New York – Cuomo: Gay Marriage in New York Is a ‘Priority’ for 2011

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    New York – Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said that, if elected governor this fall, he would push to legalize gay marriage in New York during his first year in office.

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    Asked by a reporter if he would make the passage of a same-sex marriage bill a priority in his first year on the job, Cuomo told reporters in New York City: “It’s a priority.”

    State lawmakers, he said, “have their hands full with their current legislative agenda, most notably the budget, but my opinion, my policy point of view, it is a priority.” Asked if he thinks a gay marriage bill could pass the Legislature in 2011, an off-election year, Cuomo replied: “Do I think it can? Yes.”

    In December, the state Senate rejected a gay marriage bill in a lopsided 38-24 vote, a stinging defeat for advocates who had waged a long, expensive campaign and had won pledges of support from Senate Democratic leaders.

    Not a single Senate Republican voted for the bill, while eight Democrats opposed the measure. The bill had earlier that year passed the Democrat-controlled Assembly for the second time.

    Ethan Geto, a prominent gay political strategist, said he was heartened by Cuomo’s comments. “To me, that’s extremely encouraging. For the guy to say it’s a priority and then for him to say he may very well be able to get it done in his first year, it’s terrific,” said Geto.

    Cuomo’s position on the issue has evolved over the years. When he ran for governor in 2002, the Democratic politician said he favored civil unions but did not support same-sex marriage. He declared his support for gay marriage when he ran for attorney general in 2006.

    Since the last year’s defeat, gay rights groups, led by Fight Back New York, a newly formed political action committee affiliated with Denver-based Gill Action Fund, have raised money from wealthy gay donors around the nation to try to defeat state Senate Democrats and Republicans who opposed the bill.

    The PAC backed the Senate candidacy of Jose Peralta, who trounced Hiram Monserrate, a former senator who opposed gay marriage, in a special election in Queens held in March. Monserrate, who was convicted last year of misdemeanor assault against his girlfriend at the time, had lost his seat in February after he was expelled from the Senate.


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    44 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    It shows you how out of touch Democrats are with the common folk who still respect the institution of marriage and aren’t about to let a bunch of Socialist power bullies destroy the most time-honored tradition in America. Cuomo might as well be a Russian spy for all he knows about the moral sensitivities of the average New Yorker.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Given that Cuomo is a virtual certainty to be elected, there may be an opportuntity to resolve this difficult social issue in the next legislative sesssion. Its going to happen at some point, so better sooner than later if it allows the needed limitations to be imposed in the bill.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Thanks for telling us that and I am not voting for you..

    Pesach
    Pesach
    13 years ago

    NYers, vote for him at your own peril. If views like this are not enough to scare you off, think about how NY’s economy still has not recovered from the last Cuomo.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    You lost my vote for sure

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    This should be the final nail in the coffin why no orthodox jew should vote for him!

    Nudnick
    Nudnick
    13 years ago

    This will hurt his numbers a bit I he may still get elected but not by the landslide

    liepa
    liepa
    13 years ago

    Shame on you Cuomo! You won’t be getting my vote!

    sad
    sad
    13 years ago

    the only way this was get through is if they dont let the people vote. Every single state (including Florida and California) have voted against these bills.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    Don’t assume that Coumo will anyways win, just remember on election day to Vote for Lazio, you never know he may win

    zevi
    zevi
    13 years ago

    It’s a shanda the Republicans couldn’t find someone to give this icky-liberal a defeat.
    Welcome to the state of sodom and gemorrah.All good Jews , christians and muslims should unite and vote against MARIO ll.

    Eli L
    Eli L
    13 years ago

    Politicaly correct is incorrect
    Its a sick world out there.

    Izzy
    Izzy
    13 years ago

    His father was a very bad governor he will be Evan worse vote Republican

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    the religious olim will like sheep still vote for him its all aboput welfare and hand outs

    not a problem
    not a problem
    13 years ago

    I think if people want to get married, let them. Not sure why or how same-sex marriage would effect other posters on this site in a negative way. (Only in a positive way, for those readers who are gay and want to get married.)

    relax!
    relax!
    13 years ago

    A wise orthodox rabbi has said that Jews should have no problem with this. The reason? Halacha explains how to get married. Why should we care about other forms of marriage? Just as Christians can marry through the church, or secular people can marry through the state, gay people should marry as well if they want to. Not sure the difference, none are halachic marriages anyway.

    shame on u cuomo
    shame on u cuomo
    13 years ago

    First priority? Huh? Ur as out of touch as ur parties chicago mafian bum-obama.
    Isn’t job creation? Addressing High property taxes more of a first priority for ny’ers
    Let’s make a vote in ny what are voters 1st priority?
    Vote out democrats in 2012
    Bring in independant-conservatives or anyone that’s still sane

    My2Cents
    My2Cents
    13 years ago

    Huge priority.. With everything going on in the world I can totally understand why gay marriage is a priority for our governer to be spending his time with (being sarcastic)…..

    What a tool

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    The reason why this bothers a frum Jew is because we want to live in a normal place no with a bunch of animals, our surroundings do have affects on us and our children.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    When election day comes, olam goilam will vote for whoever promised the most for the askanim of the mosdos, regardless of their morally opinion. I assume the poloticians of sedom didn’t gave any susidies for the mosdos if they did, then we would have all voted for them.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    I hope he loses

    Conservatism is a disease!!!
    Conservatism is a disease!!!
    13 years ago

    Right-wingers are fascists. They seek to impose their religious fundamentalism on everyone else. The opposition to gay marriage — or more specifically to gays in general — is rooted in religion and nothing else. If they really believed in liberty and freedom as they claim they do, they would not support state-sanctioned marriage at all. And if they are promoting the state affirmation of marriage, at the minimum it should not exclude a certain segment of the society. But alas, freedom is not really on the menu for these people unless it involves their own personal freedom.

    Of course the reality is that the trend in the support for gay marriage or same-sex unions has only risen in the last 50 years with no movement downward. States in which you couldn’t garner 10% support a half a century ago, are now voting at 47%(Maine 2009) and 53% (Washington 2009) clips for gay marriage. Homophobia is out of fashion and by the end of the next decade all 50 states, assuming marriage is still a legal proposition, will have approved of gay marriage.

    State imposed religious authoritarianism may appeal to the sufficiently bigoted and brainwashed, but it has no place in a free society.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    I support gay marriage (by the state of New York, obviously not by halakha) but with all the problems with the economy right now it’s ridiculous to make an irrelevant fringe issue like this a top priority.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    When will he appear in photo ops with all the Chashuvidika Rabbonim?

    Shmuel
    Shmuel
    13 years ago

    If Ribono shel Olom doesn’t destroy New York and San Francisco, I think He owes Sdom and Amora an explanation.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    13 years ago

    A short sighted projection is in order. If this obomination is G-d forbid passed our children will not be able to walk in the streets. This will embolden those who have hidden in the closet with their secret and allow them to come out openly. Our frum children will be exposed to their open displays of affection and they will make sure that everyone will see them. it will be a hazard to go out in public. Our Yeshivos must tell their students who are old enough to get out and vote against this Toava and anyone who promotes it. it is the responsibility of the Rabbis and the powers that be to stand up against this. if we do not put up a fight then what is our Judaism all about. This country is absolutely lacking in morals and morality compass. If the Chasidim in Emanmuel could stand up and prove their point that this is a war against a government take over of Religion and Religious values then its time we follow suit. Our Yiddishkeit has not been challenged and its been great living here. To our Rabbis: WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. it not just about learning to its about doing the right thing for our children and our future generation