3 months ago
Next Monday and Tuesday, a bill legalizing gay marriage will be on the agenda in Albany. The Governor promises it will come to a vote by the end of the year.
Governor David Paterson told reporters, "We're talking about the civil rights of people." The bill will come to the floor at Paterson's insistence. When the measure appeared dead, he said he took lawmakers into his chambers for a meeting to convince them to act on it. The Assembly has already passed the bill, but the Senate has not brought it to the floor. That chamber remains split 32-30 as Democrats hold a slim majority. But, for many gay and lesbian couples, it's about more than politics. "It is often set up as a political issue, but for us it's really about our families. Our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families and having equal access to marriage," said Jorien Brock, Senior Director of the Western New York Pride Center. She says there are thousands of privileges that come with marriage- that both straight and gays- should be entitled. She mentioned health insurance, hospital visitation and tax breaks, among others. But, opponents believe this will weaken families. Reverend Jason McGuire head the group New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, which opposes the bill. "I'd like to see marriage is protected between a man and a woman, that's obviously the perspective that I come from. I'd like to see society recognizes the important contribution that both moms and dads make to their children's lives," he told 2 On Your Side. He added it's not simply a religious belief that drives his argument, it's one he insists is backed up by Sociology studies on the American family. "Our public policy really ought to reflect what is good for society as a whole," McGuire said.
