New York Governor, David Paterson, has introduced a bill to allow same-sex marriage in the state. If the bill becomes law, New York will follow Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont and Iowa in legalizing same-sex marriage.
Governor Paterson said same-sex marriage is an issue of equal rights in America and likened it to the struggle for civil rights.
"For too long, gay and lesbian New Yorkers — we have pretended they have the same rights as their neighbors and friends. That is not the case. All have been the victims of what is a legal system that has systematically discriminated against them."
Paterson pointed out that gay and lesbian couples are denied as many as 1,324 civil protections, including health care and pension, because they cannot marry.
The move is being opposed by some religious leaders and is likely to face resistance in the state Senate.
Sen. Ruben Diaz of the Bronx who is also an evangelical preacher, is opposed to the bill. He said it was 'disrespectful' of Paterson to introduce the legislation on the same week that Catholics celebrated the installation of New York City Archbishop,
Sen Ruben Diaz
Diaz has called an emergency summit of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization to work on "the next steps to take" in response to Paterson's move.
This doesn't come as a surprise from someone who has a history of opposition gay initiatives. In 1994 when on the Civilian Complaint Review Board he said that the Gay Games would lead to 'an increase in AIDS and more homosexuality in young people'.
Diaz claims Paterson's introduction of the same-sex marriage bill has "... challenged the Christian movement... He's challenged the Christian believers. He's challenged the people that believe in the Bible. We are accepting the challenge."
The Jesus of the New Testament had no comment on the subject of homosexuality. Some of his followers have extrapolated from his moral teachings in order to cast their opposition to gay rights as a "Christian" stance. Their founder may not agree.
A recent poll shows that 41% of New Yorkers support legalized same-sex marriage, 33% favored civil unions and 19% wanted no legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples.
This doesn't come as a surprise from someone who has a history of opposition gay initiatives. In 1994 when on the Civilian Complaint Review Board he said that the Gay Games would lead to 'an increase in AIDS and more homosexuality in young people'.
Diaz claims Paterson's introduction of the same-sex marriage bill has "... challenged the Christian movement... He's challenged the Christian believers. He's challenged the people that believe in the Bible. We are accepting the challenge."
The Jesus of the New Testament had no comment on the subject of homosexuality. Some of his followers have extrapolated from his moral teachings in order to cast their opposition to gay rights as a "Christian" stance. Their founder may not agree.
A recent poll shows that 41% of New Yorkers support legalized same-sex marriage, 33% favored civil unions and 19% wanted no legal recognition for gay and lesbian couples.
