Kevin Marshall's America
Just minutes ago, the New York Senate ended what has been a very difficult and at times ugly time for our State and legalized Marriage Equality, 33-29.
I was at home in Troy for the vote and watched history made live on the internet. Fascinating stuff. At times there was chaos, but that was to be expected. It is, after all, New York politics.
Now, I’m going to bed. I cede all revelry to all the homosexual men & women who have opened their hearts to me over the years which, in turn, opened mine. I am glad that some right has been done by you.
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25 Responses to The New York Senate has passed marriage equality
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Well said, Good Sir.
Thank YOU Kevin – for being such a staunch straight ally. We did it because of good people like you.
I watched Saland’s speech on YNN – that’s teevee – which made it 32, and went to bed, satisfied then that it was then inevitable.
yay!
Sometimes the Legislatures does things right. Tonight was one of those times. Today, I am proud to be a New Yorker.
I’m so happy – there should always have been equal rights for EVERYONE – it’s about time!! Hopefully it will spread across the whole country quickly now. Congratulations; today I am proud to be a New Yorker!
I am so happy! Can’t stop smiling… :) :) :) :) :) So happy, and proud…
Kevin, I’d like to second Alan’s sentiments. We are so blessed as a community to have voices like yours on our side. Please don’t think it goes unnoticed or unappreciated it. Thank you so much!
Alan & JayK – Thank you for your kind words. As I personally explained to Alan and alluded to in this post, I do feel it’s the least I could do given the circumstances.
Hey, what happened to the Tea Party’s anti Gay Marriage thread? They turned me into a full fledged supporter of Marriage equality!
Jeff - Not sure. I assume you’re referring to a post on the TU’s Tea Party blog?
My bad, the anti Gay Marriage thread was in the other Liz Joy blog:
http://blog.timesunion.com/joy/being-opposed-to-homosexual-marriage/418/
Sorry, the hate filled rants all blend together after awhile. At any rate it’s a great day for New York and America. FYI New York doesn’t allow for voter initiatives the way that California does, so the law can’t be overturned easily.
To each his own.
We now have marriage equality
Just wish I lived in a state that granted me the ability to see MMA live (one can watch it on TV daily though, the horror) or eat what I want without legislation.
Just glad they haven’t messed with my ability to pay a ridiculous amount of taxes though. Thanks for that.
Sad that any disagreements with certain segments in society are always deemed hate, bigoted, racial, etc etc etc. When disagreement by the same people is deemed normal… hypocritical at best, Jeff.
@jakester, you forgot moronic and ill informed. Please read the current Tea party thread:
http://blog.timesunion.com/teaparty/delta-adopts-saudi-no-jew-fly-policy/2744/
I thought I was reading The Weekly World News. Will the next thread be about Bat Boy? Seriously, I understand Israel’s importance in the rapture, but you’ve got to be kidding.
Jeff, ya got me there, I have no idea what you’re talking about but I’ll check out your link etc…
Jeff, Bat Boy, weekly world news? So, are you saying you think gays shouldn’t be able to fly?
I would have to wonder why any Jewish person would ever want to fly in a Saudi Jet?
You don’t care about the actual subject matter, Jews being discrimated against, you care about the fact it was no the Tea Party Blog, you’ve got to be kidding?
well hopefully one of the liberal gay marriage advocates can clarify this for me. There are arguments by the anti-gay marriage faction that this will enable people to now practice polygamy and in some crazy arguments they say people will marry their pets! But, realistically couldn’t someone have the ground to marry their brother or sister or other direct relative due to the fact as the gay supporters say, we’re two consenting adults over the age of 18. Based of this vote any couple that is in “love” should be allowed to marry as long as they’re consenting adults of age, this will open up a Pandora’s box that we are not prepared for. Secondly, gay marriage is nothing like the civil rights movement of the 1960’s so please stop comparing it! That movement was predicated on the blatant racism toward blacks, Jim crow laws of the south and before that slavery! Gays have had injustices done to them, im not denying that, but I have not seen indisputable evidence that you’re born gay. You’re born black or hispanic, or asian.
Makavelli, the gay rights movement is very comparable to the civil rights movement, and all other rights movements. (Also, I’ve seen the argument made that while blacks in this country suffered for hundreds of years, gays everywhere have suffered for thousands.)
All civil rights movements exist to counteract institutional discrimination based on immutable characteristics. When deciding on the level of protection warranted, the test is the “immutability” of a certain characteristic. Technically, whether you are born a certain way is irrelevant. Two good examples of this are religion and veteran status, both of which are protected classes. Both are originally chosen (or can be chosen, in the case of religion), yet is is deemed inappropriate for someone to demand you change. And, in the case of veteran status, it is not possible to change this.
As such, it does not matter whether you are born gay or not; it has been established that a person cannot reasonably be expected to change their sexual orientation. “Ex-gay ministries”, for example, exist solely for this purpose, yet those who complete these programs usually absorb a tremendous amount of psychological damage in the process, and often wind up “coming out” all over again years later. So, if changing causes such damage, the trait is simply immutable.
That said, there is a wealth of evidence that sexual orientation is innate. Logic is on our side as well. Think about it: could you, if you chose, not just have sex with someone of the same sex, but truly enjoy it? Furthermore, could you choose to fall in love with a member of the same sex?
then what about bisexual people, are they “born” attracted to both sexes. Ans ultimately bi-sexual people eventually pick one gender to be with long term, so people can change their sexual orientation.
Finally, as i said before, with same sex marriage passing why can’t brothers and sisters or 1st cousins, or even parent and child get married as long as both of them are of age and consented.
Makavelli – Sexual Orientation and incestual relations are two entirely different things. It’s not being addressed because you’re making a false comparison. It also pre-supposes that the only argument being presented for marriage equality is a singular one existing in a vacuum: that both parties are consenting adults. That’s not true at all.
For whatever it’s worth, you *can* marry your 1st cousin in New York State. It will make everyone else uncomfortable at the Makavelli family reunions, and your kids would have a somewhat higher risk of birth defects, but it’s totally legal in New York and most other states. The More You Know!
If you don’t want to click on Ed’s link, here’s what he linked to:
@Makavelli: “[…] why can’t brothers and sisters or 1st cousins […] get married as long as both of them are of age and consented.”
Actually, first cousins can get married, either absolutely or under certain conditions, in 25 states plus DC (including NY).
Source: http://www.cousincouples.com/?page=states
Oops, I missed Ed’s comment (and Kevin’s follow-up). Looks like we’re on the same wavelength here.
“Ans ultimately bi-sexual people eventually pick one gender to be with long term, so people can change their sexual orientation.”
This one made me laugh. So if you’re attracted to both sexes but fall in love with one, and commit to that person, the attraction to the other sex is now permanently gone. Okay then.
I know bisexuals in this situation. They’re still attracted to the sex opposite their partner. They resolve this by 1) swinging (which straight people do too) 2) open relationships or 3) COMMITTING TO SOMEONE THE SAME AS ANYONE WHO’S ONLY ATTRACTED TO ONE SEX. Everyone who commits will be tempted. The commitment is defined by not acting on it. If you’re trying to attack the validity of same-sex marriage, why not at least try some logic?