| The New York Civil Liberties Union unveiled MarriageNY.Com today to serve as a tool down the home stretch of the legislative session as the New York State Senate prepares (hopefully) to vote on the Marriage Equality Act (A.7732/S.4401) that has already been passed in the New York State Assembly.
The website features the quote "it's about family" at the top of the page and allows visitors to send a letter or fax to their state senator asking them to support marriage equality. It also provides the phone numbers of state senators so that supporters can urge their state senator to support marriage equality.
Jennifer Carnig, who serves as NYCLU's communications director, provided insight as to why NYCLU decided to create this website.
To deny lesbian and gay couples the right to marry is to label them second-class citizens unworthy of the 1,324 state rights and responsibilities that marriage creates. As the Connecticut Supreme Court pointed out, marriage fairness is about protecting families, and in particular, children. And as former New York State Chief Judge Judith Kaye observed in her dissent to the ruling in Hernandez v. Robles, the denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples has especially harmful physical and emotional effects on their children.
"Depriving these children of the benefits and protections available to the children of opposite-sex couples," wrote Chief Judge Kaye, "is antithetical to their welfare."
We will advocate for marriage no matter what happens this session. We commend the Assembly for passing the Marriage Fairness bill in 2007 and again in 2009, and we recognize these votes as historic victories for civil rights in the state. The re-election of every member who voted for the bill in 2007 is strong indication that New Yorkers recognize the legislation, at its core, is about fairness, justice, equality and acceptance. It is time for the senate to follow the important legislative precedent established by the Assembly. We are hopeful that MarriageNY.com can help apply that pressure. The families featured on MarriageNY.com come from key senate districts across New York, and we hope hearing from people in those districts will help convince any senators on the fence. We're also leading lobby visits, phone banking, and doing letter drives in those areas. We are so close to victory here, we are confident that the voices of New Yorkers will make the difference and encourage the senate to do the right thing and pass this bill.
Marriage equality is close to become reality in New York. The sponsor of the Marriage Equality Act in the Senate, Sen. Tom Duane, believes that he has the votes needed, according to PolitickerNY's Jimmy Vielkind:
"I don't want to seem overconfident, but I'm confident it's coming to the floor, I'm confident it's going to win, I'm confident we're going to have the vast majority of Democratic votes and several Republican votes as well," Duane said.
He was asked which Republicans support the measure, because none have gone on the record in favor.
"I would not want to deny them the pleasure of telling you themselves. That would just be wrong and really impolite of me to do that," Duane replied.
How many votes exactly do you have?
"A good elected official would never give up their vote count," he replied.
What will you say to Smith if it doesn't come to a vote this session?
"It's coming to the floor, it's passing," Duane replied.
Duane's confidence is worth noting, given the uncertainty that has surrounded the passage of this bill in the New York State Senate. Passage in the Assembly was easy and guaranteed, but the Senate has always been up in the air. It requires Republican support and if they have that support (and if a Democrat or two has switched their previous positions) then the bill has a very real chance of passing.
We need to keep working though. We need to keep the Senate on their feet. Let's make sure they, at the very least, bring this to a vote. Then we can know who is supportive and who isn't. |
