NY Marriage Vote Reactions

NY Sen. Thomas Duane, via press release:

Today’s vote against Marriage Equality makes me very angry. Promises made were not honored. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, and all fair-minded New Yorkers have been betrayed. I am enraged, deeply disappointed and profoundly saddened by the vote today. In 2006, when the New York State Court of Appeals shamefully ruled that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community did not have equal protection under the law in relation to Marriage Equality, I predicted that passing legislation to right this wrong in the State Senate would be a profound personal and sadly political battle.I have been proven right.

NY Gov. David Paterson, via press release:

It is always darkest before the dawn. The darkest day in the history of the American civil rights movement was in 1857 when the Supreme Court ruled against Dred Scott, making slavery legal north of the 36th parallel. That was the darkest day for the abolitionists. But when we look back in history, we forget that this was only five years before the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in September of 1862. I understand the anger; I understand the frustration; I understand the feeling of betrayal; and I understand the profound disappointment of those who came to Albany today thinking they could get married tomorrow. But I am also here to tell you that we are not back to square one.

Empire State Pride Agenda, via press release:

While we are disappointed by today’s vote, we are pleased that the issue of marriage equality at last was debated in the New York State Senate. We had long called for a public debate on this matter so we could determine who was truly on our side. It is a step forward for our democratic process in New York that a debate and vote have now occurred. Now we know where we stand, and where we need to concentrate our efforts in the future. We are incredibly thankful to those who have stood with us and will continue to stand with us as our community presses forward to win marriage equality. In this regard: We thank Governor Paterson for his unstinting support.

Stonewall Democrats, via press release:

In New York, among the bluest of blue states, not one Republican Senator could muster the courage or integrity to vote to expand the protections of marriage to same-gender couples, an expansion supported by a majority of New Yorkers -- a move that would have also brought millions of dollars into state coffers and New York's struggling economy.For pro-equality voters in New York, and those around the country, the choice between the parties could not be clearer. New York Democrats led this fight for marriage equality, stood in the Senate chamber and gave moving statements in support of their positions, while New York Republicans could not even be bothered to justify their votes to continue the discriminatory status quo. Today's vote also demonstrates that we must be critical in examining those in our own ranks. We cannot allow the Democratic Party to harbor intolerance or hatred of any kind. On a day marked by disappointment, at least now we know which Democrats need to be held accountable on primary day next year."