Have you been following the New York State Senate? From the sounds of it, they are potentially hours away from a vote to end marriage discrimination. This is a pivotal point the equal rights movement. After a “no” vote in 2009 many opponents have decided to join the side of equality and are proud supports of marriage equality with a promised “yes” vote.
Hundreds of people have gathered in Albany, NY over the past few days to voice their support for equality. Human Rights Campaign blogger Marty Rouse said; “The crowd of hundreds was jubilant but also focused, as all are aware that the legislative clock is ticking. I urged the crowd to ask their friends and family members to contact their state Senators and I urged them to sign-up and volunteer at our phone banks later today, tonight and tomorrow.” People across New York have been calling their senators and urging them to vote in support of marriage equality. This afternoon The Huffington Post reported that state legislative leaders believed that there were no major obstacles to a vote by the end of the legislative session and it could come as early and Wednesday evening. Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo has been the political spearhead of the movement and during a meeting today with republican and democratic senators there was progress toward progress additional religious protections, which would give religious institutions the right to make their own decisions regarding performing same-sex weddings.
Marriage equality in New York has been touted as a game changer in the march toward equality and the political momentum from New York will carry into the 2010 elections. President Obama is scheduled to attend a high-profile LGBT fundraising gala Thursday night in New York just as the New York legislative session comes to an end.
Keep your eyes peeled toward New York over the next several days. For better or worse, gay marriage is heating up to be the hot political issue of the 2012 elections!
*The picture is from the Marriage Equality March in Seattle, WA in November of 2008 right after Californians voted in support of Prop 8, effectively allowing the majority to legally discriminate against a minority.
