NY Gov. Cuomo makes major push for gay marriage

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By MICHAEL GORMLEY

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Dozens of gay couples are planning to converge on Albany Thursday to witness what would be a historic vote to legalize gay marriage in New York, the sixth state to do so and a potential bellwether in the national gay rights movement. But for that to happen, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's considerable political skills will be tested as never before to engineer one of the biggest social changes in a generation.

The Democrat has been using a kind of shuttle diplomacy to privately test proposals for additional religious exceptions within the Senate's Republican majority. He's talked to individual senators or small groups of lawmakers privately, breaking down barriers and letting them take his message to others in the Republican caucus.

The proposed protections are aimed at saving religious groups from discrimination lawsuits if they refuse to recognize gay marriage based on their principles.

Those exceptions - carve-outs in the political lexicon - are intended to coax the state Senate's Republican majority, most who oppose gay marriage, to allow the bill to the Senate where Cuomo thinks it will pass by a bipartisan vote led by Democrats. He's made the issue one of his primary objectives in his first year in office.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110623/D9O1HJ2G0.html

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Supporters of gay marriage make signs that read "today" in a hallway at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. Senate Republicans and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo plan to resume talks over legal protections sought by religious groups who fear they'll be hit with discrimination lawsuits if they refuse to allow their facilities to be used for gay weddings. If an agreement is reached, the Republican-led Senate could decide to send the bill to the floor for a public vote. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

[Not Me]

1. I have been following this very closely

for the past two weeks. NY is my home state, and I beginning to think that Skelos and the repubs have no intention of bringing it to the floor.
They are using it for whatever leverage they can get to cut deals on bills that they want passed.

I really,really hope I am wrong, but I am seeing this session closing without a vote.

[RKP5637]

2. Never will I cease to be amazed at how republicans love inequality, persecution,

discrimination, hatefulness and making as many people as miserable as possible be it anything. They always support the flaws in human nature that makes for the worst for many.

[HockeyMom]

3. Putting this off until the last minute so they can LEAVE Albany

and hide out, no matter how they vote. Native New Yoker also whose two daughters, including a gay one, still living in NY. Yes, I am watching this closely also for my daughter. and that I want to move back.

It boggles my mind that IOWA has gay marriage and NY doesn't.

[Not Me]

10. It boggles my mind that Nepal has gay marriage

and NY does not.

[tpsbmam]

4. I have VERY mixed feelings about Cuomo

But I love him for this. Good for him for making this a priority and actively working to make it pass.

K&R

[Pab Sungenis]

5. Governor: five years from now please

do what your father never had the courage to do: give us a fighter on the Democratic ticket.

[JTFrog]

6. K&R!

[nichomachus]

7. The whole religious exemption thing is a bullshit red herring

All it does is reinforce the right-wing lies about same-sex marriage and bogs down the process, giving hate groups like the Catholic church time to threaten and bully legislators and voters.

Exempting "Christian caterers" from being forced to supply food for gay weddings? Give me a freaking break. Have you ever eaten at a Christian church? No self respecting gay couple would feed that swill to their friends and family.

[Drum]

8. Lol! n/t

[HockeyMom]

9. Obama at GLBT fundraiser in NYC tonight

Couldn't make this stuff up if you tried. My poor, poor state. It's becoming a 3 ring circus right now.