Why Did New York Fail on Gay Mariage?

[TheBigotBasher]

In part, I blame Palin for terrifying all New York Republicans into being good little Conservative Republicans.

I also blame cowardly Democratic State Senators, many of whom have taken a lot of money from Gay Rights groups nd then failed the gay community in what should be one of the most Liberal Cities in the US.



Sen. Joe Addabbo from Queens - is certainly someone who may come to regret his vote.
http://www.queerty.com/what-this-ny-democrats-no-on-marriage-vote-teaches-us-money-doesnt-buy-support-20091203/

[RKP5637]

1. If all civil rights came to a public vote in this country many IMO would be very unhappy at

losing their rights across the board. Civil rights for minorities should not be voted on yea/nay in a public forum. Most would lose their rights.

Bigotry is well and alive in the US no matter how much it is attempted to be hidden. We see bigotry's ugly head rising everyday in this country. Those not seeing it have their head stuck in the sand...

[TheBigotBasher]

2. Sad

but true. It would also surprise many as such a vote would reveal those who are most certainly enemies, not friends.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. I'd start with Bloomberg.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/nyregion/04bloomberg.html?ref=nyregion

All 30 of the republicans benefited from his large$$$. Had the DEMs cleaned house ( i.e. the state senate) instead of winning by a one vote ( and cleaning house was a real possibility: look at the margins Obama pulled in some of these GOP state senate districts)the vote in the senate on Marriage Equality would have been a lopsided YES. Bloombucks helped them to hang on.

And of course... I'd blame our own community ( 51-48 to reeelect Bloomberg... one month ago) for being so politically simple-minded to think that just because a pol *says* that he's for Marriage Equality that his broader motives and actions do not bear scrutiny.

At the same time , I'm sharpening my political sword for the Addabos and Montserattes in our midst. Your day will come.

[stray cat]

4. The state of NY is not monolithic and even those in the city are diverse

In fact most residents of NY don't consider themselves represented by those in NYC. Even the mayor of NY city is not a democrat

[Meeker Morgan]

5. Blaming Palin is just plain silly.

Not that I'm a fan of hers of course. And it isn't just Bible thumping fundies who have an anti-gay attitude, either.

I grew up gay in NYC. I was a teenager in the 1970s. LOTS of anti-gay stuff back then. Even though I lived among liberals in the oh so hip East Village. I didn't know one single Bible thumping fundie.

Not surprised there's still a lot of that anti-gay attitude.

[RKP5637]

6. I also think there is a core of the human psyche that likes the sport of seeing

others put down and gays provide that opportunity as an easy target. It's the "not me" "but them" syndrome IMO. Not all people are like that, but many are... for example, those that watch a crime against someone and don't bother to intercede or at least dial 911.

...at minimal IMO there should be civil unions/rights with the same benefits as marriage and let the churches deal with the marriage label IMO. That might get some progress moving in this country.

Of course, if it ever went to the supreme court, I would not count on them as granting civil unions/rights for gays. One thing I learned years ago is equality and equal rights for all is not a given in this country.

[ShadowLiberal]

7. A state senate gerrymandered against us, we should have 63% of the seats, not 52%

Barrack Obama won 63% of the vote in New York on election day, yet because of gerrymandered state senate districts democrats control only 52% of them. The state senate doesn't represent the people of New York.

[ZombieHorde]

8. Probably because the majority of New York voters are bigots or feeble minded.

Corruption is possible, but seems less likely.