything out in private before anything happens in public, often leaving public debates meaningless on done deals).
But it seems the discourse on the bill is remarkable in and of itself.
ETA: voting is happening now, after a long, rambling and pretty weird speech from Senator Duane, a gay man who has been at the front of this fight for a while.
ETA2: watching the vote now. It looks like we're going to lose.
ETA3: "The bill is lost."
ETA4: and now there will be nattering about "momentum" from the bigots; cowards one and all.
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no subject
Date: 2009-12-02 08:23 pm (UTC)We may not get another governor who's as strongly in favor of gay marriage by the time it comes up for another vote. Due to extensive gerrymandering legislative seats don't turn over very quickly so its going to be difficult to vote the bastards out of office. Even massive public shame won't make people resign in NY state politics.
At this point letting the air out of their tires, making fun of their hair, and kicking them in the shins are the most viable options.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-02 08:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-02 08:38 pm (UTC)Hey, you gotta find hope where you can get. Making fun of elected officials is definitly one of the upsides of living in a democratic republic (that isn't totalitarian).