Gay marriage vote today?

The Rev. Jason McGuire, who leads the socially conservative organization New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, says a vote on gay marriage may be taken up in both houses of the Legislature this afternoon. McGuire, who is the chief lobbyist against the bill, says it will be taken up if and when a deficit reduction deal passes. Although the bill has already passed the Assembly, it needs to pass again there in this special session.

But the real drama is in the Senate, where the bill's fate is uncertain. McGuire says (in an email urging those against the measure to show up and/or contact senators) that he'll be on hand to lobby senators against the bill. A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting with him on the third floor of the Capitol when Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell walked past, and he and McGuire nodded to each other in a civil way. McGuire said he had previously discussed the issue with O'Donnell, the chief sponsor of the gay marriage bill in the Assembly, and it seemed to me an example of how Albany can be a civilized place.

Comments

[Brian]

If the marriage equality bill is contingent upon the senate actually acting on the deficit, then opponents of equal rights for gays have nothing to worry about.

[Brian]

If Mr. McGuire is such a fan of "constitutional freedoms," then perhaps he might be bothered to read Article I, Section 11 of the NYS Constitution: "No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws of this state or any subdivision thereof."

I am not aware of any section of the state constitution which would preclude gay marriage nor define marriage as exclusively for heterosexuals.

Perhaps his group should be named "New Yorkers who'd rather cling to biases than to fairness or justice." Might be too long for a bumper sticker, though.