New York Senate Votes Down Gay Marriage Bill

The New York Times reports that New York's "State Senate defeated a bill on Wednesday that would legalize same-sex marriage, after an emotional debate that touched on civil rights, family and history. The vote means that the bill, pushed by Gov. David A. Paterson, is effectively dead for the year and dashes the optimism of gay rights advocates, who have had setbacks recently in several key states. The bill was defeated by a decisive margin of 38 to 24. The Democrats, who have a bare, one-seat majority, did not have enough votes to pass the bill without some Republican support, but not a single Republican senator voted for the measure. Still, several key Democrats who were considered swing votes also opposed the bill... State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr. of the Bronx made an impassioned argument against same-sex marriage, describing his continued opposition as reflecting the broad consensus that marriage should be limited to a union between a man and woman. 'Not only the evangelicals, not only the Jews, not only the Muslims, not only the Catholics, but also the people oppose it,' he said... Had the legislation passed, New York would have become the sixth state where marriage between same-sex couples is legal or will soon be permitted. But now that it has failed, New York becomes the latest state where gay rights advocates have made considerable progress only to see their hopes dashed. Last month Maine became the 31st state to block same-sex marriage through a referendum. The Maine State Legislature had voted to legalize same-sex unions earlier this year, but opponents of gay rights gathered enough signatures to put the measure on the ballot. Last year, California voters repealed same-sex marriage after the State Supreme Court said that gay couples had the right to marry. Unlike in Maine, however, New York does not have a referendum process that allows voters to overturn an act of the Legislature. Demonstrators on both sides of the issue were relatively scarce in the Capitol on Wednesday." Demonstrators included "a small group of Orthodox Jews gathered outside the Senate chamber." Tweet