Results tagged “gayrights”

On the eve of the National Equality March in Washington D.C., President Obama spoke at a Human Rights Campaign dinner, "I will end 'don't ask, don't tell.' That is my commitment to you." He also emphasized he wants to help bring gays and lesbians full civil rights, "I'm here with a simple message: I'm here with you in that fight."

Mayor Bloomberg thinks that he could strong-arm local Republican state senators into voting for a gay marriage bill, but he doesn't seem to believe that the Democrats have the cajones to bring Governor Paterson's same-sex marriage legislation to the floor. Asked why he thought he could change the minds of some pretty staunch GOP gay marriage opponents, Bloomberg said, “I’m the main funder. You know, you can’t dictate every piece of legislation, and I don’t want to say that they’re bribable. But they know where I stand, and they want me to be a supporter.”

The 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots (as they have come to be known) is coming up on June 28th, as the city celebrates the LGBT community. Now a website called Out History has published the police records from that historic event, tracing the riots to the initial incident which brought police to the Stonewall Inn. (They also make note of the Village Voice's "Contemptuous Attitude Toward the Gay Community" at the time.)

Last night, the State Assembly voted to approve the gay marriage bill. PolitickerNY reports the vote occurred "after four hours of debate and a technical problem that crashed the chamber's electronic voting mechanisms." Previously, in 2007, the Assembly passed a similar bill 85-61; this year, three Democrats switched their votes from no to yes as did two Republicans. One, Assemblyman Fred Thiele (R-Hamptons), explained, "There’s that little voice inside of you that tells you when you’ve done something right, and when you’ve done something wrong. That vote just never felt right to me. That little voice kept gnawing away at me." Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell (pictured), a vocal supporter of the bill, said during the debate, "I am seeking a piece of paper that is issued by my government that all of you have had. Some of you have had it two or three times, some of you are running for governor managed to marry their cousin and all that's ok. But I don't get one. So it's not about anybody's religion. This is about 'by the power vested in me by the State of New York.'"

Newly-installed Archbishop Timothy Dolan is continuing to make his presence felt in the media, keeping open discussions about hot button issues such as gay marriage and the possibility of marriage within the priesthood. Dolan seems to be making a concentrated effort to put a positive spin on the church's stance on topics that he knows might not sit well in a town as socially liberal as New York.

Governor Paterson held a press conference today introducing legislation to legalize gay marriage in New York. The governor was not the least bit tepid in his strong support of the issue, saying he has been on record as an advocate for same-sex marriage since 1994. The state's first black governor drew a strong connection between the fight for marital rights and the abolition movement, citing the names of Harriet Beecher Stowe and Frederick Douglass. Paterson said:

Standing on the steps in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral with a Bible in his hand, incoming Archbishop Timothy Dolan spoke to reporters for the first time since arriving into town. Dolan did not waste any time addressing hot button topics for the church, such as the possibility of New York legalizing gay marriage. He said, "If we let that definition of marriage go and begin to include other relationships, it will be to a detriment to the civilization." But Dolan tried to stay positive saying that "we support them...(and) will defend their rights." He also plans to fight the popular notion that the church is unenlightened saying, "I think we Catholics just need to stand up and say, 'we're above the times, we're timeless in our beliefs in our values and in our ethics and in our morality, and we don't take our cue from the winds and the trends of the day." Dolan will be installed as archbishop Wednesday afternoon at St. Patrick's. When asked about the responsibility of leading 2.5 million Catholics, he said, "I hope at my core, I hear Jesus say, 'Timothy be not afraid.'"

Governor David Paterson announced that he would re-introduce same-sex marriage legislation this month. Paterson told Ithaca TV station WGRZ, "We'll put a bill out and let the people decide one way or the other."

Democrats now in the majority of the state senate for the first time in over forty years appear to be preparing to stall on voting to legalize gay marriage, a big issue that helped push them over the top this election year. Several factors appear to be giving Democrats hesitation: the strong wave that came out against gay marriage in the Prop 8 battle in California, fear of the issue backfiring on Governor Paterson's reelection chances in 2010 and the hopes to appease Gang of Three leader Ruben Diaz who has said he will not support a majority leader who would allow a same-sex marriage vote come to floor. Naturally that leaves many pushing for legalization ASAP upset after all the money poured into Democratic senate campaigns from gay rights groups around the country and the mobilization on their side amidst the Prop 8 battle. Liz Krueger, a senator from the Upper East Side told the Times, “We want to get there, but we want to get there the right way or else we risk setting ourselves back another decade."

The anger over Proposition 8 is not ending: There are number of protests all over the country. Prop 8 is the California ballot proposition that bans gay marriage; it was passed last week, but there are lawsuits challenging its constitutionality. You can find them here--in NY, there are gatherings in NYC, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, White Plains, Ithaca, Buffalo, Utica and Hofstra. While NYC had a Prop 8 protest on Wednesday night outside the Manhattan Morman Temple, tomorrow's will take place at City Hall at 1:30 p.m. till 3:30 p.m. (more details).

Tonight, thousands of people are expected to gather outside the Manhattan Mormon Temple of the Church of Latter Day Saints on Columbus Avenue at West 65th Street (starting at 6:30 p.m.), in protest of California's passage of Proposition 8. Andy Towle writes on Towleroad that once "the location reaches capacity" those gathered will slowly march down Broadway toward Columbus Circle." He adds there will be volunteers to "help marshall and guide protestors (watch for them in blue armbands - they're there to help)" and "You are encouraged to bring signs and candles and protest peacefully." And protest co-organizer Michaelangelo Signorile has some tips for tonight, adding, "Let's not be anti-religious bigots and, as you've heard me many times talk about on the show, let's not engage in this divisive race-blaming game. And it should also go without saying -- but sadly, must be said again and again --- no ugly racist rhetoric."

After voters in California passed Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage, a number of protests have taken place in the Golden State. And tomorrow evening, New Yorkers are planning a protest on the Upper West Side, outside the Church of Latter Day Saints at Columbus Avenue and West 65th. (Details after the jump.)

The issue of gay marriage may once again be enough of a deciding factor to turn the tide in a big election year. This time though it's in small fights for state senate seats here in New York that are seeing heavy donations come in from gay rights advocates. With only two seats needed to swing control of the senate over to Democrats and Governor Paterson's open support for legalizing gay marriage, advocates believe that "this is the year for New York" as openly gay Senator Tom Duane tells the NY Times. The paper says that upwards of $500,000 is quietly coming into small, tight races in places like Rochester, suburban Buffalo and out in Suffolk County from sources all over the country. A Republican spokesman for the state senate responded to all this by saying that “national, left-wing agenda” has no place in the New York Senate races.

Local gay rights advocates are relishing a minor victory after a state court recognized the first divorce of a same-sex couple married in another state. Earlier this year, Governor Paterson made New York the first state in which gay marriages could be recognized, but not performed. His memo ordering courts to do so was included in the decision to allow the divorce. The lesbian couple, known in court papers only as C.C. and C.M., were married in 2005 in Massachusetts and had been together in a domestic partnership since 2001. The two will split custody of the baby C.C. gave birth to and C.M. adopted back in 2006. The last New York same-sex couple to have as newsworthy of a breakup ended up immortalized after the fact with a children's book depicting their story.

President, governor, a third term as mayor, and now add Secretary of the Treasury to the list of jobs that Mayor Bloomberg is not interested in. Amidst speculation that Bloomberg might be considered to head the nation's treasury, Bloomberg said he had no interest in the position and suggested that any recent ones from Robert Reich to current Secretary Henry Paulson would make more fitting choices. Bloomberg also responded to John McCain's comments from earlier in this week that the mayor was not a good fit for his running mate because he was "pro-gay rights." Bloomberg said, "I think that choice and gay rights are fundamental issues left to individuals. Particularly, I think if you are a conservative —you should say government should get out of the bedroom."

            

Even a downpour couldn't stop the Gay Pride March down Fifth Avenue yesterday, which attracted half a million participants and an estimated million spectators. Besides the costumed performers, motorcyclists, bands and floats, elected officials were part of the parade. Along with Mayor Bloomberg and Senator Schumer, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Governor David Paterson marched and spoke out on behalf of gay rights.

When Governor Paterson says things like “People who live together for a long time would like to be married — as far as I’m concerned, I think it’s beautiful,” don’t you just want to give him a big hug and buy him an ice cold Schmitt’s? Well, not everyone is heartened by Paterson’s push to have out-of-state marriages recognized in New York.

Governor Paterson issued a memo telling all state agencies to recognize legally performed, out-of-state same-sex marriages as valid marriages. This memo was, based on the February Appellate Court ruling, said gay marriages "should be afforded the same recognition as any other legally performed union."

A note to people who read the "Class Notes" section of their college alumni magazines: You never know where those tidbits are coming from. Two male New York graduates of American University filed a lawsuit claiming their alumni magazine falsely stated they were just-married life partners.