On Friday Night June 24th Bill #1545 as it was called the "Marriage Equality Act" passed the New York State Senate by a vote of 33 to 29 at 10:30 PM. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law at 11:55 PM, and in 30 days New York State will join the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa, and Washington D.C. in legalizing gay marriage.
There were four senators who spoke on Bill #1545 either for or against the bill. Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. spoke against the bill, and in his lengthy debate he was interrupted by Senate President Robert Duffy (the Lieutenant Governor) more than once calling for Senator Diaz to wrap it up. Senator Tom Duane spoke in favor of the bill, by explaining his life after he came out as a homosexual, and his quest to get equal rights for other gay people. Duane ended by saying that he and his life partner Louis could now be married in New York State. Senator Mark Grisanti explained his Catholic upbringing, and now that amendments to protect religious institutions were added into Bill #1545 and that as a lawyer he could now vote in the affirmative.
After a brief recess to go over procedure the last senator to speak was Senator Carl Kruger (who is facing a federal indictment on several items) said that when this issue came up in 2009 that he voted no, but after talking to his good friend Senator Duane and others that he would vote yes tonight this time.
The only Democrat to vote against Bill #1145 was Bronx State Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. who is a Pentecostal minister. The four Republicans who voted yes were Senators James Alesi (Rochester), Mark Grisanti (Rochester area), Roy McDonald (Albany area), and Stephen Saland (Poughkeepsie).
Statements are coming in from all over such as this one from New York State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs. "Last nights vote on Marriage Equality was an historic moment for New York State. Now all New Yorkers will be able to marry whomever they choose. I applaud the efforts of both Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature for their commitment to this issue."
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said that he now has two marriages to look forward to. One being that of his niece Erica Diaz and the other of his Chief of Staff Paul Del Duca (both openly gay).
3 comments:
This day will go down in history as the day New York's Senate rebelled against God and His Law.
God's face is set against them, and He will have the final vote!
This will go down as the day the religious fanatics didn't get heir way, that's all. It got passed! get over it ! get used to it!
Reason triumphed over ignorance.
God is bigger than your religious BS, so go thump your Bible elsewhere.
We respect your right to believe, so have to respect our RIGHTS. Your faith doesn't determine my rights. Sorry. So get used to it, and kindly STFU! and that goes for Ruben Diaz, Sr. as well
Que toditos los religiosos ahora tanto los Catolicos y especialmente los Aleluyas que se vayan p'al carajo con su relgion e hipocresias!
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