Updated: Testiness over gay-marriage bill in the Senate
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- June
- 3
  Sen. Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx, just released a statement rapping Sen. Tom Duane, D-Manhattan, for not disclosing the names of senators who would vote yes on a gay marriage bill. The Rev. Diaz, who opposes gay marriage, said he was responding to public statements Duane, who is openly gay, made on the vote count.
  The bill passed the Democrat-led Assembly. It was not taken up by the Senate in previous years because the GOP leadership was against it. Democrats control the Senate for the first time since 1965, but their margin is 32-30. Since some Democrats, including Diaz, have said they would oppose the legislation, supporters will need some support from the GOP.
  Here’s what Diaz had to say:
  “If Senator Tom Duane has the necessary Senate votes to pass the homosexual marriage bill in New York State, then he should release the names of those senators who are supporting the bill. If not, he should shut up. If any member of the State Senate is so ashamed to have their names released or to release their own names for this or for any pending legislation, then they clearly feel ashamed of their position.  “It is a disgrace that Senator Duane is playing this mind game with his colleagues and with the public. If Senator Duane has the votes, he should release the names. If not, then he should be ashamed of himself.”
  “If any Senators are unwilling to release their names prior to voting for the homosexual marriage bill, they are sending a clear message to the gay community and to the whole State of New York that these senators are unwilling to let the public know and that they are ashamed to be publicly associated with the gay community.
   “Any senator who commits himself or herself to something, should be man or woman enough to take a stand and stand by his or her convictions. If they give their word to support something that they are ashamed of, then that is a hypocrisy, and could be interpreted as not wanting to be associated with the matter.
  Asked for a response, Duane’s only comment was “LOL,” online slang for “laugh out loud” or “laughing out loud.”
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm by Cara Matthews.
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