In Gay Marriage Push, Cuomo Confers With Leading Supporters

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sought input from GLBT equality leaders in a March 9 meeting at the state's capitol, reported the New York Times in a March 8 article.

The article said that the focus of the meeting was ushering marriage equality into the state. Cuomo has been a vocal supporter of full legal parity for gays and their families.

"Same-sex couples deserve the right to join in civil marriage, and it is simply unfair to deny them the freedom to make this decision for themselves and their families," a statement from Cuomo said, reported news site NY1 on the same day.

Cuomo's predecessor, David Paterson, sought a vote from the state Senate on the issue after the state Assembly had voted numerous times to legalize marriage equality. But when Paterson finally succeeded in getting the Senate to vote in late 2009, the measure failed 38-24. A number of state senators who had said they supported such a law voted against the measure, earning the wrath of GLBT equality organizations that vowed to seek their ousters.

Given that the composition of the state's senate is now more conservative than it was under then-Gov. Paterson, onlookers are skeptical that Cuomo can persuade lawmakers to approve such a law. But Cuomo has said that he will pursue family parity all the same.

At the present time, New York recognizes same-sex marriages granted in other jurisdictions, although the state itself does not provide for marriage equality. Five other states and the District of Columbia do allow same-sex couples to marry, and the issue is currently before lawmakers in Maryland and Rhode Island.

The New York Times reported that "about a dozen of the state's prominent same-sex-marriage advocates" had been invited to the meeting with Cuomo, which the article said was "viewed as the strongest evidence yet of his commitment to passing same-sex marriage this year, despite its rejection by the Legislature in 2009."

The article noted that Cuomo wields considerable weight with the state's lawmakers. But he would need to secure the votes of all of the state senate's Democratic members, as well as a few Republicans, to ensure the passage of any marriage equality bill. The last senate vote--and so far, the only one on the issue--did not garner the support of even a single Republican state senator.

The article said that part of Cuomo's strategy is to encourage GLBT equality organizations to align with one another in mutual support.

"Today's meeting was one in a series of many meetings to discuss a marriage equality bill," Cuomo's statement, posted at the governor's website, said. "Same-sex couples deserve the right to join in civil marriage, and it is simply unfair to deny them the freedom to make this decision for themselves and their families.

"To me this is more than just a piece of legislation," Cuomo's statement continued. "This is about the lives of people who I have known for many years, who currently are without the rights to which they are entitled. I look forward to working with lawmakers and stakeholders to make sure that New York joins the growing number of states that allow the freedom to marry for all couples."

Cuomo is said to be aiming June as a date for introducing marriage equality legislation. Senate leader Dean G. Skelos, a Republican, says that if a bill comes to his chamber, he will allow a vote, unlike predecessor Joseph Bruno, who refused to allow a vote on similar bills.

Cuomo was scheduled to meet with openly lesbian New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the HRC's Brian Ellner, former Clinton advisor Richard Socarides, and Ross Levi of Empire State Pride Agenda, along with pro-equality state lawmakers.

Last month, Cuomo called for marriage equality in his state, and indicated that he wanted to see the change in the law take place during his tenure.

The state senate's Republican leadership said that economic priorities would have to come first.

"At this point, we're focused on the budget, we're focused on passing a property-tax cap, dealing with the economic issues facing New York," said a spokesperson for Skelos.

But others see the issue not as either-or; rather, they believe that Cuomo can perform legislative feats of coordination akin to walking and chewing gum at the same time, pursuing family parity without sacrificing a simultaneous focus on economic issues.

Cuomo has been criticized by religious leaders for living with his girlfriend outside of marriage. The New York Daily News reported on March 4 that the governor had "declared a holy war with the Catholic Church" by refusing to attend the annual conference of Catholic bishops in Albany, sending word that he was "too busy" to make it to the event.

A spokesperson for the bishops said that they were disappointed not to have a chance to speak with Cuomo on social issues such as marriage equality. The Catholic Church says that same-sex couples should not have the right to marry, and teaches that GLBT individuals are "disordered." Although the church says that gays do not "choose" their sexual and romantic attraction to others of the same gender, it also says that sexual expression between couples of the same gender is "inherently evil."

The social climate in New York has become more accepting of gay and lesbian families, with "New Yorkers for Marriage Equality" such as Barbara Bush, daughter of former president George W. Bush, speaking out for the rights of sexual minorities and their loved ones.