Positive Spin - Gay Marriage in New York

"It is always darkest before the dawn. The darkest day in the history of the American civil rights movement was in 1857 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Dred Scott, making slavery legal north of the 36th parallel. That was the darkest day for the abolitionists. But when we look back in history, we forget that this was only five years before the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in September of 1862. I understand the anger; I understand the frustration; I understand the feeling of betrayal; and I understand the profound disappointment of those who came to Albany today thinking they could get married tomorrow. But I am also here to tell you that we are not back to square one. Governors don’t come to the Senate floor after losing a vote. This one does, because this is a fight that is bigger than one legislative vote. This is a civil rights issue. Marriage equality is as important as the emancipation of any group from oppression and the granting of equal rights to any community. I believe in my heart that if people had voted their consciences today, we would be celebrating marriage equality tonight. That did not happen. As disappointed as we are today, let’s get up tomorrow and redouble our efforts. We are going to lay the foundation to make people feel comfortable to vote their conscience and not fear political backlash. Now we know who we have to talk to. We are going to quash the intimidation; we are going to alleviate the pressure; we are going to move this issue back to the floor of the Senate and we are going to have marriage equality in New York State and equal rights for everybody." New York State Governor David Paterson, December 2, 2009, on State Senate defeat of same-sex marriage legislation.

The Vote: Dec 2, 2009

DEMOCRATS FOR [courage & integrity]: Eric Adams, Brooklyn - Neil D. Breslin, Albany - Martin Malavé Dilan, Brooklyn - Thomas Duane, Manhattan - Pedro Espada Jr., Bronx - Brian X. Foley, Long Island - Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Bronx-Westchester - Craig M. Johnson, Long Island - Jeffrey D. Klein, Bronx-Westchester - Liz Krueger, Manhattan - Velmanette Montgomery, Brooklyn - Suzi Oppenheimer, Westchester - Kevin S. Parker, Brooklyn - Bill Perkins, Manhattan - John L. Sampson, Brooklyn - Diane J. Savino, Brooklyn-Staten Island - Eric T. Schneiderman, Manhattan-Bronx - Jose M. Serrano, Manhattan-Bronx - Malcolm A. Smith, Brooklyn-Queens - Daniel L. Squadron, Brooklyn-Manhattan - Toby Ann Stavisky, Queens - Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Westchester - Antoine M. Thompson, Buffalo - David J. Valesky, Syracuse.

DEMOCRATS AGAINST [cowards & bigots]: Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Queens - Darrel J. Aubertine, Watertown - Rubén Díaz Sr., Bronx - Shirley L. Huntley, Queens - Carl Kruger, Brooklyn - Hiram Monserrate, Queens - George Onorato, Queens - William T. Stachowski, Buffalo. REPUBLICANS AGAINST [just plain bigots]: James S. Alesi, Rochester - John J. Bonacic, Middletown - John A. DeFrancisco, Syracuse - Hugh T. Farley, Amsterdam - John J. Flanagan, Long Island - Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., Long Island - Martin J. Golden, Brooklyn - Joseph A. Griffo, Utica - Kemp Hannon, Long Island - Owen H. Johnson, Long Island - Andrew J. Lanza, Staten Island - William J. Larkin Jr., Orange and Ulster Counties - Kenneth P. LaValle, Long Island - Vincent L. Leibell, Brewster - Tom Libous, Binghamton - Elizabeth Little, Glens Falls - Carl L. Marcellino, Long Island - George D. Maziarz, Niagara, Orleans and Monroe Counties - Roy J. McDonald, Troy - Thomas P. Morahan, Rockland County - Michael F. Nozzolio, Seneca Falls - Frank Padavan, Bronx, Queens, Nassau County - Michael H. Ranzenhofer, Erie and Genesee Counties - Joseph E. Robach, Rochester - Stephen M. Saland, Poughkeepsie - James L. Seward, Oneonta - Dean G. Skelos, Long Island - Dale Volker, Erie, Wyoming, Livingston and Ontario Counties - George H. Winner Jr., Elmira - Catherine Young, Olean.