Grasanti just voted in the affirmative (Repub voting in favor the gay marriage bill in NY)

[oberliner]

Now they are taking a recess.

Edit to add clarification and:

He was lobbied by Lady Gaga. Threatened by the conservatives. Good on him for taking this stand.

[aquart]

1. Recess? How long is this bathroom break?

[richmwill]

2. I know- A recess? Really?

I have to urinate so bad right now! And they call a recess of unknown time!!!!! WTH? lol (sorry for "too much information")

[customerserviceguy]

3. I did like his quote

"A man can be wiser today than he was yesterday, if he does the work."

[William769]

4. That man just put alot of Democrats to shame on how he spoke of this issue.

[Chovexani]

6. Didn't he though?

Thank you Senator!

[joshcryer]

12. Anyone got a video of his thoughts on it?

Would love to see it.

[cal04]

5. Pic: Waiting for it to be official on xtopher str

http://yfrog.com/h4d97daj
Waiting for it to be official on xtopher str

[bluestateguy]

7. It's all about the legacy now

History will remember this final vote. That's what everyone will talk about. Public support is only going to go up.

[SoapBox]

8. Live feed HERE...

http://www.livestream.com/

[cal04]

9. Kruger a democrat from Brooklyn

votes yes!

[oberliner]

10. 33-29 passes

History is made in NY!

[cal04]

11. Yes it was! Tonight I'm VERY proud to be a NY'er

:woohoo:

[alp227]

13. I heard his speech live, and as someone born in NY, I emailed him

You can too, here using a customized email form (he has separate email addresses in his regional offices): http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/mark-grisanti/contact

I listened to his speech and heard him talk about his Catholic upbringing and how that influenced his views on marriage, and he later became more informed about the gay marriage issue and decided to vote yes because there's no real threat to religious freedom from allowing same sex marriage. That's similar to how my beliefs used to be, until Proposition 8 inspired me to take a second look and realize that I was wrong to think that same-sex marriage is bad for society.

In the NY Senate, Mark Grisanti represents Niagara Falls and Buffalo. So why if I live in CA am I writing an NY senator? Because I was born in Ithaca, and my parents attended the NY State University at Buffalo. And his floor speech was so inspirational. And last summer I visited Niagara Falls (part of his district).

[joshcryer]

14. I was looking for his speech (too early I know) and found this where he says it won't pass:

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/niagara/Grisanti-gay-marriage-bill-wont-pass

Awesome guy for reversing his position.

[oberliner]

15. Quote from his floor speech

"I cannot deny a person, a human being, a tax payer, a worker…the same rights that I have with my wife." - Republican Mark Grisanti

Are there any more Republicans out there willing to take that stand?