by Michael Foust, posted Wednesday, December 02, 2009 (14 years ago)
ALBANY, N.Y. (BP)--In a lengthy debate Wednesday that often focused more on theology than politics, the New York Senate defeated a "gay marriage" bill 38-24, handing homosexual activists another stinging defeat in the liberal Northeast.
"What it shows is that (gay marriage is) not inevitable."-- Attorney Austin Nimmocks
The bill had breezed through the Assembly 86-51 the previous night and Democratic Gov. David A. Paterson had pledged to sign it, putting all eyes on the Senate, where Democrats have a two-vote majority. But after an impassioned two-hour debate that even saw a few legislators shed tears, the bill fell far short of the required 32 votes, preventing the nation's third most populous state from redefining marriage.
It is the third significant recent defeat in the Northeast for "gay marriage" supporters, who on Election Day saw Maine vote to prohibit such relationships and New Jersey replace a governor who supports "gay marriage" with one who opposes it. The defeat could have ramifications in New Jersey, where homosexual activists are pushing for a vote on a bill there before lame duck Gov. Jon Corzine leaves office Jan. 19.
Unlike Maine, California and other states, New York doesn't allow citizen-driven initiatives, so if the bill had passed, it likely would have stood. Read More
