. . . but we couldn’t. The New York State Senate failed to pass a marriage equality bill yesterday on a vote of 24-38. Not even close.
Never mind that the state has one of the biggest meccas of LGBT life in the country, and is home to the Stonewall Inn, the place where the LGBT revolution began. Never mind that the state will recognize same-sex couples who marry in other states. There’s no getting around it—this is a major loss.
The only good thing is that I hope this will give motivation to New Jersey to pass its own marriage equality law in the near future, before the anti-gay Chris Christie takes over as governor from the pro-equality Jon Corzine. What’s up with two football teams being based in New Jersey but being labeled “New York”? Show some independence, New Jersey.
I’ve lived and worked in New York before. New Jersey, too, for that matter. Right now, however, I’m thinking about the ways in which my current home, near Boston, is so much better than the Empire State:
- Real clam chowder
- Real baseball team (Yes, I know, the Yankees won the World Series this year. But they’re just so corporate and unlovable. And the Mets, bless their Brooklyn ancestors that match my own, have always been overshadowed by the Yanks.)
- Marriage equality
Come on up to Massachusetts for your weddings, New Yorkers. Let’s show your Senators how much money their state is losing by not enacting equality. Yes, you could make the shorter drive to Connecticut, too, but southwestern Connecticut is still Yankees territory. Go back from your wedding wearing Red Sox hats, though, and keep the pressure on.
I jest, because it’s keeping me from despair. On a more practical note, however, New Yorkers should call their state senators to thank them or chastise them for their votes. Here are the ones who voted against equality:
- Joseph Addabbo, Jr, 12th District (Queens)
- Darrell Aubertine, 48th District (North Country/Adirondacks)
- Ruben Diaz, 32nd District (Bronx)
- Shirley Huntley, 10th District (Queens)
- Carl Kruger, 27th District (Brooklyn)
- Hiram Montserrate, 13th District (Queens)
- George Onorato, 12th District (Queens)
- William Stachowski, 58th District (Lake View/North of Albany)
As a New Yorker for many years, I’m so disappointed by this. If it’s any consolation, political posturing played a large role in this loss. And a couple of senators changed to “yes” for the right reasons.
We have a history of using New Jersey to store large things that we’re slightly ashamed of — malls, dumps, suburbs, football teams. It’s time NJ put NY to shame by turning the civil unions (already ahead of NY) into equal marriages.
I would recommend that folks talk to an attorney before deciding where to get married, but if I were doing it today (and if I had the money) I would totally honeymoon in Provincetown or Northampton. Or both. I’m not going to say anything about the baseball, but I will agree on the superiority of New England clam chowder!