A 'Re-boot' for Marriage Equality Efforts in NY

A new coalition for marriage equality has coalesced in New York. With organization, help from the governor, and luck, equality activists hope to achieve marriage parity for gay and lesbian families in the state this summer.

The new coalition, New Yorkers United for Marriage, constitutes something of a re-boot for equality efforts in the state. The coalition has made a point of learning from the mistakes of two years ago, when a protracted struggle marked by several victories in the state assembly came to an abrupt and disappointing end in the state senate, the New York Times reported on April 19.

The Times article reported that "advocates envision a short, disciplined and intense run-up to a vote in the State Legislature, raising the prospect that gay couples may be allowed to wed in New York by early summer." To that end, the article said, the new coalition--which comprises four equality advocacy groups, New York based Marriage Equality New York and Empire State Pride Agenda, plus national organizations the Human Rights Campaign and Freedom to Marry--has put a plan in place that includes $1 million for media and the hiring of a media strategist.

Moreover, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has been a longtime advocate for gay and lesbian families, has thrown its support behind the push.

"If this gets done, it's through coordination," Cuomo aide Steve M. Cohen told marriage parity advocates.

"Last time, there were lots of players, lots of organizations, lots of good will, but not the truly united effort that has come together to work hand in glove with the governor and legislative leaders," Freedom to Marry head Evan Wolfson told the Times.

Asked by EDGE whether the newly organized coalition and its carefully prepared plans for a legislative and media campaign on the issue constitutes a tacit acknowledgement that previous efforts have failed, Cathy Marino-Thomas, President of Marriage Equality New York's Board of Directors, pointed out that all efforts to this point have had a positive impact.

"I don't think any strategy that brings to light any inequity such as this is wrong," Marino-Thomas told EDGE, adding that she does "think having [Gov. Cuomo's] support will make a big difference.

"It's a shame that families have to justify their existence at all," Marino-Thomas added. "All families deserve respect and recognition. That being said, a coalition of people working towards what is right has to be a good thing."

Onlookers have questioned the chances of a family parity bill clearing a state senate that is even more Republican than it was when the previous bill went down in defeat. But Republicans were only part of the equation back then; a number of Democrats, including some who have voiced initial support for the measure, also voted against the marriage equality in 2009. Two of those Democrats have been replaced with backers of family parity, the article said.

Other changes also make the outlook more cheerful. Cuomo has managed to guide a budget plan through the notoriously fractious legislature, demonstrating his leadership ability; the popular governor is also enjoying high approval ratings.

Moreover, polls continue to chart an increasingly accepting social and political climate among New Yorkers, who are now more willing than ever to embrace equality for same-sex couples and their families. The Siena Research Institute recently found that 58% of the state stands with marriage equality advocates.

But not everyone is changing with the times. A key opponent to the earlier bill was state senator and evangelical cleric Rub�n D�az Sr., who was quick to aim criticism at the new coalition. His first complaint, the Advocatereported on April 21, was with the timing of the new coalition, which formed less than a week before Easter Sunday.

"I am deeply offended that during this Holy Week, which is a most sacred time to millions of New Yorkers, Governor Andrew Cuomo is working hard to mobilize elected officials to legalize homosexual marriage in New York," D�az stated on April 20, the day after the new coalition formally launched.

New Support, Old Rhetoric

Others clung to timeworn characterizations of marriage parity as a "redefinition" of marriage and claims that allowing same-sex couples legal recognition would tarnish, or even devastate, the institution.

"The intensity is rising so we are making our plans to do everything we can to make sure that the bill that would destroy marriage does not pass," Michael Long, the head of the Conservative Party of New York State, told the Advocate.

"We knew this was coming," Long added. "I'm fully aware that there's been an immense amount of pressure being put on legislators to try to convince them to change the definition of marriage."

The Advocate noted that the Conservative Party wields the threat of "withhold[ing] its coveted ballot line from candidates who vote for marriage equality."

"We're not a single issue party, but there are a few issues where the line in the sand is drawn," Long asserted. "Changing the sanctimony of marriage is one of them."

But such rhetoric has not turned the tide of equality. America's first legal same-sex marriages were granted seven years ago in Massachusetts, and six states have followed suit since then. Neither marriage nor civilization has collapsed; the worst fallout has been the revocation of marriage rights for same-sex families in two states.

In California, voters approved a 2008 ballot initiative that snatched marriage rights away from gay and lesbian families after six months and 18,000 same-sex weddings. Similarly, in 2009 Maine voters killed a new marriage equality law there before it could take effect.

But rising levels of acceptance have not simply been a state-by-state phenomenon. Acceptance of GLBT Americans and their families is waxing throughout the nation, fueled by--and fueling in turn--remarkable shifts such as the repeal of the military's anti-gay ban and significant challenges to the "Defense of Marriage" Act, an anti-gay federal law from 1996.

"This growing support in the Empire State matches up with recent polls across the nation that find a record high majority of Americans lining up to support marriage for gay and lesbian couples and a national tenor that every day grows more accepting and less divisive," noted an April 19 press release from New Yorkers United for Marriage.

For a cosmopolitan center of commerce and culture such as New York, the question of treating committed same-sex couples with equality is a benchmark of progress; the state goes so far as to recognize marriages granted in other jurisdictions, even though state law does not provide for legal marriages within New York's borders. Full-fledged state-level marriage equality seems a logical next step to supporters, whose ranks are continually growing.

The changing social and legal landscape, together with Cuomo's influence, may convince wary lawmakers to lend their support to the renewed measure. Above all, coordination may prove to be key--and coordination is the watchword of the newly minted coalition. That makes equality advocates optimistic.

"We have an enormously popular governor committed to getting this done now, strong support from New Yorkers all around the state and a group of advocates who are highly coordinated," noted the HRC's Brian Ellner.

"A coalition is the right approach if it's done correctly-if it's all inclusive and everybody's ideas are being vetted and listened to," Marino-Thomas told EDGE. "As with anything, it's right to work together as opposed to work separately. Hopefully that's going to get the job done here.

"At the end of the day, equal marriage bill for all families is the goal for everyone," Marino-Thomas added.