New York state rejects gay marriage

[Grimmlok]

Oh look, another place I won't be visiting to spend a red cent.

*crosses it off his list*

July 6, 2006, 9:59 AM EDT

ALBANY -- New York's highest court ruled Thursday that gay marriage is not allowed under state law, rejecting arguments by same-sex couples who said the law violates their constitutional rights.

The Court of Appeals in a 4-2 decision said New York's marriage law is constitutional and clearly limits marriage to between a man and a woman. Any change in the law should come from the state Legislature, Judge Robert Smith wrote.

"We do not predict what people will think generations from now, but we believe the present generation should have a chance to decide the issue through its elected representatives," Smith wrote.

"It's a sad day for New York families," said plaintiff Kathy Burke of Schenectady. "My family deserves the same protections as my next door neighbors."

Burke and her partner of seven years, Tonja Alvis, are raising her 11-year-old son.

Gov. George Pataki's health department and state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's office had argued New York law prohibits issuing licenses to same-sex couples. The state had prevailed in lower appeals courts.

The judges declined to follow the lead of high court judges in neighboring Massachusetts, who ruled that same-sex couples in that state have the same right to wed as straight couples.

The four cases decided Thursday were filed two years ago when the Massachusetts decision helped usher in a spate of gay marriage controversies from Boston to San Francisco. In New York, the mayor of the Hudson Valley village of New Paltz married about two dozen gay couples in February 2004.

With little hope of getting a gay marriage bill signed into law in Albany, advocates from the ACLU, Lambda Legal and other advocacy groups marshaled forces for a court fight. Forty-four couples acted as plaintiffs in the suits, including the brother of comedian Rosie O'Donnell and his longtime partner.

Plaintiff Regina Cicchetti said she was "devastated" by the ruling. But the Port Jervis resident said she and her partner of 36 years, Susan Zimmer, would fight on, probably by lobbying the Legislature for a change in the law.

"We haven't given up," she said. "We're in this for the long haul. If we can't get it done for us, we'll get it done for the people behind us."

In a dissent, Chief Judge Judith Kaye said the court failed to uphold its responsibility to correct inequalities when it decided to simply leave the issue to lawmakers. She noted that a number of bills allowing same-sex marriage have been introduced in the Legislature over the past several years, but none has ever made it out of committee.

"It is uniquely the function of the Judicial Branch to safeguard individual liberties guaranteed by the New York State Constitution, and to order redress for their violation," she wrote. "The court's duty to protect constitutional rights is an imperative of the separation of powers, not its enemy. I am confident that future generations will look back on today's decision as an unfortunate misstep."

Judge Albert Rosenblatt, whose daughter has advocated for same-sex couples in California, did not take part in the decision.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/st...-top-headlines

[Laurent]

She noted that a number of bills allowing same-sex marriage have been introduced in the Legislature over the past several years, but none has ever made it out of committee.

They need to get it on a ballot. I think New York is progressive enough to pass it into law.

[Grimmlok]

If new york isn't progressive enough, where is? I mean come on.. ITS NEW FREAKIN YORK!

oh big surprise here:

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- The state Supreme Court reinstated Georgia's constitutional ban on gay marriage Thursday, just hours after New York's highest court upheld that state's gay marriage ban.

The Georgia Supreme Court, reversing a lower court judge's ruling, decided unanimously that the ban did not violate the state's single-subject rule for ballot measures. Superior Court Judge Constance Russell of Fulton County had ruled that it did.

Seventy-six percent of Georgia voters approved the ban when it was on the ballot in 2004.

CNN.com

Fuck you, Georgia and New York. Fuck you with something rough and sandpapery.

[Lobelia]

My state was one of several that voted for the amendment to outlaw gay marriage, back in 2004. A few weeks ago, our 2 senators voted against the Federal marriage amendment, even though they agreed with it in principle:

http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/Art...4-4a29e8fae21e

“I oppose same-sex marriage,” Lincoln said. “Throughout my life, my religious faith has guided my strong belief that marriage is only between a man and a woman. I support the current federal law that grants states the right not to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.”

Pryor offered similar comments.

“I oppose gay marriage,” he said. “In 2004, I supported the amendment to the Arkansas Constitution to ensure the status of marriage in our state remains only between a man and woman. I support the federal law we already have on the books, the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between only a man and a woman and further declares that no state is required to honor a same-sex relationship sanctioned by another state.”

Kind of odd. The article I'm citing is pretty interesting. It also states the following:

• Eighty-nine percent of Americans believe that homosexuals should have equal rights in terms of job opportunities. In 1977, 56 percent felt that way.

• Attitudes toward homosexuality have also changed since Gallup started polling on the subject in 1982. That year, 34 percent of those surveyed said that homosexuality should be an acceptable alternative lifestyle. In May 2006, 54 percent gave that response.

• The country is also split on the subject of allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt a child, with 49 percent favoring the idea in a new ABC News/Time poll and 48 percent opposed. In 1977, 14 percent favored gay adoption.

Furthermore, young Americans consistently support same-sex marriage at rates far higher than older generations, which is a good indication that public opinion on the subject will continue to evolve.

One more encouraging event, is that my state lifted the ban on gay foster parents.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...n1766457.shtml

[Grimmlok]

“I oppose same-sex marriage,” Lincoln said. “Throughout my life, my religious faith has guided my strong belief that marriage is only between a man and a woman. I support the current federal law that grants states the right not to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.”

I'm sorry, maybe I missed the memo detailing that your religious beliefs were in any way important to the creation of secular legislation.

Oh, there wasn't one? You're just a bigoted retard? Well then.

KEEP YOUR SKY FAIRY BULLSHIT OUT OF GOVERNMENT. It has NO place bneing imposed on others, you festering piece of rat shit!

Why is that so fucking hard to do? Be objective, keep your PERSONAL feelings and your stupid religious garbage out of the decision process! If you can't, FIND ANOTHER CAREER.

Stupid religious assholes.

[Sojiita]

I think Ohio has about the most horrible law around. I hate this place!

[AliceInWonderland]

yeah although i'm not too suprised by NY b/c although NYC is pretty cool, the state itself is pretty conservative...or so its my understanding that thats how they tend to vote. Oregon state on the otherhand by all appearances is conservative-esque, but votes very liberal.

[Grimmlok]

They're soooo not getting my money.

[burnt_toast]

I love Oregon.

[AliceInWonderland]

They're soooo not getting my money.

good thats the least we can do; if not we should write the senaters there and our own congressmen/women.