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NYS Gov. Andrew Cuomo Introduces "Marriage Equality Act"

New York could become the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage after Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo introduced a marriage equality bill. Read the bill HERE.

"From the fight for women's suffrage to the struggle for civil rights, New Yorkers have been on the right side of history. But on the issue of marriage equality, our state has fallen behind," said the governor in a statement. "For too long, same-sex couples have been denied the freedom to marry, as well as hundreds of rights that other New Yorkers take for granted. Marriage Equality is a matter of fairness and legal security for thousands of families in this state."

The long anticipated bill prohibits local clerks from rejecting marriage license applications from same-sex couples. Cuomo's bill also offers exemptions from anti-discrimination laws to religious affiliated organizations—which could be key to attracting several wavering Senate Republicans, notes the New York Daily News. "The Knights of Columbus, for instance, would be allowed to bar same sex couples from renting out catering hall space. The bill also specifies that no clergy would be forced to perform marriage ceremonies for gay couples."

More on the religious exemptions at Capitol Confidential ....

The introduction of the "Marriage Equality Act" comes one day after the announced support of three Democratic state senators—Carl Kruger, Shirley Huntley and Joseph Addabbo, all of New York City—who voted against the measure in 2009. Rochester Republican Sen. James Alesi—who also opposed the bill previously—also announced his support on Monday.

Cuomo has previously said that he would not introduce a marriage bill unless the votes were guaranteed.

Marriage equality has passed the Assembly three times, most recently by an 89-52 vote in May 2009. The vote failed spectacularly when the Senate took it up for the first time in December 2009. The vote was 38-24, with 8 Democrats joining the entire GOP caucus to oppose the bill.

Thirty-two votes are needed in the Senate. Thirty senators are committed to supporting the measure, so only two votes are needed. The rabidly anti-gay Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. remains the only Senate Democrat who will not support the bill.

REPORT: Outed Anti-Gay NYS Sen. Kruger Lavished Perks on BF

More details on the investigation into the disgraced and formerly closeted anti-gay New York State Sen. Carl Kruger, who was outed in a federal corruption probe announced two weeks ago. Video and audio surveillance show Kruger accepted more than $1 million in bribes which his live-in boyfriend helped launder, federal authorities say.

Kruger and gynecologist Michael S. Turano lived with his Turano's mother and brother in a "garish, multimillion-dollar" Brooklyn waterfront mansion. Bribe money was used to pay the mortgage, lease a Bentley luxury sedan, pay credit-card bills and much more, reports the New York Times.

City records show that Mr. Kruger used his office to secure them privileges accorded few New Yorkers, privileges that only the police commissioner can bestow. They received New York Police Department dashboard placards that for many years allowed them to park free almost anywhere in the city, as well as Police Department identification cards and even gold and blue enameled badges that identified them as honorary police surgeons. ...

The records - correspondence among city officials - show that the Turanos were granted the title after Mr. Kruger lobbied senior officials in the Giuliani administration on their behalf. Michael Turano was appointed in 1995 and his brother five years later.

Michael S. Turano was also charged in the criminal indictment filed earlier this month. Gerard Turano was not charged.

The disgraced Brooklyn politician was one of eight shameful anti-gay New York Senate Democrats who voted against marriage equality  when it was defeated 38-24 in December 2009. Kruger has long been rumored to be a closet case. After the December 2009 vote, gay activists picketed Kruger's home, claiming "he only voted against same-sex marriage to shield his own homosexuality."

New York State Sen. Shirley Huntley became the second anti-gay Senate Democrat targeted this month by a corruption probe. The Queens politician who famously boasted she "wouldn't take a million dollars" to vote for marriage equality is accused of directing much less than that—some $400,000—to non-profits controlled by her family.

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Outed Anti-Gay NYS Sen. Kruger Warmly Greeted by Anti-Gay Diaz

IMAGE: New York Times

Disgraced and formerly closeted anti-gay New York State Sen. Carl Kruger—outed by FBI video and audio surveillance taking more than $1 million in bribes—returns to Abany and discovers that he is a pariah.

But the outed anti-gay politician was warmly greeted by Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., the rabidly homophobic Bronx Pentecostal minister who is the leading opponent of LGBT rights in the Empire State, reports the New York Times.

A fake-wood placard denoting Mr. Kruger’s post as the top Democrat on the Finance Committee — a post of which he was stripped last week — had been ripped down from its perch next to his office door. Only some sticky residue remained.

Mr. Kruger was originally expected to address his fellow Democratic senators on Monday, presumably to apologize to them for the distraction brought by his charges last week. But several lawmakers indicated they would not attend the Democrats’ meeting if Mr. Kruger was present, and so he relented.

And later:

On the Senate floor, he had to figure out where he was supposed to sit. The loss of his committee rank also lost him a prominent place. Mr. Kruger instead slouched in a seat in the back. Most colleagues stayed away, although State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr., a Democrat from the Bronx, gave him a huge, gripping hug. Later, noticing Mr. Kruger sitting by himself, he invited him across the chamber and they chatted. A few others came to shake Mr. Kruger’s hand. But Mr. Kruger mostly sat in silence.

The disgraced Brooklyn politician was one of eight shameful anti-gay New York Senate Democrats who voted against marriage equality  when it was defeated 38-24 in December 2009. Video and audio surveillance show Kruger accepted more than $1 million in bribes which his live-in boyfriend helped launder, federal prosecutors say.

New York State Sen. Shirley Huntley became the second anti-gay Senate Democrat targeted this week by a corruption probe. Huntley and gay-basher Diaz Sr. were the only two Black senators to vote against the bill.

Thanks FREDRIC in FRANCE!

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Anti-Gay NYS Sen. Huntley Focus of Charity Fraud Investigation

When it rains, it pours. New York State Sen. Shirley Huntley becomes the second anti-gay Senate Democrat targeted this week by a corruption probe. The Queens politician who famously boasted she "wouldn't take a million dollars" to vote for marriage equality is accused of directing much less than that—some $400,000—to non-profits controlled by her family.

The New York Post:

News of the probe comes a week after The Post revealed the Queens Democrat tried to funnel $155,000 to her Parent Workshop nonprofit and as new questions emerge about the shady group.

State records show that a $30,000 member item secured by Huntley in 2008 for The Parent Workshop went to two consultants, one of whom was listed as living in a Huntley family home. ... Other public documents show [Sherman Russell] lives in Huntley's Jamaica home, where he was registered to vote in 2010. ... Russell is listed on a state charity form as treasurer of The Parent Workshop, and his address is given as the same Valley Stream home as Huntley's daughter, Pamala Corley.

The Post revealed last week that Huntley started The Parent Workshop in 2006, eight months before being elected. Once in office, she authorized the $30,000 grant and tried to send another $125,000 a year later. She said she dropped the larger grant after being told it was inappropriate. Her daughter also ran a taxpayer-funded nonprofit out of the family home.

The three-term, 72-year-old senator was one of eight shameful Democrats who voted against marriage equality when it was defeated in the Senate 38-24 in December 2009. Huntley and rabid gay-basher Ruben Diaz Sr. were the only two Black senators to vote against the bill.

During her hotly-contested November 2010 primary battle with pro-equality  Lynn Nunes, Huntley blamed alleged death threats on LGBT activists. Nunes narrowly lost the challenge.

On Thursday, closeted anti-gay NYS Sen. Carl Kruger surrendered to federal authorities on corruption charge. Video and audio surveillance showed Kruger accepted more than $1 million in bribes which his live-in boyfriend helped launder.

Glass houses, stones, etc..

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Closeted Anti-Gay NYS Sen. Carl Kruger Outed in Corruption Probe

Fabulous! One of eight anti-gay New York Senate Democrats who voted against marriage equality has been outed in a federal corruption probe. NYS Sen. Carl Kruger surrendered to federal authorities on corruption charges on Thursday. Video and audio surveillance show Kruger accepted more than $1 million in bribes which his live-in boyfriend helped launder, reports the New York Post.

Kruger and his secret longtime companion, Manhattan gynecologist Michael Turano, were among eight men arrested in a sweeping government "pay-to-play" corruption scandal. The charges include allegations that Kruger, Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland and previously convicted Queens Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio—who died in prison in January—received bribes and other largesse to help two competing health-care companies buy hospitals, and direct state funds to those firms.

Kruger's constant companion, Turano, is accused of using bribe money he deposited in two shell companies for Kruger to pay the lease on a Bentley luxury sedan, credit-card bills and the mortgage on the garish, multimillion-dollar Mill Basin home where the two men for years have shacked up with Turano's mom and brother, authorities and neighbors said. 

And:

"[Kruger] spent his free time with the Turanos, shared holidays with them, went shopping for them, and managed the affairs of their residence. Kruger was closest with Michael Turano. The two men were in nearly daily contact, Kruger picked Turano up from work, and people even called Kruger's cellphone in order to reach Turano," [US Attorney Preet Bharara] noted. A source close to the investigation told The Post that Kruger—who voted against a state gay-marriage bill last year—was particularly "intimate" with Michael Turano.

Kruger has long been rumored to be a closet case. In December 2009, gay activists picketed Kruger's home after the marriage vote, claiming "he only voted against same-sex marriage to shield his own homosexuality," adds JoeMyGod.

Glass houses, stones, etc..

New York Senate Overwhelmingly Rejects Marriage Equality 38-24

After months of delay and uncertainty, the New York Senate overwhelmingly rejected marriage equality.

After more than two hours of intense debate at today's special legislative session, the Senate voted 38-to-24 against passsage. This was eight votes short of a majority. None of the Senate's 30 Republicans voted for the measure. Of the 32 Democrats, 24 voted for it, eight against. The state assembly marriage bill passed for the third time late last night.

Gov. David Paterson repeatedly pressed senators to vote on the bill although it's fate was uncertain. That's unusual in Albany, where legislation usually makes it to the floor only if passage is guaranteed. Supporters were disappointed with the vote but vowed to continue fighting. 

Sen. Tom Duane, the openly gay senator from Manhattan, was the bill's lead sponsor. Duane tells the Daily News: "The time is never right for civil rights - the economy, wars, the troubles we've had here in the Senate - but the paradox is it's always time to be on the right side of history."

Democrats hold a tenuous, razor-thin 32-30 majority in the Senate. Republican votes were always necessary for passage. The eight Democrats voting against marriage equality include: Rabidly anti-gay Bronx Pentecostal minister Ruben Diaz Sr; ; Shirley Huntley Queens; Joseph Addabo, (Queens); Darrell Aubertine (Adirondacks); Carl Kruger (Brooklyn); Hiram Montserrate (Queens); George Onarato (Queens); William Stachowski (Lakeview). Six of the eight Democrats who opposed the marriage bill are from New York City.