A long-anticipated gay marriage vote in
the New York Senate has ended in disappointment for advocates of gay
marriage. The debate, which came after months of inaction, was
passionate, but senators voted down the bill 24 to 38. Few opponents
of the bill approached the podium.
Openly gay Senator Tom Duane, the
bill's sponsor, was the first to speak. He told senators that the
measure would “make me equal in every way to everyone else in this
chamber.” Duane spoke up a second time, before voting began. In a
rambling speech he said, “There is never a good time for civil
rights, it's never the right time for civil rights, I know. But the
paradox is it's always a good time to be on the right side of
history.”
The Senate's most outspoken critic of
gay marriage, Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. of the Bronx, called the debate
“treason” and invited Republicans to vote with him against the
measure.
Senator Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat,
urged for passage of the bill, saying, “You can't legislate
morality, but you can legislate justice.”
Senators Kevin S. Parker and Eric
Adams, two African-American lawmakers, cast the debate in terms of
civil rights. Parker said his support for gay couples stemmed from
racial discrimination.
Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson revealed
publicly for the first time that her late brother was gay. A
previously undecided senator, Hassell-Thompson announced for the
first time she favored the bill, saying voters in her district did
not elect her to legislate morality.
Despite the high emotions and
passionate speeches, senators easily defeated the bill. The defeat
will likely also affect nearby New Jersey, where senators considering
a similar measure are certain to take notice.