Tag Archives: NY Senate

Activists are turning up the heat on the eight Democratic New York senators who voted down same-sex marriage. Yesterday’s actions including a protest at the Queens office of Sen. Hiram Monserrate and a similar event outside of Sen. Carl Kruger’s Brooklyn home. Minutes after the vote earlier this month, the unmarried Kruger, whose aide says the Senator “doesn’t comment on …

Yesterday the Empire State Pride Agenda announced their endorsement of NY Assemblyman Jose Peralta in his bid to unseat NY Sen. Hiram Monserrate, who stunned activists with his betrayal on marriage last week. But today we learn that Peralta may not be a squeaky-clean choice. Via NY Daily News: Queens Assemblyman Jose Peralta landed more than $500,000 in taxpayer money …

I just came across this clip of Gov. Paterson’s great speech at the Union Square post-vote rally/protest on Thursday, in which he vowed to bring the NY Senate back for another vote “if I think the votes are there.” Paterson is probably the single greatest LGBT ally of any state governor – we owe him our vigorous support in his …

The Empire State Pride Agenda is fast out of the gate, today making its first endorsement of an opponent to one of the eight Senate Democrats who voted against marriage equality. Via press release. The Empire State Pride Agenda announced today its endorsement of Assemblymember José Peralta in the 2010 Democratic Primary Election for State Senate District 13 in Queens. …

“Two adults who are consenting and who are like-minded and within their mental capacities should be allowed to be with each other. I think it’s an outrage.” – Anti-marriage equality NY Sen. Hiram Monserrate, clearly oblivious to the meaning of hypocrisy, complaining that a court order prevents him from seeing the woman whose face he slashed with a broken glass. …

Quoting an unnamed gay activist, today the NY Daily News says that pro-equality forces are planning an 2010 “bloodbath” for Democratic state senators who voted against same-sex marriage. Gay advocates are on the warpath after the state Senate killed same-sex marriage last week, and few Democratic senators who voted against the bill are safe from their wrath. After spending more …

An interesting theory from the New York Times. Some have cited Mr. Addabbo, whose name falls second in the roll call when Senate votes are taken, as a major factor in setting the tone for the losing vote. He was widely known as a possible yes vote. And by his voting no, some supporters of the bill have said that …

Local NYC news just announced that Sen. Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) will only get three years probation for the “accidental” slashing of his girlfriend’s face, an attack that resulted in 40 “accidental” stitches. He also has to perform community service and attend anger management classes. Last month Monseratte narrowly escaped felony charges for the assault after his girlfriend recanted her emergency …

Queens Democrat Joseph Addado, who was elected with the help of LGBT groups like the Gill Action Fund, says he had to vote “no’ on marriage equality because so many calls from constituents told him to. Via Julie Bolcer at the Advocate: In 2008, state campaign finance records indicate that Addaboo received $9,500, the maximum allowable contribution, from gay philanthropist …

Bigotry makes strange bedfellows. Catholic Online’s head hater Deacon Keith Fournier has published an effusive praising of NY Sen. Ruben Diaz’ anti-gay performance yesterday. Senator Ruben Diaz is a “man with a chest”. He stands out in an age of men (and women) without chests. The reaction to the vote defending marriage against its opponents has been swift. Those in …

NY Sen. Thomas Duane, via press release: Today’s vote against Marriage Equality makes me very angry. Promises made were not honored. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, and all fair-minded New Yorkers have been betrayed. I am enraged, deeply disappointed and profoundly saddened by the vote today. In 2006, when the New York State Court of Appeals shamefully …

Within a couple of hours of today’s vote in the NY Senate, rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker had made a 50-foot yellow “NY CRIME SCENE” banner and hundreds of pissed off New Yorkers had joined him in Times Square to express their anger to the national networks and thousands of tourists. NOTE: I ran into a couple of despised politicos …

The four Democrats below delivered the most impassioned and stirring pro-equality speeches of the day. If you didn’t get to watch the proceedings live, please watch as each Senator approaches the issue from a different direction. Sen. Eric Adams, with gripping historical comparisons. Sen. Diane Savino, with great humor and pop culture references. Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson, with a heartbreaking personal …

• Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) — NO• Darrel Aubertine (D- Cape Vincent) — NO• Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) — NO• Shirley Huntley (D-Queens) — NO• Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn) — NO• Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) — NO • George Onorato (D-Queens) — NO• William Stachowski (D-Buffalo) — NO Remember all of these names. I will be coming back to you to help fund their …

Maggie Gallagher and Brian Brown are doing cartwheels. “This is a huge win, it puts the nail in the coffin on the idea that gay marriage advocates can persuade a majority of Americans their cause is just,” said Brian Brown, Executive Director of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). “New York makes it crystal clear: the American people do not …

Openly gay NY Sen. Thomas Duane expresses his thanks to Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson after her touching speech about her gay brother during her unexpected “yes” vote on marriage equality in the New York Senate today. You can express your own appreciation to Sen. Hassell-Thompson by phone or email here. [Photo credit: Nathaniel Brooks/NYT]

Marriage equality failed today in the New York Senate after a years-long battle to bring the issue to a vote. The final tally: 24 YES, 38 NO. Among the surprises was a “no” vote from Queens Democrat Sen. Hiram Monserrate, who had previously been a vocal supporter. In October, Monserrate narrowly escaped a felony assault conviction for slashing the face …

Well, let’s play Lucy with the football. AGAIN. The NY Senate is convening any moment. Last night the state Assembly reapproved same-sex marriage for the third time, just in case and so Gov. Paterson can immediately sign the bill if the Senate, ya know, actually DOES anything. UPDATE: The Marriage Equality Act has passed the NY Senate Rules Committee. As …

The New York Senate is scheduled to go back into session at 9PM EST, at which time it looks like a vote on marriage equality MIGHT take place. UPDATE: Yet ANOTHER false alarm. The NY Senate has adjourned for the night.

Well, shut my mouth. If Sen. Ruben Diaz has fled to his Albany office to pray against the gays, THAT is surely the strongest sign that the marriage vote will rilly, rilly happen tonight. Here’s the strongest sign yet that the gay marriage bill will indeed come to the Senate floor for a vote before the day is over: Sen. …