Wednesday: NY Marriage Equality Vote: Down To The Wire

The New York state Senate must be pissed: They're actually having to work for a living. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has refused to let politicos go home for their long, leisurely summer break until they vote on the impending marriage equality bill, which is more of a tangled web with each passing day.



Monday was technically the last day of the legislative session, but votes are still pending as most Republicans try to deny same-sex marriage as a civil right and insist on placating the religious right.



Cuomo states the bill would grant same-sex couples rights to marry "as well as hundreds of rights, benefits and protections currently limited to married couples of the opposite sex."



Five states—Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire—and D.C., grant same-sex marriage licenses. My god, if New York cannot lead the way, what hope is there for this nation to ever catch up with Europe and Scandinavia, where same-sex marriage has been legal for years?

No News Can't Be Good News For NY Marriage Equality Showdown

The clock is ticking... With the current New York legislative session ending this week, no news came out of Albany Monday in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's dedicated push for marriage equality. Reports claim it has been delayed by deal-making over rent control and other issues.

The state assembly approved the measure last Wednesday, with a Senate vote imminently due. Republicans hold a 32-30 advantage over Democrats, however, two GOP lawmakers have promised to vote in favor, with one homophobic Democrat joining Republicans, evening the vote.

Over the weekend, Cuomo said he was willing to amend the proposal, which already includes protection for religious organizations refusing to marry same-sex couples. But Senate Republicans—fearing retribution from the religious right—want further provisions to show conservatives they really, truly, for sure don't like it one bit.

I say, give them the concessions, as long as the bill becomes law. There are plenty of non-denominational ministers more than happy to wed gay couples—I happen to be one, after performing two straight wedding ceremonies, with a third this summer.

Meanwhile, religious leaders continue to peddle hate. Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the state’s top Roman Catholic leader, spewed on Friday that the legislation poses an “ominous threat” to society, comparing its passage to Communism. I'm pretty sure Dolan was also horrified when mixed-race couples were allowed to marry.

Sunday, he used his pulpit at St. Patrick's Cathedral to discuss politics—a move that would've made Jerry Falwell proud—calling on parishioners to pray "that marriage stays between a man and a woman." Apparently, it didn't go over so well; a number in the congregation found such a prayer offensive and inappropriate.

Other zealots are also making fools of themselves. Here's a good one: New York Giants' athlete David Tyree yammered that "his God" should be honored by keeping marriage between a man and woman.

Asked if he would give up the his 2007 Super Bowl win to stop gay marriage, he responded, "I probably would. Nothing means more to me than that my God would be honored. Being the fact that I firmly believe that God created and ordained marriage between a man and a woman, I believe that's something that should be fought for at all costs. I'll lay down everything I am to preserve the honor and integrity of the God I serve."

He added that gay marriage would lead to anarchy: "Once you allow something like same-sex marriage, it opens up the door for a continual softening to the backbone of our society, which will eventually, for generations to come, open up the door for, who knows, polygamy, and all other things." Give this man a Pulitzer for public speaking! What an intellectual statement!

Gov. Cuomo has countered marriage equality haters by insisting that religious concerns should be separated from the debate over civil marriage: “I happen to be Catholic. That’s my business and that’s my religion. This has nothing to do with my beliefs as a Catholic. This is marriage in a civil context: marriage as defined by government, not by a religion.” New York Daily News poll, Monday, June 20, 2011.

'Next' Dares To Insinuate Gay Mayor Issue That Mainstream Media Skirts

The Gay Pride Issue of New York fag rag Next Magazine portrays NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg with a controversial cover I dare say is a lot closer to truth than the mainstream media would dare dream of flirting with. Just because the mayor was married and spawned two daughters does not mean he's not a closet queen. Now... I wonder if the Nanny dictator happened to read the article below...Bloomberg with his beard Diana Taylor. Quite a handsome woman, eh?

Archie Comics Celebrates Gay Pride With Kevin Keller

My fave childhood comic Archie Andrews continues to serve a millennial audience with an essential mission that'ss anything but comical: via pioneering openly gay character Kevin Keller.



Keller was introduced to audiences last August in Veronica #202: The out-of-the-closet gay teen from a military family arrived in Riverdale and made no secret about his sexuality.



It became the fastest-selling issue in Archie Comics' 70-year history, prompting Keller's own four-issue series. The first edition is timed for Pride Celebrations this month, offering his back story, including how he came out to his Army colonel pop. Writer-artist Dan Parent also shows flashbacks of Kevin being harassed in the eighth grade.



How invaluable this is for youngsters either on the verge of coming to terms with their own queerness, or teaching tolerance for classmates and peers who are obviously different. Considering the iconic stature of Archie Comics, which have sold 1.5 billion comics and are published in a dozen different foreign languages... Bravo!