Rally for same-sex marriage
Today's rally at the Capitol. (Courtesy of New York Now's Matt Ryan.)
More than a thousand people showed up at a rally for same-sex marriage outside the Capitol today. But a lot of the coverage focused on the one person who was not there: Andrew Cuomo. [NYT City Room]
Lieutenant governor Bob Duffy (you remember him: from Rochester, silver hair, tall) was there -- and made sure to emphasize that Cuomo's absence doesn't indicate a lack of support for legalizing same-sex marriage. he said a "horrendous" schedule kept Cuomo from appearing. The disembodied voice of Cuomo will be soon be making an appearance on the issue on your phone, though. And his admin says the "People First" statewide campaign will be highlighting the issue. [Karen DeWitt] [State of Politics] [State of Politics] [Cuomo admin]
So is same-sex marriage going to move ahead, or what?
The push for legalizing same-sex marriage has reportedly been ramping up, with Cuomo's support. But Dean Skelos said today that Cuomo has yet to send along a bill for the state Senate to consider. Jimmy Vielkind recently speculated over at Capital New York that the lack of a bill at this point is part of a Cuomo strategy to make sure he gets credit from liberals if/when the measure passes. [NYT] [State of Politics] [Capital New York]
A Siena poll from last month reported that 58 percent of New Yorkers support same-sex marriage. And recent national polls suggest that a majority of Americans also now support it. [SRI] [FiveThirtyEight]
GENDA Another issue that got attention today at the rally: the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, which would extend protections against discrimination in matters of employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit to transgender people. [NY Mag] [ESPA]
photo: Matt Ryan
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As a gay woman, I have to say how impressed I was that this year's rally moved away from all the obviously gas signs, i.e. anything with a rainbow. (I only noticed one rainbow sign.) It's also noteworthy that the signs read, "Marriage Now," and not "Gay Marriage." These may seem inconsequential, but it's not only refreshing to see this cause mainstreamed by the lack of uber gayness, but it's also necessary. Our community will always have our gay identity regardless of rainbows and glitter, but to be seen in an everyday fashion as the everyday people we are (without the tones of an annual gay pride parade) is a much-needed step in forging ground on awareness and gaining rights. I applaud the efforts of the organizers of this event and their keen eye for creating an event that didn't appear like a freak-show. Now if only the media would abandon using "same-sex marriage" and implement "marriage equality" instead, we'd move even further away from "the other" stereotype.
... said Aela on May 10, 2011 at 12:08 PM | link