One Down, Seven To Go: NY Sen. George Onorato (D) To Retire

NY Sen. George Onorato, one of the eight Democrats who voted against marriage equality, is retiring. Because the gays are coming after him!

State Sen. George Onorato, a veteran Queens Democrat, won't seek reelection to the seat he has held since 1983, clearing the way for a run this fall by Assemblyman Michael Gianaris. At 82, Onorato is the Senate Democrats' oldest member. His recent "no" vote on gay marriage made him vulnerable to a primary challenge, worrying party leaders who urged him to step aside, insiders said. Senate Democrats were anxious to prevent a primary between Onorato and Gianaris, but just as interested in harnessing the assemblyman's prodigious fund-raising skills for their upcoming battle with the GOP for control of the chamber.

Excellent. Meanwhile we're still waiting to hear about the fate of Sen. Hiram "Slasher" Monserrate, who faces expulsion over his assault conviction. Last week GOP Senate leader Dean Skelos promised that that Republicans would help push Monserrate out.

NY Sen. George Onorato (D) Explains

"Thank you contacting me regarding same sex marriage. While I continue to support civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, I remain opposed to same-sex marriage. I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. In the months leading up to the vote, I heard frequently from constituents on both sides of the debate, and I believe my district is split on this issue.

"Over the years, I have voted in favor of other legislation of importance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, including the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) and the hate crimes law. I continue to support the Dignity for All Students Act and the Gender Identification Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), and I hope they will be brought up for a vote in the new legislative session. While I do not support same-sex marriage, I would vote in favor of civil union legislation as a way to broaden legal protections and rights for same-sex couples. I deeply respect the views of the LGBT community on same-sex marriage, and I have appreciated the candid and almost universally respectful dialogue we have had on this issue." - NY Sen. George Onorato (D), responding to an email sent by JMG reader Matt in Queens.

Despite many, many protests, pickets, and rallies outside of his office and in his Western Queens district, Onorato remained unswayed.

Another Potential Challenger To NY's Anti-Equality State Senators

Queens activist Brandon Brock directs us to this Facebook page urging support for LGBT ally and civil rights attorney Jeremiah Frei-Pearson (at left in photo) who is considering challenging anti-equality incumbent NY Sen. George Onorato in the 2010 primary. Today Jim Luce writes in the Huffington Post about Frei-Pearson:

This fall I am adding my voice to the chorus that is rising from across New York State, especially in Queens, that we need this humanitarian to help solve the disaster known as Albany. As a college student, he interned for the late and great Senator Ted Kennedy and volunteered with several organizations that provide services to children. This is how I know Jeremiah, as founder of Orphans International Worldwide (OIWW). Jeremiah is particularly bright, savvy, and committed to humanity. Albany desperately needs him. Although Jeremiah went to Stanford Law School, in California, he came back to New York every summer. He returned after September 11 to assist in the clean-up efforts at Ground Zero. The Red Cross officially recognized him for his work. At Stanford, Jeremiah ran a center providing legal aid to poor people, co-founded the American Constitution Society and the Stanford Law School Democrats, and served on the Stanford Law & Policy Review.

If Frei-Pearson does toss his hat in the ring, that makes two LGBT-friendly opponents for the eight anti-equality Democrats in the NY Senate. Who will be next?

UPDATE: A new ActBlue donation page has been set up to the support the 2010 campaigns of the 24 Democratic NY Senators who did support marriage equality.

Crystal Ball 2010: Traitorous Democrats Crushed By Outraged Gay Opponents

• Joseph Addabbo (D-Queens) — NO
• Darrel Aubertine (D- Cape Vincent) — NO
• Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) — NO
• Shirley Huntley (D-Queens) — NO
• Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn) — NO
• Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens) — NO
• George Onorato (D-Queens) — NO
• William Stachowski (D-Buffalo) — NO

Remember all of these names. I will be coming back to you to help fund their opponents.

Full vote tally here.

A Message To NY Sen. George Onorato

From Astoria's Western Queens For Marriage Equality. Contact Onorato here.

Tuesday: NY State Senate Marriage Vote?

NY Gov. David Paterson is calling the state Senate back to Albany on Tuesday for a special session during which he will demand a vote on marriage equality. The Empire State Pride Agenda asks all New Yorkers to immediately contact their senators and demand their support.

We now need to make sure that the State Senate takes action on the marriage equality bill when they return on Tuesday. It is time for the State Senate to give the marriage bill the respectful debate and vote that New Yorkers have been asking for since the Assembly passed the bill in May. We’ve waited long enough. Now more than ever it is important that you call your State Senator and tell them that you expect a vote on marriage equality when they return to Albany. Let your Senator know that you’re done waiting. The time is now for all families in New York to be treated equally.

Use this form to contact your New York state Senator. Do it now.

RELATED: This Sunday, November 8th, Western Queens for Marriage Equality will have a rally and candlelight vigil outside the office of state Sen. George Onorato at 5PM. Facebook page here. Call Onorato's office during business hours to demand his support: 518-455-3486.

New Clip From Western Queens For Marriage Equality

Western Queens For Marriage Equality sends us their latest clip urging NY state Sen. George Onorato to change his mind on same-sex marriage. Visit their Facebook group. Gov. Paterson has promised to force a vote in the state Senate sometime this month. If you are a constituent of Onorato (or even if you're not), please consider contacting him via the information in the clip. Donate to Marriage Equality New York here.

Queens Dem Senator May Flip To Yes

NY Daily News is reporting that Queens Democratic Sen. George Onorato may be ready to flip his vote on marriage equality to "yes." Onorato's Queens office has been the subject of a nightly vigil by equality activists.

But the same NYDN story also expresses doubt that anything will actually happen in the state Senate today.

Now the Senate Democrats are warring with Paterson over whether he sent yesterday's bills up to the chamber in a timely fashion and if those bills were legal. It's unclear if they'll even show up for today's extraordinary session, much less vote on anything. You've got to believe that Paterson knew darn well that trying to force the gay marriage issue would send Diaz Sr. over the edge; it's not as if the senator has been keeping his opposition to the measure a secret. So what the end game is here is something of a mystery. Does the governor really want a marriage vote? Or is he just trying to have it both ways - preserve the fragile 31-member Senate Democratic conference while also maintaining his relationship with deep-pocketed gay donors?

And round and round we go.

Queens Activists Keep Pressure On NY State Sen. George Onorado

From Queens' #1 bear cub marriage equality activist: "Brandon Brock and Kristen Plylor-Moore of Western Queens for Marriage Equality speak about their NY State Senator George Onorato's opposition to the pending NY gay marriage equality bill."

Evening View - Queens Marriage Activism

Brandon Brock (far left), Brendan Fay (far right) and Astoria, Queens residents are holding nightly (5pm-8pm) vigils outside the office of Sen. George Onorado until the New York Senate has its vote on marriage equality.

(Photo via Manhattan Offender)

At The Queens Marriage Rally

About 2500 activists turned out in Astoria, Queens yesterday to pressure state Sen. George Onorado to change his mind about marriage equality. In this clip, Donna Lieberman from the NYCLU addresses the crowd. A new site MarriageNY has been created for contacting members of the New York Senate.