Paterson Says Gay Marriage Bill Will Pass In New York

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. David Paterson said Thursday that he expects to sign a same-sex marriage bill into law in the coming weeks.

Paterson said he expects the state Senate to give the measure final legislative approval in weeks ahead and then he will sign it, making New York the seventh state to legalize same-sex marriage. Paterson can't force the Senate to take up the bill and admitted to reporters he can't guarantee its approval, but he says he's now confident it will pass, as advocates and sponsors of the bill in Albany have been quietly working to build support.

The bill was blocked by a summer coup in the Senate in the final days of the regular session in June. The Democrat-led Assembly has already passed the measure.

Paterson's statements Thursday came at the fall dinner in Manhattan of the influential gay rights group Empire State Pride Agenda. He said New York will have marriage equality "as a result of a law we will pass in the New York Senate, already passed in the Assembly, and will be signed by the governor, just in the next few weeks."

The 1,200 people at the dinner cheered Paterson's remarks.

"No longer in New York" will same-sex couples have to worry about insurance coverage, being allowed to visit each other hospitals, or whether they will be guaranteed the same rights as other married couples under law, he said.

Paterson said he's spoken to advocates lobbying senators and "they believe if I put the bill on the calendar, it will pass. ... I believe it will pass."

In the spring, advocates had sought to withdraw the bill from the Senate agenda when it appeared it would be defeated.

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More than a year ago, Paterson had framed the debate as a civil right long denied. But divisions among Senate Democrats earlier this year made approval unlikely after a few Democrats in the 32-30 majority objected to the bill on religious grounds.

Now, however, Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos of Nassau County says GOP senators won't be asked to vote against the measure in a bloc and are free to vote for the bill.

A leading advocate and bill sponsor, Sen. Thomas Duane of Manhattan, who is gay, has declined to comment on the issue this week. Senate Democratic majority spokesman Austin Shafran said there has been no head count of votes on the issue.

To the crowd, Paterson joked that if anyone in a same-sex relationship had put off conversations about marriage because it wasn't legal, "you'd better leave now because marriage equality is coming to New York City."

Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont, and will start in New Hampshire in January. A referendum in Maine on Nov. 3 will determine the fate of a same-sex marriage bill passed by the Legislature in May.

Several other states offer civil unions, domestic partnerships or other arrangements that provide marriage-like rights to same-sex couples, including California, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and Wisconsin.

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Associated Press Writer Virginia Byrne in New York contributed to this report.

Comments

[StevenKeirstead]

Saying allowing same sex marriage will lead to marriages that legalize incest, bestiality or polygamy is logically invalid. Incest, bestiality and polygamy are crimes. There is zero chance the first two will ever be legal at all. So people who think this must also believe legalizing deer hunting will lead to hunting humans, that's just as logical.

Get a clue! Same sex marriage is a SOCIAL GOOD, benefitting society by encouraging monogamy for good public health, promoting equality in taxation (equal pay for equal work), and protecting the children of gay and lesbian couples, who have children by adoption, previous heterosexual relationships or artificial insemination or surrogacy. Gay and lesbian parents particularly need marriage to best take care of their kids. And since scientific, peer-reviewed studies show that homosexual parenting is just as good as heterosexual parenting there is no reason for states and the federal government to oppose it.

[California8]

The sooner we get gay "marriage" the sooner the incestuous couples and polygamist can have their "rights."

[Liberal Angel]

How are incest and poygamy relevant in this argument? Why are you so hateful?

[carsntrucks]

Polygamy and incest is more prevalent in the Bible than homosexuality. ;)

And they're relevant because they're two other practices that are not legally recognized but encompass people who would want to enter into such a union.

The better question is why are you such a boldfaced hypocrite?

[wafuu]

California8? (Rather, CaliforniaH8!) Committed same-sex couples are all around you, and the sky hasn't fallen. And I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. So, why continue to be ignorant of the fact?

[xenas mom]

And I would encourage those wishing such rights to begin the multi-decade push--not to mention the tremendous amount of money, time and energy--through the legislatures, the courts, and public opinion. But don't try to attach it to same-sex marriage; the issues are absolutely not the same.

[lilnyc]

Now legalize Segways.

[MIKEinNYC]

It's as if this guy, whom I like, is trying not to get elected.

What comes after gay so-called "marriage"? Polygamy and incestuous marriage? It's the same argument, namely "consenting adults should have the right to marry whomever they want".

"Civil unions" makes more sense for this unique same-sex arrangement just as "marriage", (as its been been forever defined), makes sense for the also unique male-female arrangement.

The institution of "marriage" is not a one-size-fits-all arrangement.

[aftershock]

Your argument is riddled with the same fallacies and slippery slope arguments as every other anti-gay post here. You think you're saying something new, insightful, or even factual with this?

[Liberal Angel]

You are truly ignorant. What do polygamy and incest have to do with marriage equality? NOTHING. It's only relevant in the small minds of bigots.

[carsntrucks]

Well, there are people who would want to marry close relatives or multiple people, but they can't. Just like there are people who would want to marry people of the same sex, and in many places they can't.

Why? BECAUSE MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN. But some people say that's unequal. So defining marriage to include of the aforementioned relationships but not the other two would be...unequal, maybe?

[MIKEinNYC]

What gay marriage, incest and polygamy have in common is the argument that their respective proponents put forth to legitimize what they do, namely that consenting adults should be able to do as this like. If gay people were allowed to marry, the proponents of incestuous marriage and polygamy will have their precedent to argue in favor of legitimizing their ways of life.

I have no problem legitimizing the way of life of gays but I would prefer doing so by legitimizing civil unions instead of messing with something like marriage that's been around for thousands of years and has come to mean a union of a male and a female.

It's really apples and oranges. You can call an apple and orange as much as you like but calling that apple an orange will not make it so.

[BriGuy72]

Comparing gay relationships to polygamy and incest? Did I just travel back in time a few decades? Why don't you dust off that old chestnut, "It's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve," while you're at it?
It must be so easy to claim that something isn't a "one-size-fits-all" arrangement when you just so happen to be among the "all" that the "one size" fits. If you're capable of exercising some empathy, you might want to consider what it's like to be one of those who, through no fault of their own, aren't lucky enough to be part of the elite group that you're so proud to be part of.

[LibsRule4ever]

No, unfortunately these disgusting sentiments, as seen on this thread, are alive and well in the 21st century. We're still barbarians, particularly with conservative thought being as intellectually bankrupt as it is.

[Rrhain]

Until you can explain why same-sex marriage leads to incest and polygamy while mixed-sex marriage does not, all you have done is shown yourself to be a bigot.

Your exact argument was used to criminalize interracial marriage. If it was a bogus argument when applied to race, why does it suddenly gain legitimacy when applied to sexual orientation?

[Liberal Angel]

Sadly, you won'y get a rational answer from this guy.

[WhereIsTheTruth]

Marriage fits me and my husband just fine.

[StevenKeirstead]

My husband and mine too!

[carsntrucks]

Please. This is all so he can get re-elected because his numbers are in the can.

[aftershock]

Yeah, cause gay marriage is a real winner with Americans...

[carsntrucks]

It is with liberals...who comprise much of New York.

[California8]

"Nope, you admitted your bi already dude. Sorry, in order for sexuality to be a choice, we must all be bisexual at birth and choose which is more attractive to us."

----

You LIE. I never said any such thing, and your premise remains false.

[aftershock]

You did. You said you had a choice in your sexuality. That makes you bi. You admitted it dude lol.

[Liberal Angel]

I agree. A self-hating bi.

[wafuu]

So, having this choice, one what day and hour and at what Starbucks did you finally decide to go straight and ignorant?

[Liberal Angel]

I hope it gets passed so I can move and get married. I have confidence within the next decade or so, marriage equality will be law all over the Union.

[California8]

Not you too. It's a sad, sad day in this country. Sheesh!

[aftershock]

Yes, believe it or not, there ARE gay black people. BTW, I don't actually believe you're black.

[Liberal Angel]

I'm black, gay as the rainbow and proud of it! I'm Christian too! I can't wait to have a rainbow wedding, and people like you can't dent my happiness.

[slaxx]

i hope he's right.

[robjh1]

If marriage is a civil union many have said they would support it for gays?

And it's not just blacks but there are others against gay marriage. It just so happen that blacks seemd to have come out in droves in California (a liberal state) against it. Perhaps if the gay community had included more gay blacks in the cause the vote would have been different. From what I am told that didn't happen. Please don't make this a black white issue.

"and we are not saved..."

[aftershock]

Civil unions are not marriage, they do not come with the same rights. It's really not rocket science to see why.

[California8]

Close enough...Civil rights aren't "equal" rights. So what are you trying to say?

[StevenKeirstead]

The right wing traditionalists will fight civil unions every bit as hard as same sex marriage. Have you seen what they are doing in Washington State right now on Prop 71? There is no incentive for gays and lesbians to ask for civil union rights if we get exactly the same level of opposition as to legal marriage!

[California8]

aftershock

And you, CaliforniaH8, have proven that you cannot debate a fourth grader. You fail to address inconsistency in your position, answer questions addressed to you, and generally don't have a clue wth you're talking about. Congrats, you're not smarter than a 5th grader

_

I am not here to answer the questions you have about this taboo, deviant lifestyle. Should you have those question you might need to seek professional help. Addressing your "questions" is pointless even at the simplest level, since you seem to be unable to differentiate between sexual preference and race.

[aftershock]

In other words, I have no rational arguments to oppose gay marriage and hate that I'm bisexual. Thanks for making it clear for everyone.

[California8]

There are a multitude of arguments that can be made against the homosexual lifestyle. The AIDS rate in gay men speaks for itself, but that is neither here nor there. The real question I still pose to you is...You didn't have a choice in the decisions you have made throughout life? If not, why?

[The Albany Kid]

Interesting swan song for Gov. Paterson's career.

It's truly great that Paterson is supportive of the GLBT community, but in general, I hope that NY's next Black governor (who may be a mere infant right now) turns out to be a much better leader and gives Black New Yorkers someone to be *really* proud of. Too bad Carl McCall wasn't first.

[serindipity803]

PULEEZE New York - make it happen..YES!

[California8]

Vote on it.

[AllShookUp]

{{{snore}}}

[aftershock]

When we can all vote on your rights, you can vote on gay rights, k?

[Lee Andrew]

I really admire New Yrk's governor and hope his feet lands in a nice federal appointment ( hint, hint president Obama) after he gracefully steps aside and allows the 'big dog' Andrew Cumo to keep the governoership blue.

[serindipity803]

Nicely said...

[obtusegoose]

I really don't get this constant gay marriage backlash. In every single state that has made gay marriage legal there has been NO negative impact. The sanctity of marriage hasn't been destroyed. Straight marriages haven't fallen apart. Children in school haven't been 'indoctrinated' into the outrageously awesome gay lifestyle. I just don't get it.

The ONLY people that gay marriage affects are the two people getting married. To say otherwise is just ludicrous. That's like saying if an interracial couple down the street were to get married, it would somehow effect the entire neighborhood.

[it is me]

Hmmm, the problem with your argument is that you are just happen to be correct.

I have said for a long time - I have yet to find someone who is against gay marriage to explain to me how my marrying my partner affects them or their marriage. And no one has been able to do that. Although all of the answers start with, "well, I just think..."

I think that this is a wonderful gay marriage advertisement. It puts it into such a great perspective:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2nsGtd7y3c

[California8]

Let's vote on this issue state by state and end this. It has become a bit tiresome with all of the complaining and pandering.

[aftershock]

Rights have never been granted via public opinion. You're on the wrong side of history. I'm sure you said the same about civil rights for black people right?

[California8]

I am black, LMAO! Don't equate what you do below your waist to my race. That is insulting. Apples and oranges.