Ecstatic
04-15-2009, 10:38 PM
Governor Paterson plans to introduce legislation this week to legalize same-sex marriage in NY. This will revive a bill that died in 2007 and still faces strong opposition. NY does recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. He says that "there is clearly a problem" as gays and lesbians in civil unions are nonetheless denied as many as 1350 civil protections including health care and pension rights because they are not married. (Whatever opponents may claim, the difference between civil union and marriage is vastly more than mere semantics.)
The governor says "the timing was always right. It's just who is willing to take that step, and I am," speaking of his plans to introduce the legislation. "I think it is, as other states are showing, the only ethical way to treat people who want to live together in peace under the civil law. So my general feeling about all these issues is the right ethical decision will inevitably be the right political decision." Paterson says he believes it will become law, although polls show that legalizing same-sex marriage remains controversial in NY, and some advocates are concerned that bringing the issue up before there is clear support may be detrimental.
The governor says "the timing was always right. It's just who is willing to take that step, and I am," speaking of his plans to introduce the legislation. "I think it is, as other states are showing, the only ethical way to treat people who want to live together in peace under the civil law. So my general feeling about all these issues is the right ethical decision will inevitably be the right political decision." Paterson says he believes it will become law, although polls show that legalizing same-sex marriage remains controversial in NY, and some advocates are concerned that bringing the issue up before there is clear support may be detrimental.