By James Tillman
ALBANY, NY, November 11, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The New York state senate will vote on legalizing homosexual “marriage” before the year's end, according to Democratic Governor David Paterson. Originally Paterson had hoped to have the Senate vote on same-sex “marriage” legislation during a special legislative session earlier this week – but that session got bogged down dealing with the state's deficit problems.
Accompanied by Alan Van Capelle, Executive Director of the homosexualist Empire State Pride Agenda, Paterson announced yesterday evening that Senate leaders had agreed to a debate and vote on the marriage issue at “a date not certain between now and the end of the year.”
The New York state assembly voted in May of this year to legalize homosexual “marriage,” but since then attempts to bring the issue to a vote in the Senate have repeatedly stalled.
Senator Thomas Duane, an openly homosexual New York state senator, had previously been unwilling to push for a vote without determining that he had the necessary number of votes. Only 25 senators, all of them Democratic, publicly back such legislation; 32 votes would be needed for the bill's passage.
Democratic Senator Ruben Diaz, an evangelical Hispanic, has been the most outspoken defender of traditional marriage in the Senate. Senator Diaz had previously predicted that Paterson would attempt to bring the bill to a vote this year to ensure “gay rights” support in the 2010 elections.
“The governor is desperate,” said Diaz, “because he wants to be sure he has got their support.”
“I can assure you, that the gay community will say goodbye to anything that has to do with gay 'marriage' next year,” continued Diaz, explaining that that proponents of the bill will not bring the bill up next year in order to avoid making it an election issue. “Whatever they want to do, they want to be sure to do it this year.”
Such quick action on Paterson's part may very well be necessary the governor is to have any chance of re-election, with the support of the homosexualist lobby: polls have shown his approval rating at roughly 20% and even Washington has attempted to pressure him not to run again for governor.
In his announcement yesterday, Paterson continued by saying that he would call another special session next week, and that “marriage equality” will be included on the roster for that session.
Putting the bill on the agenda does not guarantee quick action, however. Paterson's special sessions have dragged on as
Paterson has attempted to pass a “Deficit Reduction Plan” designed to deal with New York's $3.2 billion deficit, but the Senate has not yet come to a resolution.
See related LifeSiteNews.com:
New York Governor Says Gay “Marriage” Bill Back on Table for Upcoming Special Session
Total Breakdown in NY Senate Stalls Homosexual “Marriage” and Abortion Resolution
New York Governor Memo Says State Agencies Must Recognize Gay “Marriage” Performed Outside the State
NY Governor to Introduce Homosexual “Marriage” Bill