News :: GLBT
N.Y. Governor Says Gay Marriage Protects Familiesby Kilian MelloyTuesday May 8, 2007 New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who introduced legislation last month to extend full marriage equality to the state’s residents, has issued a memo to state lawmakers articulating the need to protect and acknowledge all families. Spitzer is the first governor in U.S. history to propose such a bill.
The New York Sun reported May 8 that Spitzer’s two-page memo, called a "statement in support," took on a central argument used by marriage equality opponents, who claim that allowing same-sex couples to marry would "erode" marriage as a civil and religious institution and endanger civilization as we know it.
"Same-sex couples who wish to marry are not simply looking to obtain additional rights, they are seeking out substantial responsibilities as well: to undertake significant and binding obligations to one another, and to lives of ’shared intimacy and mutual financial and emotional support," the memo reads, in part.
The memo goes on to state, "Granting legal recognition to these relationships can only strengthen New York’s families, by extending the ability to participate in this crucial social institution to all New Yorkers."
Marriage equality opponents took umbrage, calling the governor’s memo "insulting" for "couching [his argument] in family values language," according to the Sun.
The newspaper quoted Dennis Poust, a spokesperson for the New York State Catholic Conference, as saying, "He’s trying to turn our argument on its head." Poust predicted that the governor is "going to alienate a lot of people," though in the article he did not specify why same-sex commitment is less family oriented than commitment between heterosexual couples.
The organization for which Poust is a spokesperson is the public policy apparatus of New York bishops.
But members of New York’s Assembly praise Spitzer for the memo. Daniel O’Donnell, an openly gay assemblyman from anhattan, points to the memo as proof that Spitzer "has an emotional and intellectual commitment to providing equality to all New Yorkers." Continued O’Donnell, "We have language that tells the ultimate truth. We are part of the American family. We have people who are part of families and our families deserve as much protection as all other families."
The memo identifies civil unions as a lesser degree of recognition and protection than same-sex couples deserve, reading, "Civil marriage is the means by which the state defines a couple’s place in society. Those who are excluded from its rubric are told by the institutions of the State, in essence, that their solemn commitment to one another has no legal weight."
Governor Spitzer promised as a candidate for governor to pursue the legalization of same sex marriage in New York. Last month, when he proposed a measure that would follow the lead of Massachusetts in extending full marriage equality to all state residents, Spitzer took the first step in making good on that pledge.
But there’s more to do before the measure might become law. Spitzer has expressed doubt that the measure would pass the state legislature this year. Marriage equality proponents have made it their goal to pass the bill in the Assembly, which is more Democrat-leaning than the Senate, where Republicans dominate.
Sheldon Silver, the assembly speaker, has yet to announce his stance on the Governor’s measure. The bill would need 76 out of the Assembly’s 150 votes to move forward. Similar legislation was supported by 40 sponsors.
Were the bill to become law, New York would be second in the nation to offer full marriage equality to state residents and would be the first state in which marriage equality was achieved through legislative means, rather than judicial avenues.
Kilian Melloy reviews media, conducts interviews, and writes commentary for EDGEBoston, where he also serves as Assistant Arts Editor.
|
|
|
Email
Print
Share