The process is only inching along at this point:
Old-time, backroom politics faced down hundreds of chanting protesters from each side of the highly charged gay marriage debate in New York on Monday as the issue stalled again over whether religious groups could be protected from discrimination charges under a same-sex marriage law.
And Albany’s notoriously entrenched politics won, for now.
After a three-hour conference behind closed doors, while groups from each side waited in a stifling hot hallway, Senate Republicans emerged without comment. A vote within the conference to even move the bill to the floor for final legislative approval was pushed to at least Tuesday as private negotiations continue between Republican Senate leader Dean Skelos and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who made same-sex marriage a major initiative.
This doesn’t mean too much for either side right now. Perhaps there will be language that allows religious individuals to refuse to marry gay couples, but I hope that it is very, very limited. After all, it isn’t like it’s okay for a state-employed notary to refuse marriage to a black couple, so why carve out a difference concerning gay couples? Of course, that is what they’re doing when it comes to private organizations, but they need to be equally careful there.
What I find interesting about this whole thing is the sort of arguments coming from the religious right. Of course we still have all those invalid arguments from religion. Apparently it was never explained to these people that the U.S. government is secular; it, in fact, does not endorse or condemn Christianity. But what we don’t have anymore is the argument that we must – we just MUST! – follow the will of the people. The reason why is obvious:
Support for marriage equality/same-sex marriage/gay marriage is at a new high in New York, according to today’s new Quinnipiac Poll…Voters in the survey backed legalizing marriage between same-sex couples 58-36%, “higher than ever while statistically unchanged from 56-38% April 14.”
Problem, Christians?
Filed under: News, Politics and Social, Rights, Same-sex marriage | Tagged: gay marriage, new york, Poll, Same-sex marriage |
For the Sake of Science 
Of course popular support increased. People are thinking “It has no effect on me” and realize how ridiculous opposition to gay marriage looks.
I’m sure support will increase as long as they don’t try and force private institutions to perform them. Most notaries aren’t employed by the state either, I’m not all together sure what that part was about.
I believe a city clerk who can perform marriages must also be a notary. Perhaps I’m off in the details, but the point is that they shouldn’t allow state-employed individuals who perform marriages to opt out on religious grounds.
I thought that’s what you meant. Most notaries work in businesses like banks and such, although any business is likely to have a notary hanging around and they can all perform marriages.
Still, if another employee who doesn’t object is available, they shouldn’t be forced, there is no point to it. Or why bother even requiring a marriage ceremony? Just get the license and sign the thing, done. The requirement borders on foolishness.
Of course the Catholic Church would be against it….it would be embarrassing for them to have so many ex priests leave the church to get married . And I don’t confuse pedophilia with homosexuality…..I believe there are many priests who are not pedophiles but are homosexuals….
Pedophilia is not correlated with homosexuality OR heterosexuality. It’s a separate category.
That’s what I said…….