New York Senate Legalizes Gay Marriage

• Skye wrote on 2011-06-25 02:56

  In a 33-29 vote, the New York State Senate has passed the legalization of gay marriage, the first for a Republican-controlled Senate.
  
  
  The bill moved to the Senate floor after legislative leaders came to an agreement on provisions in a gay marriage bill that would shield religious organizations that refuse to recognize gay marriage, overcoming a central obstacle to the bill getting a vote.
  
  The question of exemptions for religious organizations had emerged as the main impasse in securing a floor vote for the legislation, although the prospects of a vote occurring remained unclear as Senate Republicans continued to discuss the bill in a closed-door meeting. Two Republican senators and all but one Democrat have proclaimed their support for the bill, leaving the measure one vote short of passage. The Democratic-controlled Assembly passed its version of the bill last week.
  
  "The entire Senate Republican Conference was insistent that amendments be made to the Governor's original bill in order to protect the rights of religious institutions and not-for-profits with religious affiliations. I appreciate the Governor's cooperation in working with us to address these important issues and concerns," Skelos said.
  
  Republican senators had expressed reservations that religious organizations would face legal action if they refused to provide services to same-sex married couples, from clergy declining to oversee marriages to religiously affiliated charities balking at allowing same-sex couples to adopt.
  
  Supporters of the bill who are anxious to get a vote expressed frustration earlier Friday, saying that Republican lawmakers have been stalling and obstructing the democratic process.
  
  Gay rights supporters have secured legal marriage status in Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa and the District of Columbia.

  
  
  http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/169433/20110624/gay-marriage-new-york-legal.htm
• Brock wrote on 2011-06-25 03:00
  Guess Phunkie's happy now :p
• rzetlin wrote on 2011-06-25 03:02
  Congratulations New York, your state has moved into the 21st century.
  
  Now, you have to get the rest of the states to join in.
• Skye wrote on 2011-06-25 03:03

  Quote from Brock;488922:

  Guess Phunkie's happy now :p

  
  
  I'm happy about it, and I'm not gay nor do I live in New York.
• Brock wrote on 2011-06-25 03:05

  Quote from Skye;488931:

  I'm happy about it, and I'm not gay nor do I live in New York.

  
  
  I'm indifferent. It's not like it wasn't gonna happen eventually.
• Skye wrote on 2011-06-25 03:07
  Doesn't mean you can't be happy about it. :/
• Selithia wrote on 2011-06-25 03:13
  About freaking time, I say. I can't believe they're still BAAAAWWWING over the whole "but we gotta protect our religions" bull, as if it was a problem that actually existed.
• Brock wrote on 2011-06-25 03:13

  Quote from Skye;488938:

  Doesn't mean you can't be happy about it. :/

  
  
  Okay, I'll gaily parade about the streets celebrating!
  
  a hur hur hur badpun
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2011-06-25 03:13
  yep
  Phunkies gonna be so happy
• Skye wrote on 2011-06-25 03:14

  Quote from Brock;488956:

  Okay, I'll gaily parade about the streets celebrating!
  
  a hur hur hur badpun

  
  
  Punny. :P
• cupid wrote on 2011-06-25 03:14
  I like this very much :D but canada legalized it in 2005. No bigs... Yay canada 8D
• Quente que nem fogo wrote on 2011-06-25 03:16
  I think I just squeeked!!!!!!!!1
• Okitaru wrote on 2011-06-25 03:16

  Quote from rzetlin;488927:

  Congratulations New York, your state has moved into the 21st century.
  
  Now, you have to get the rest of the states to join in.

  
  
  I'm not trying to pick a fight, but "marriage" wasn't exactly made in terms of "partners", but it was made for a man and a woman. As being gay, you don't quite believe or stand for marriage
  
  I think embracing the fact homosexuality exists and letting it exist would be moving into the 21st century, as opposed to throwing fits or opposing it. I mean other countries have regarded homosexuality and more honorable and respectable than heterosexuality, but they never brought marriage into it. I don't think ignoring what something is or trying to change it works, because then you're like the people who try to change homosexuals in a various of ways.
  
  Just my opinion though.
• Osayidan wrote on 2011-06-25 03:21
  Good to see progress, even though I disapprove of marriage as a whole due to its religious affiliations, and I despise religion.
• Selithia wrote on 2011-06-25 03:26

  Quote from Okabe;488968:

  I'm not trying to pick a fight, but "marriage" wasn't exactly made in terms of "partners", but it was made for a man and a woman. As being gay, you don't quite believe or stand for marriage
  
  I think embracing the fact homosexuality exists and letting it exist would be moving into the 21st century, as opposed to throwing fits or opposing it. I mean other countries have regarded homosexuality and more honorable and respectable than heterosexuality, but they never brought marriage into it. I don't think ignoring what something is or trying to change it works, because then you're like the people who try to change homosexuals in a various of ways.
  
  Just my opinion though.

  
  
  Marriage grants certain rights that civil unions still don't to this day, not to mention the fact that marriage existed outside of religious beliefs for much, much longer than Christians want to believe.
  
  Not wanting equality because it might change a word around is, uh, a bit weak.
  
  
  
  

  Quote from Osayidan;488979:

  Good to see progress, even though I disapprove of marriage as a whole due to its religious affiliations, and I despise religion.

  
  
  Lucky for you, then, that marriage has been a legal institution much longer than it's been a religious institution! Marriage isn't a Christian concept. They just did a hell of a job co-opting it.