Politics on the Hudson

   After the same-sex marriage bill was shot down today, the governor, the bill sponsor and gay-rights advocates vowed to continue their fight for passage. Proponents of the bill chanted “Shame” and “Equal rights now” and “Gay, straight, black, white, marriage is a civil right” at GOP senators and gay-marriage opponent Sen. Ruben Diaz, D-Bronx, as lawmakers waited for elevators after leaving session.

   On the other side of the debate, the Rev. Jason McGuire of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, a conservative Christian group, shook hands with Republican senators and thanked them as they exited the chamber. All 30 Republicans voted no on the bill, as did eight Democrats, for a 24-38 defeat. The debate lasted about two-and-a-half hours.  

   “We’re thrilled the way the vote came down,” McGuire said. “We’re glad to see that senators on both sides of the aisle understood the inherent importance of … both a mom and a dad in a child’s life. That’s what this is about. Gender does matter.”

      Robert Voorheis of Yonkers, who was in Albany with his spouse, Michael Sabatino, said a number of senators—Republicans and Democrats—told gay-rights advocates privately that they would vote yes, but “they got cold feet, obviously.” The couple were married six years ago in Canada.

   “This is about equality, about treating our families fairly,” Sabatino said. “Why is our marriage, our union of 31 years any less than theirs? We deserve the same rights and so do our children.”

   Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, said she was certain the Senate would be revisiting the issue.

   “This type of debate has never happened on the floor of the Senate and I think in the debate there were just so many moving stories, so much understanding of how this type of vote really impacts on people’s lives and their ability to live it as they choose,” said Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers.

   Here are some other reactions to the vote:

   Sen. Tom Duane, D-Manhattan, who is openly gay and sponsored the legislation, said he would turn his “righteous anger” into action. He is confident and determined that gay marriage, which he described as a civil right, will become a reality in New York, he said.

   “I’m pretty angry, very angry. I’m very disappointed. I’m very sad and I’m frankly feeling betrayed and that’s a terrible feeling to have,” he said, adding that some lawmakers went back on their promises to vote yes.

   Gov. David Paterson, who visited the Senate chamber after the vote, said there have been historic losses in civil-rights movements in this country before, “but they are preludes to victory.”

   “So I am disappointed but not undaunted, and we will continue to fight so that gay and lesbian citizens, those of the same sex who want to marry, can do this in peace,” he said.

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