As you no doubt heard over the weekend, New York is set to be the sixth state to legalize gay marriage: the state Senate passed a bill, and the Governor has said he’ll sign it.

My sincere and very happy congratulations to all my gay readers! I think this is terrific news, especially since NY is such a big state, the largest to make gay marriage legal. I also want to specifically point out this bill would not have passed without four Republicans signing it into law as well. I especially wish to thank Republican Senator Roy McDonald, who gave this heartfelt speech:

You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn’t black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing. You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, [bleep] it, I don’t care what you think. I’m trying to do the right thing. I’m tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I’m trying to do the right thing, and that’s where I’m going with this.

Also, Republican Senator Mark Grisanti, who said:

I cannot deny a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, the people of my district and across this state, the State of New York, and those people who make this the great state that it is the same rights that I have with my wife.

They are precisely correct. It is the right thing to do, and in America all Americans should have the same rights. It’s really just that simple.

Of course, not everyone agrees with this. (more…)

Yesterday, the New York State Senate voted down a bill that would have allowed same-sex marriage, by 38-24. Not surprisingly, political party was the overwhelming determinant of the vote: while some Democrats voted against, all the Republicans did.

I am 100% in favor of marriage between consenting adults. Period. I’ve written about this many times (here and here and especially here). It’s not my business what flavor of humanity they love. I could go the route of saying that I have gay friends who deserve the right to get married, but that’s a cop out: it doesn’t matter whom I know. It’s a matter of equality, and we should know instinctively that equality is the right thing to fight for.

Not everyone sees it that way, of course. If you don’t like (for example) gays, or blacks, or women, that’s your opinion, and you have the right to that opinion. But you don’t have the right to deny them their rights.

NY State Senator Diane Savino said it best. She gave a speech on the Senate floor that should be required viewing for every citizen of these United States. It is simply phenomenal.

I agree with her. The idea that somehow gay marriage harms hetero marriage is one of the dumbest arguments ever, and is clearly simply a smokescreen for bigotry (unless they support this guy as well). How is my marriage weakened or lessened in any way if across the street, two men who are in love get the same rights I do? How does love lessen love?

And for those NY Senators — and people in other states — who voted against this simple act to give equality to all of your constituents: shame on you. Shame.