Gay Marriage Slow to Draw an Opposition in N.Y.

In a sign that perhaps most citizens - outside, of course, the circle of professional Christians and similar demagogues who make a comfortable living off of peddling anti-gay hatred - are not threatened by gay marriage and/or are more concerned about real day to day issues in the economy, etc., the New York Times reports that the Christianists are not succeeding in rallying a cry opposing same sex marriage in the Empire State. Yes, New York City is bastion of liberalism in relative terms, but when a newspaper like the Syracuse Post Standard endorses gay marriage as I noted some weeks back, a sea change appears to be occurring. How long it will take the change to sweep into more reactionary states like Virginia where Bible beaters still hold too much sway is yet to be seen. Here are some highlights from the Times:

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ALBANY — Assemblyman Dov Hikind of Brooklyn was feeling distressed. The State Assembly had just voted to legalize same-sex marriage, after gay rights groups flooded the Legislature with visits, phone calls and e-mail messages. Where, he wanted to know, was the other side? “Wake up! Where are you?” Mr. Hikind, an outspoken opponent of gay marriage, said in an interview. “It’s the bottom of the ninth, two outs, and you’re losing — big time.”

As the Legislature considers whether to make New York the next state to legalize same-sex marriage, social conservatives have been largely missing from the debate in Albany. The interest groups working to legalize marriage for gay couples have been laying the groundwork for more than four years, . . .

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Their opponents, who are just beginning to organize, say they feel outgunned and underfinanced.
The difficulties in New York echo those that conservatives have faced throughout the Northeast. Over the last six weeks, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire have all moved to allow gay couples to wed.

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The region has been challenging for opponents of same-sex marriage, in part, because the measures are being decided by state legislatures — not voter referendums where the opponents’ ability to motivate large numbers of voters, rather than influence institutional players, has been an advantage.

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The state’s Roman Catholic bishops have been somewhat distracted, too, having focused their lobbying energies this session on defeating a bill that would extend the statute of limitations for victims of sexual abuse to bring civil claims, and have appeared unprepared for the battle over marriage.

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And the state does not have the large numbers of evangelical Christians and Mormons that have helped fuel movements to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples in other states, like California. . . . The State Assembly passed Gov. David A. Paterson’s bill to give same-sex couples the right to wed by a vote of 89 to 52 last week, and gay rights advocates are pushing for a vote in the closely divided Senate before the Legislature adjourns at the end of June.

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Still, there have been stirrings since the Assembly passed the marriage bill. Hispanic churches organized a rally outside Mr. Paterson’s office in Midtown Manhattan on Sunday that drew thousands of people. The phone solicitations by the National Organization for Marriage are focusing on districts where opponents believe senators’ positions can be influenced. Residents who oppose same-sex marriage are being asked to donate money or contact their senator.

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Obviously, adding New York to the list of states allowing same sex marriage would be huge. I hope and pray that New Yorkers continue to reject the message of hate and division promoted by those like Maggie Gallagher - who will need to get a real job if gay marriage goes nationwide - and homophobic churches.