It’s a happy day for rump wranglers and cock suckers of every shape and color. Meanwhile for those who believe in traditional marriage are left wondering what the hell happened to the Empire state.
I’m on the losing side here. So I have nothing to celebrate other than to promise there’s going to be a heavy price paid by this decision.
New York, you’ve earned the wrath that is to come!
New York Daily News
New York made history last night as the State Senate voted "aye" on gay marriage.
Senators passed the bill 33 to 29 as the normally somnolent chambers erupted in a raucous chant of "USA! USA!"
"As I have said many times, this is a very difficult issue and it will be a vote of conscience for every member of the Senate," said GOP Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau).
New York joined Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa and Washington, D.C., in legally recognizing gay marriage.
"I'm verklempt," said a nervously optimistic Assemblyman Matthew Titone (D-S.I), one of five openly gay state lawmakers prior to the vote. "I'm still in a state of disbelief."
The Assembly passed the bill last week for the fourth time since 2007.
It was only two years ago that gay marriage was easily defeated in the then Democrat-controlled Senate. Now, the rush to the altar could begin 30 days after Gov. Cuomo, who made gay marriage a priority, signs the bill.
For gay couples, marriage means more than just swapping rings.
For the first time they qualify for the same 1,324 state marriage benefits afforded to straight couples.
Same-sex couples are not eligible for federal marriage benefits because of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Advocates on both sides of the issue have for days lined the hallways around the Senate praying, chanting and singing.
"This is one of the basic steps toward being considered first-class citizens," said Erik Ross, 30, a gay student from Albany.
Opponents vowed political retribution for GOP senators who voted in favor of the bill.
"If it passes, we feel it's going to ruin our state and our country," said Dawn Adams, a coordinator of the Norwich Tea Party Patriots.
Going into last night's vote, 31 senators, including two Republicans, were supporting the gay marriage bill - one shy of the 32 needed for passage.
All eyes were on a small group of undecided senators, particularly Stephen Saland (R-Poughkeepsie), whose wife - who is viewed as sympathetic to the cause - came to the Capitol, giving supporters hope.
More here
This is an extremely sad day in the history of New York which has become the new Sodom and Gomorrah
Memeorandum
