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December 3, 2009

Really, New York? Really?!?

The new York State Senate yesterday voted 38-to-24 against legalizing marriage for gay couples. It was a shitty day for equality, a shitty day for civil liberties, and a shitty day for the state in which I was born (the majority of state senators from Long Island opposed the bill, which is not surprising to this expat in the slightest).

State Senator Diane Savino, representing District 23 (including portions of Staten Island and Brooklyn), gave an impassioned floor speech and I feel the need to repost it here.

I have been happily very married for nearly four years and still I don't understand the "sanctity of marriage" argument. Nor do I understand the theological argument against gay marriage. The word "god" was never uttered on the day we married and it certainly didn't have a thing to do with the contract we signed with the state of Colorado. Senator Savino articulates our position exactly regarding what marriage actually is (a legally binding contract to be administered by state government).

As an aside, I certainly wouldn't vote to protect the majority of heterosexual marriages I have encountered in my life (including my own parents). I can count on two hands the number of loving marriages I admire and aspire to emulate. I most certainly could use some new role models.

Posted by bethamsel at 9:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack