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The New York Times
N.Y. / Region
Gay Marriage Lost in
Shuffle of Divided Senate
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James Estrin/The New York Times
Motorcyclists at New York City's gay pride parade on
Sunday. |
By JEREMY W. PETERS
nytimes.com from the Web, June 29, 2009
When Gov. David A. Paterson accepted
an invitation to be a grand marshal in New York City’s gay pride parade this
year, he had high expectations that he would march down Fifth Avenue as the
first governor in state history to have signed a law allowing gay couples to
marry.
But the hopes of Mr. Paterson and gay rights advocates who have been pushing for
same-sex marriage have collided with a political maelstrom in Albany. Like
every other major public-policy issue before the State Legislature — from local
sales taxes to control of New York City’s school system — same-sex marriage is
on hold until Republicans and Democrats in the State Senate reach a compromise
over who will control the chamber.
So on Sunday afternoon, as the governor clutched a rainbow flag in his left hand
and waved to the legions of gay men and lesbians who turned out for the parade,
his presence was more of an anticlimax than a climax.
“In my dream, I was grand marshal of a parade where as I’m taking steps down
Fifth Avenue, many New Yorkers can take steps down the aisles to be married,
which I think is their right,” Mr. Paterson said as he was beginning the
40-plus-block walk from Midtown to Greenwich Village. He noted that he was
the first governor to serve as grand marshal.
Mr. Paterson said on Sunday that while he hoped the Senate would move quickly to
pass a same-sex marriage bill, he remained wary of introducing the issue into
such a fractious political environment.
“I think that the bill should be considered,” he said, adding, “I have tried not
to insert into an already acrimonious situation any controversial legislation
that might exacerbate the tension and cause the bill to lose.”
It remains unknowable what will become of the bill, which passed the State
Assembly in May by a margin of 89 to 52. After Mr. Paterson initially
omitted the bill from the agenda of the first extraordinary session of the
Senate that he convened last week, he drew a sharp outcry from advocates of gay
rights. The governor then included it among the bills he asked the Senate
to consider later in the week.
But the Senate has ignored Mr. Paterson’s calls to take up any legislation, and
has done all that the State Constitution essentially compels senators to do when
the governor convenes an extraordinary session: show up in the Senate
chamber.
On Sunday, both sides of the divided Senate returned for brief sessions, one
side after the other gaveling in and out without taking up any business.
Senators on each side said they had not even agreed whether to meet later that
night.
“It’s almost as if they want to stall,” said Senator Tom Libous, a Republican of
Binghamton.
Democrats have been pushing for a temporary agreement that will allow critical
bills to pass; Republicans insist on a power-sharing deal that extends through
2010.
“We want to get the business of the people done,” said Senator John L. Sampson,
the leader of the Democrats.
The question that supporters of same-sex marriage are trying to resolve now is
whether the bill would be on the agenda of any session the Senate convenes, once
it settles its leadership fight. But no one can be sure when the dispute
will be resolved or what legislation will be considered once the Senate begins
functioning again.
“We need the Senate to get back to work,” said the New York City Council
speaker, Christine C. Quinn, who appeared at the parade with her longtime
partner, Kim Catullo. “We need a vote on marriage equality. We need
the New York State Senate to have the courage of its convictions and to stand up
and say what they think.”
Some spectators at the parade on Sunday were not holding their breath.
Kevin Silas, 40, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., who was with his partner, Charles
Kelley, 47, said he did not have much faith that the impasse in Albany would be
settled and that same-sex marriage would be one of the issues the Senate
addresses soon.
“I mean, I’m going to love him regardless,” Mr. Silas said, gesturing toward Mr.
Kelley, his partner of eight years. The two were married in New Paltz,
N.Y., during the brief period in 2004 when the mayor there was performing
unofficial same-sex marriages. “I’ve already got the ring.”
Danny Hakim and Mathew R. Warren contributed reporting.
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