Gay Marriage Bill Defeated in New York Senate

By Karen DeWitt

Albany, New York – Same sex marriage will not be legal in New York anytime soon, now that the State Senators have voted down a measure legalizing gay marriage by a 38 to 24 vote.

The resounding defeat took its sponsors by surprise. Many had expected the numbers to be much closer, but, in the end, not a single one of the 30 Republican Senators voted with the two dozen Democrats who said yes to gay marriage.

Prime Sponsor Senator Tom Duane, the only openly gay Senator, said some GOP members, whom he refused to name, had promised him they would vote in favor of the measure.

"I'm frankly feeling betrayed," said Duane.

Governor David Paterson, who had urged the vote to take place, even if the outcome was uncertain, equated the set back with the long civil rights struggle in this nation.

"I am disappointed but not undaunted," said Paterson. "We will continue to fight so that gay and lesbian citizens, those of the same sex who want to marry, can do this in peace".

Supporters, many of whom watched with avid interest in the Senate chamber during the more than three hours of debate, expressed bitter disappointment at the outcome of the vote. Corey Johnson came from New York City to witness what he hoped would be an historic moment.

"I'm devastated," said Johnson. "Clearly many state Senators have not been up front about how they were going to vote."

Others chanted "shame" in the hallways as Republican Senators filed past to the Senate elevators. No GOP Senator wanted to comment, and none explained their vote on the floor.

Some speculated that Republicans had become afraid of the so called "Scozzafava effect" in the 2010 elections, after the collapse this fall of the congressional campaign in New York's 23rd district of Republican Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, a supporter of gay marriage.

Republican Senate Leader Dean Skelos had said the vote would not be a party line vote, but a vote of conscience for his GOP members, and he would not tell them what to do.

Governor Paterson says he thought motivations behind the no votes were more political than personal.

"I think that if this were truly a vote of conscience that marriage equality would have passed," said Paterson.

The only Senator to give his reasons against same sex marriage was Senator Ruben Diaz, a Democrat from the Bronx, who has long said that his religion does not permit him to favor the bill. And Diaz says he's not alone, saying President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton opposed gay marriage.

The lobby group for the Catholic bishops in the state issued a statement, saying they were "extremely pleased and grateful that the New York State Senate in a bipartisan vote rejected the concept that marriage can be anything other than the union of one man and one woman".

Senate Democratic Leaders, who supported the measure, but gained only two dozen of the 32 Democratic votes, admit they will need to spend some time persuading the Senators before they can attempt another vote.

"There's a lot of work to be done," said Senator John Sampson, who is conference leader.

The leader of the largest gay and lesbian rights group Empire State Pride Agenda, Alan Van Capelle, says he does not think it was a mistake for backers of gay marriage to press for an open vote, and he vowed political retribution.

"We now go into 2010 knowing who is standing by our community, and who abandoned our community when we needed them," said Van Capelle. "There's a roadmap now."

While it does not appear that the measure could gain enough Senate supporters to be taken up again next year, backers vow they'll be back. They predict it's "inevitable" that gay marriage will eventually become legal in New York, saying "it's not a matter of if, but when".