As the lack of time is an universal problem, let's go to the point and I will quote an article, wich is much better than I could ever write. The article is from Times Union (author: Rick Karlin) and tells us about the votation in New York assembly about gay marriage.
Let's not forget that gay marriage is just legal in Massachusetts. Other states as California, Vermont and New Jersey have legalized the civil union between people of the same sex.
Even though the bill is not slated for discussion in the Senate, proponents said the Assembly action was an important first step if New York is ever to legalize such marriages.
"I'm very proud of my colleagues," said a buoyant Daniel O'Donnell, D-Manhattan, an openly gay lawmaker who carried the bill on behalf of Gov. Eliot Spitzer. The bill passed 85-61, more than he'd expected.
"This was one of those nights where the debate changed votes," said Assemblyman Ronald Canestrari, D-Cohoes. "It doesn't happen that often."
The debate included testimonials by lawmakers who are gay or who have homosexual children or other relatives. Some called gay marriage the civil rights issue of its time.
"Why are we doing this now? The answer is very simple. I believe this is the most important human rights issue facing this legislature," said Richard Gottfried, D-New York.
Tuesday's vote marked the first time same sex marriage has been debated in the Legislature.
Only one state, Massachusetts, recognizes same sex marriages.
While Democrats, who control 107 seats in the 150-seat Assembly were in the majority of those voting yes, some Republicans joined in as well.
And opinions on the issue crossed not only party lines but racial and religious lines, with lawmakers who were black and white, Catholic and Jewish, voting on both sides.
Ultimately, though, supporters said they saw no reason that gay and lesbian New Yorkers shouldn't enjoy the same legal privileges and protections, and chance for happiness, as heterosexuals.
"It is not a life choice, it is not something someone can change," said Teresa Sayward, R-Elizabethown, who has a gay son.
"I went through a great deal of my early life knowing who I was and knowing that there was no place for me," said Deborah Glick, D-New York, who is openly gay. "This is about being a full human being and having the respect and the protection, not just for oneself but for one's family."
Some opponents pointed to religious qualms on the issue.
"It's a direct challenge to the way I was brought up," said Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, who was raised in the Catholic faith. He added that residents in his district mostly oppose same sex marriage.
"It is about tradition," said Dov Hikind, D-Brooklyn, an Orthodox Jew who said his personal faith proscribes same sex marriage.
But Joel Miller, R-Poughkeepsie, who also is Jewish, said tradition and discriminatory religious beliefs should not guide legislative decisions, "There was a time when the world was flat," he said. "Sometimes you just have to move forward."
In the Capital Region, Canestrari and fellow Democrats Jack McEneny of Albany and Paul Tonko of Amsterdam voted for the measure, while Democrat Robert Reilly of Colonie, Republican Minority Leader James Tedisco of Schenectady and independent Tim Gordon of Bethlehem voted against it.The vote was a win for Spitzer, who last year was endorsee by Empire State Pride Agenda, a gay rights group that pushed hard for same-sex marriage.O'Donnell earlier said he had been assured by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, that the measure wouldn't be brought to the floor unless there enough votes for it to pass. The bill needed a minimum of 76 votes to pass. O'Donnell wanted at least 85 members backing the bill before it came up for debate.
"The worst thing is to have it on the floor and voted down," O'Donnell earlier told New York "City Hall" Web site. "The second worst thing is to have it voted up by just one vote. You don't want to be in that precarious situation."
The unofficial tally showed 81 Democrats and four Republicans voting for it, and 22 Democrats, 38 Republicans, and one independent voting against it.
For lawmakers in districts who don't have a large enrollment edge, the vote posed a dilemma, given polls showing most New Yorkers oppose same-sex marriage.
A Cornell University Empire State Poll recently found that 52 percent of respondents opposed the idea. And a Quinnipiac University Polling Institute survey released Tuesday found just 35 percent of registered voters favored same-sex marriage.
Prior to Tuesday evening's vote, opponents including the Catholic Conference explained why they are against same-sex marriage.
"Recognizing same-sex unions will only serve to devalue marriage even more than what has already occurred in recent years," said the conference's memo opposing the bill.
O'Donnell, the brother of comedienne Rosie O'Donnell, stressed that nothing in the bill forces clerics to perform same-sex marriages.
States that already recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships for gay couples are California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Washington, D.C.
Shortly after the vote, Matthew Titone, D-Staten Island, said that he received a call on his cell phone.
"I have my partner here on the phone and he just asked me to marry him, and my answer is 'yes,' " he said.
Let's not forget that gay marriage is just legal in Massachusetts. Other states as California, Vermont and New Jersey have legalized the civil union between people of the same sex.
After more than three hours of impassioned debate, the Assembly on Tuesday night approved a bill to allow same-sex marriage in New York.
Assemblyman David O'Donnell, D-Manhattan, sponsor of the same-sex marriage bill, speaks Tuesday before the bill's passage in the Assembly.
(Philip Kamrass / Times Union)
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"I'm very proud of my colleagues," said a buoyant Daniel O'Donnell, D-Manhattan, an openly gay lawmaker who carried the bill on behalf of Gov. Eliot Spitzer. The bill passed 85-61, more than he'd expected.
"This was one of those nights where the debate changed votes," said Assemblyman Ronald Canestrari, D-Cohoes. "It doesn't happen that often."
The debate included testimonials by lawmakers who are gay or who have homosexual children or other relatives. Some called gay marriage the civil rights issue of its time.
"Why are we doing this now? The answer is very simple. I believe this is the most important human rights issue facing this legislature," said Richard Gottfried, D-New York.
Tuesday's vote marked the first time same sex marriage has been debated in the Legislature.
Only one state, Massachusetts, recognizes same sex marriages.
While Democrats, who control 107 seats in the 150-seat Assembly were in the majority of those voting yes, some Republicans joined in as well.
And opinions on the issue crossed not only party lines but racial and religious lines, with lawmakers who were black and white, Catholic and Jewish, voting on both sides.
Ultimately, though, supporters said they saw no reason that gay and lesbian New Yorkers shouldn't enjoy the same legal privileges and protections, and chance for happiness, as heterosexuals.
"It is not a life choice, it is not something someone can change," said Teresa Sayward, R-Elizabethown, who has a gay son.
"I went through a great deal of my early life knowing who I was and knowing that there was no place for me," said Deborah Glick, D-New York, who is openly gay. "This is about being a full human being and having the respect and the protection, not just for oneself but for one's family."
Some opponents pointed to religious qualms on the issue.
"It's a direct challenge to the way I was brought up," said Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, who was raised in the Catholic faith. He added that residents in his district mostly oppose same sex marriage.
"It is about tradition," said Dov Hikind, D-Brooklyn, an Orthodox Jew who said his personal faith proscribes same sex marriage.
But Joel Miller, R-Poughkeepsie, who also is Jewish, said tradition and discriminatory religious beliefs should not guide legislative decisions, "There was a time when the world was flat," he said. "Sometimes you just have to move forward."
In the Capital Region, Canestrari and fellow Democrats Jack McEneny of Albany and Paul Tonko of Amsterdam voted for the measure, while Democrat Robert Reilly of Colonie, Republican Minority Leader James Tedisco of Schenectady and independent Tim Gordon of Bethlehem voted against it.The vote was a win for Spitzer, who last year was endorsee by Empire State Pride Agenda, a gay rights group that pushed hard for same-sex marriage.O'Donnell earlier said he had been assured by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, that the measure wouldn't be brought to the floor unless there enough votes for it to pass. The bill needed a minimum of 76 votes to pass. O'Donnell wanted at least 85 members backing the bill before it came up for debate.
"The worst thing is to have it on the floor and voted down," O'Donnell earlier told New York "City Hall" Web site. "The second worst thing is to have it voted up by just one vote. You don't want to be in that precarious situation."
The unofficial tally showed 81 Democrats and four Republicans voting for it, and 22 Democrats, 38 Republicans, and one independent voting against it.
For lawmakers in districts who don't have a large enrollment edge, the vote posed a dilemma, given polls showing most New Yorkers oppose same-sex marriage.
A Cornell University Empire State Poll recently found that 52 percent of respondents opposed the idea. And a Quinnipiac University Polling Institute survey released Tuesday found just 35 percent of registered voters favored same-sex marriage.
Prior to Tuesday evening's vote, opponents including the Catholic Conference explained why they are against same-sex marriage.
"Recognizing same-sex unions will only serve to devalue marriage even more than what has already occurred in recent years," said the conference's memo opposing the bill.
O'Donnell, the brother of comedienne Rosie O'Donnell, stressed that nothing in the bill forces clerics to perform same-sex marriages.
States that already recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships for gay couples are California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Washington, D.C.
Shortly after the vote, Matthew Titone, D-Staten Island, said that he received a call on his cell phone.
"I have my partner here on the phone and he just asked me to marry him, and my answer is 'yes,' " he said.
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