New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer Will Introduce Gay Marriage Bill
Making good on one of the central promises of his election campaign, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) will soon introduce same-sex marriage legislation.
The governor did not mention the contentious issue in his State of the State speech in January or in recent remarks that outlined his priorities for the remainder of the legislative session. However, a spokesperson told The New York Times this morning that Spitzer "will fulfill that commitment during this legislative session" by a program bill, which is legislation introduced directly from his office.
The Times outlines the difficult road such a bill will face from both Democratic and Republican leaders in Albany: "Legislation to allow same-sex marriage has never made it to a floor vote in either the Assembly, which has a Democratic majority, or the Republican-controlled State Senate. Sheldon Silver, the Assembly speaker, has declined to take a stand on the issue. Joseph L. Bruno, the Senate majority leader, has supported legislation to outlaw hate crimes and workplace discrimination against gays, but he remains opposed to same-sex marriage."
The bill has at least 14 sponsors in the Senate and 42 in the Assembly, but, there is still some division over the best strategy to ensure passage—which appears unlikely this session. But leading marriage equality activists say a proposal from the governor sends a strong message.
“I don’t think the governor has dropped the ball on this,” said Alan Van Capelle, executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda. “We’ve been talking with the governor’s people about this. At every moment they have brainstormed with us in some very creative ways about how to accomplish this agenda.”
On May 1, the Pride Agenda plans to bring up to 1000 LGBT persons and straight allies to Albany to lobby their elected officials. More information HERE.
Spitzer Plans to Introduce Gay Marriage Bill [NYT]
Background ...
News: Same-Sex Marriage in New York [R20] Court: No Gay Marriage in New York [R20]
Is there anything we non–New Yorkers can do to encourage this? If this ever passed, it would surely boost my spirits.
Posted by: Jim | 24 April 2007 at 00:10