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Monthly Archives: June 2011

Brian Brown to New York Senators: Remember New Hampshire!

June 27, 2011 – 11:21 am

Brian Brown quoted in the Ithaca Journal on the bad consequences of gay marriage ... for legislators who vote for gay marriage:

While it was clear there was overwhelming opposition to same-sex marriage legislation in Maryland and Rhode Island, where the measures failed, New York "is a little bit of a unique creature," said Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, which opposes same-sex marriage.

He said his group will work to defeat lawmakers who voted yes. That's what it did in New Hampshire.

Brown and others who oppose same-sex marriage said legislators should let voters decide the issue in a referendum, rather than decide themselves.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (12)

Bishop of Brooklyn & Queens: SSM in NY Requires Church to Speak More Forcefully and Clearly

June 27, 2011 – 11:20 am

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio in the NY Daily News:

We who oppose Same-sex Marriage are not callous to the very real human longings for friendship, affection and belonging that proponents of this legislation espouse as the rational "Marriage Equality".

Indeed, we like other New Yorker discuss these issues with our friends, family, co-workers and loved ones who have same-sex attractions. We have in part failed as the proponents of the historical understanding of marriage as that between a man and a woman precisely because we have sought to be sensitive to those who have same-sex attractions. Perhaps we must now speak more forcefully and clearly.

As the chief shepherd of the Catholics in our City's two most populous boroughs, Brooklyn and Queens, the decision of our Catholic Governor and State Legislature to overturn the common understanding of marriage that, despite many developments over thousands of years, has always been understood between a man and woman. That there was virtually no public debate on the issue and that the entire matter was concluded in just over thirty-minutes late on a Friday evening is disgraceful.

As a protest, I have asked my collaborators not to bestow or accept honors, nor to extend a platform of any kind to any state elected official, in all our parishes and churches for the foreseeable future.

Our children in NY State deserve the best and unfortunately there seem to be very few if any "Profiles in Courage."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Catholic Church, New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (6)

NYT Editorializes Against Religious Freedom

June 27, 2011 – 10:55 am

While tepidly lauding Andrew Cuomo, the New York Times objects to language that may keep Catholic charities in business. (The hastily drawn language, we add, may or may not do that much or little, time will tell).

But the Times asks, why accomodate "bigotry" at all?

In drafting a compromise, however, Senator Saland and other Republicans insisted on language that carves out exceptions for religious institutions and not-for-profit corporations affiliated with those religious entities. That provision allows those tax-exempt entities to refuse to marry a same-sex couple or to allow the use of their buildings or services for weddings or wedding parties. There was simply no need for these exemptions, since churches are protected under both the federal Constitution and New York law from being required to marry anyone against their beliefs. Equally troubling, an “inseverability clause” in the act appears to make it impossible for any court to invalidate part of the law without invalidating the whole law — raising questions about what happens to couples during an appeal.

While some civil rights advocates are optimistic that these provisions are relatively minor, we are deeply troubled by their discriminatory intent. The whole purpose of this law should be to expand civil rights without shedding other protections in the process.

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Religious Liberty, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (5)

Video: The Grisanti Flip Flop

June 27, 2011 – 10:52 am

Last Friday he voted for gay marriage. Last month he was against gay marriage. Watch him mislead the voters:

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (2)

"80 Percent of Children with a Gay Parent Come from Heterosexual Relationships"

June 27, 2011 – 10:50 am

In the San Francisco Examiner:

The census data — which for the first time allowed gay couples to identify themselves as a family — revealed that San Francisco has 7,530 gay male couples living together, but of those, just 332 — or 4.4 percent — have children. Of The City’s 2,754 lesbian couples, 525 have children — about 19 percent.

... research showed that about 80 percent of the children raised in same-sex households come from prior heterosexual relationships, while less than 20 percent come from adoption, fostering or surrogacy.

A typical situation might be a gay man who had a child with a woman early in life, but now is raising that child with a male partner.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Adoption, Children, Parenting | Comments (12)

ElectionWatch2012: SSM Looms Larger in Presidential Campaign

June 27, 2011 – 10:38 am

The Hill reports:

Gay marriage looms as a significant issue in the 2012 campaign, and conservatives hope it will have a similar impact to 2004 when it helped George W. Bush win reelection.

New York’s passage of a law late Friday legalizing gay marriage has energized the debate in Washington and will pressure President Obama to address it further.

The issue could rise to political significance early next year when Republican leaders in New Hampshire plan to vote on a repeal of state law allowing same-sex marriage.

... While Obama is under strong pressure from the gay-rights community to endorse same-sex marriage it could hurt him in swing states that prohibit it. Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia have state constitutional amendments banning gay marriage and expected to be closely contest in 2012.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Marriage Election Watch, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (1)

Gawker: "Even Gay Marriage Requires Super-Rich Libertarians"

June 27, 2011 – 10:24 am

Max Read at Gawker writes:

The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal both have behind-the-scenes accounts of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's successful push for gay marriage in New York. And (surprise!) the key was a bunch of rich Republicans.

The Times recounts a "secret meeting" between the governor's "most trusted advisors" and "a group of super-rich Republican donors," which would otherwise be every progressive's nightmare. But this one was about people whom those donors knew—billionaire Paul Singer, for example, has a gay son—and their right to enter into contracts, and the donors "were inclined to see the issue as one of personal freedom, consistent with their more libertarian views."

... This is how things get done, in government, now! Rich people decide they want things, and then they use their money to get them.

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (5)

NY Senate Rules Changed Mid-Stream to Accommodate Democrats' Desire for Media Publicity

June 27, 2011 – 10:19 am

This is how deeply complicit the GOP leadership in NY was in passing gay marriage: they even changed the senate rules several times in a day, and silenced senators who wanted to speak -- in order to vote in time for the 11 p.m. news:

Essentially the Senate rules were changed in a backroom agreement before session started and then changed again during the vote to make sure it would be concluded to make the 11 p.m. newscasts.

Sen. Kevin Parker, a long time proponent of same-sex marriage was informed by Senate staff that he would not be able to explain his vote. He was livid. He cursed out the governor and eventually stormed to the podium where Duffy was presiding–a number of other Democratic senators followed him–seemingly to calm him down.

Earlier when Sen. Ruben Diaz tried to lay the marriage bill aside he was ignored. Normal senate procedure allows for any senator to lay a bill aside for debate. It gives legislators a chance to debate the bill then when they vote, they again have the chance to explain their vote. But the rules weren’t the same.

... A number of other Democrats acknowledged to me that the governor’s office was pushing hard to move the debate forward so that Cuomo could make the 11 p.m. newscasts. “11, 11, 11,” that’s all they were saying said one Democratic senator. --Gotham Gazette

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (4)

Brian Brown in WSJ on Why Obama Won't Endorse SSM

June 25, 2011 – 9:17 pm

Because, NOM President Brian Brown says in the Wall Street Journal, the President knows it will lose him more supporters than it would gain:

The political pressure for Mr. Obama to endorse gay marriage doesn't seem to be there at the moment. The Human Rights Campaign, a group that lobbies on behalf of of gay people, has already endorsed Mr. Obama's re-election. "There's no doubt that we would prefer the president to support and embrace marriage equality sooner rather than later but he's going to do so at the time when he feels right to do so," said the group's spokesman, Fred Sainz.

Mr. Obama's opponents are prepared for the moment, should it arise. "The gay issue is going to be big primarily because there's going to be at least one ballot initiative," said Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, which opposes same-sex marriage. "If he comes out in support of same sex marriage I think that clearly would undercut his chances at re-election."

By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Marriage Election Watch, New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (14)

White House Statement on NY Stops Just Short of Endorsing SSM

June 25, 2011 – 9:15 pm

A rather breathtaking claim from the White House after last night's vote to redefine marriage: "The process in New York worked just as it should."

Really? Rushing through a bill opposed by the majority of the state's citizens before the public even had a chance to read it? And who knows how many back-room deals that were swapped to get the votes?

Here's the statement in full:

The President has long believed that gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and legal protections as straight couples. That's why he has called for repeal of the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" and determined that his Administration would no longer defend the constitutionality of DOMA in the courts. The states should determine for themselves how best to uphold the rights of their own citizens. The process in New York worked just as it should.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Election Watch 2012, Marriage Election Watch, New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (10)

We Pledge $2 Million to Reverse SSM in New York - Will You Stand With Us?

June 25, 2011 – 4:30 pm

www.NOMPACNY.org

Last night we were sold out by the Republican Party in New York.  Shortly before 10:30 last night, the New York Senate voted 33 to 29 in favor of same-sex marriage. Four Republicans – Jim Alesi, Roy McDonald, Steve Saland, and Mark Grisanti provided the margin of passage.

But this fight is far from over. In response to last night's vote, I have doubled our pledge to New York, committing at least $2 million dollars to make sure that New York Republicans understand that voting for gay marriage has consequences.

Marriage isn't a partisan issue – in fact, the hero of the past month has been Democratic Senator Ruben Diaz, a courageous friend who has withstood threats, bigotry and hatred while working tirelessly to protect and defend marriage. NOM pledges to stand with Senator Diaz and any Democrat who would share his courage in standing for marriage.

But the responsibility today rests squarely with the Republican Party. The Republican Party has torn up its contract with the voters who trusted them.  When Democrats are in control, they regularly refuse to permit a vote on a marriage amendment. When they are in the minority, they may even leave the state to prevent a vote when their base disapproves. And yet tonight, the Republican Party has sold out, and it is the Republican Party that will pay the worst price for this vote to redefine marriage.

Selling out your principles to get elected is wrong.  Selling out your principles to get the other guy elected is just plain dumb.

It's time to change the way business is done in Albany. Politicians who campaign one way on marriage, and then vote the other, need to understand: betraying and misleading voters has consequences, too.  We are not giving in – to the contrary, we begin today in a renewed push for a constitutional amendment that would give the people of New York the right to vote on marriage.  

In order to give the people of New York that right, we're going to have to change the leadership in Albany, bringing new pro-marriage majorities to both houses of the New York Legislature. That's why NOM is committing at least $2 million to New York in 2012, both through independent expenditures and through NOM PAC New York. 

Will you join us with a generous donation to NOM PAC New York? With your help, this battle has just begun. Your gift of $50, $100, or even $1000 or more will help get us off to a powerful start. In the next sixteen months we will change the faces of Albany.

And the first order of business will be to replace the senators who betrayed us last night.

Thank you for standing with us.

By Brian Brown | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (27)

NY Law Professor Explains Why She Doesn't Want to Marry Her Same-Sex Partner

June 25, 2011 – 1:08 pm

Katherine M. Franke, a professor of law and the director of the Center for Gender and Sexuality Law at Columbia Law School warns:

Here’s why I’m worried: Winning the right to marry is one thing; being forced to marry is quite another. How’s that? If the rollout of marriage equality in other states, like Massachusetts, is any guide, lesbian and gay people who have obtained health and other benefits for their domestic partners will be required by both public and private employers to marry their partners in order to keep those rights. In other words, “winning” the right to marry may mean “losing” the rights we have now as domestic partners, as we’ll be folded into the all-or-nothing world of marriage.

... Once the marriage ban in New York State is lifted, domestic-partner couples, both gay and straight, will risk losing access to health care and other benefits if their employers treat marriage as the only ticket for entitlement to these benefits, which are increasingly expensive.

... What’s difficult to explain is that for some lesbians and gay men, having our relationships sanctioned and regulated by the state is hardly something to celebrate. It was only a few years ago that we were criminals in the eyes of the law simply because of whom we loved. As strangers to marriage for so long, we’ve created loving and committed forms of family, care and attachment that far exceed, and often improve on, the narrow legal definition of marriage. Many of us are not ready to abandon those nonmarital ways of loving once we can legally marry.

By NOM Staff | Posted in Law, New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (10)

William Duncan on the "Extraordinary Process" that Led to SSM in NY

June 25, 2011 – 1:07 pm

William C. Duncan in NRO's The Corner last night:

One of the facts about tonight’s debate over same-sex marriage that will be neglected in the adulatory coverage is the really extraordinary process that brought this innovation to the Empire State. New York law, for instance, requires bills to be published 72 hours before a vote. The public, however, did not see the full language of the bill voted on tonight for more than a few hours (and only if they were exceedingly diligent in looking for it). Normal rules of debate were waived, the session was extended, etc. These kinds of exceptions are allowed for, but only in instances of emergency. Governor Cuomo had no qualms about claiming, and many legislators were complicit in accepting, the argument that redefining marriage in New York was so pressing a priority that the public’s ability to weigh the proposals (not to mention the senators’ ability to do so) should have been short-circuited.

When Sen. Ruben Diaz tried to ask the Republican senator who had announced the new exemption language questions about that language, he refused even to yield for a question. (Perhaps he didn’t want to have to explain that wedding photographers, bed-and-breakfast owners, and the like with religious beliefs about marriage will be liable to discrimination complaints.) “By any means necessary” seems to be the preferred operating procedure for the marriage-equality movement. What remains to be seen now is whether the people of New York will look kindly on the legislators who ignored them, listening instead to the Hollywood stars and other glitterati who became lobbyists for this fashionable cause.

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (1)

Maggie Gallagher: The NY GOP Will Pay a Grave Price

June 25, 2011 – 12:02 pm

NOM Chairman Maggie Gallagher in NRO's The Corner last night:

New York Republicans are responsible for passing gay marriage. The party will pay a grave price.

Here is what we know. In state after state, Democrats who control a chamber in support of their base have prevented votes favorable to marriage: Iowa, West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.

When Democrats are in the minority, they’ve demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to their base — in Wisconsin and Indiana fleeing the state to prevent a vote.

N.Y, Republicans did not have to bring gay marriage up for a vote: What does it mean that they passed gay marriage in N.Y.?

Michael Long, the Conservative-party chairman, has vowed to withhold his endorsement. TheNational Organization for Marriage has committed $2 million to persuading Republicans: Voting for gay marriage has consequences.

Sad that the N.Y. GOP has caved. Consequences to be continued.

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (11)

AP: "Limitless" Pro-SSM Lobbying Dollars At Work in New York

June 25, 2011 – 11:30 am

Grassroots is essential, but deep pockets helped coax passage of SSM in Albany:

This year’s nationally scrutinized battle in New York over whether to legalize gay marriage has attracted big money. One longtime Albany lobbyist describes it as a “limitless” amount of lobbying dollars and campaign contributions from gay marriage advocates.

Susan Lerner of the good-government group Common Cause says she hasn’t seen anything like the spending over gay marriage since the abortion fights of the 1970s. --AP

 

By NOM Staff | Posted in New York, Same Sex Marriage | Comments (3)
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