Holding Our Breath - Editorial on Marriage Equality Bill - Queens Tribune

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First and foremost – we thank and congratulate Sens. Shirley Huntley and Joe Addabbo for changing their position on gay marriage. The two were the only remaining Queens Democrats who had previously voted against gay marriage; this week they said they changed their minds. Yes, we recognize that they perceived the issue to be in opposition of their constituents, and we are glad to see that the people they represent spoke up in great numbers to convince them to change their position.


We certainly realize that this is not a fait accompli. As of printing, there were only 31 Senators committed to voting in favor of granting members of the LGBT community the right to marry one another; 32 are needed, and a vote was expected by Friday.

This newspaper has taken great pride in championing what we feel is the basic equality of civil rights for all New Yorkers. If, indeed, the measure does pass, it will be a historic day in New York – and one of celebration here in Queens, home to one of the largest organized gay communities on the East Coast.

We patiently await the vote of the Senate. Do the right thing. We all should be equal.

Equal Marriage in NY - Attend Rally on May 31st at Athens Parks in Astoria...

All New York families deserve the protections of marriage. The couple featured here, Jeremiah and Karla, show the real people and loving relationships behind the fight for marriage fairness in New York State. Marriage...

Attend the rally in Athens Park in Astoria, Queens tonite night from 6:00-8:00. Take the N/W train to 30th Avenue and join us (10 minutes from Manhattan). This rally will feature numerous elected officials - including Councilmembers Eric Goia, David Weprin, John Liu and, likely Peter Vallone.

Broadway and television performers at the rally have appeared in: Rent, Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Flower Drum Song, The King and I, Spelling Bee, Good Vibrations, and Mary Poppins, and on the television shows Guiding Light and Hi-5. Most importantly, the rally will feature real people of all ages, races, religions and sexual orientations.

Come show the world that Queens believes in Civil Rights and that marriage is a human right that should not be denied on the basis of sexual orientation.

Maltese Sues to Block Guv's Gay Nuptials Order by Jeremy Walsh - Howard Beach Times - YourNabe.com

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An anti-gay-marriage group that counts state Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale) among its supporters has sued the state of New York to overturn Gov. David Paterson's executive directive favoring gay marriage.

The Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund filed the lawsuit June 3 in Bronx Supreme Court on behalf of Maltese, state Sen. Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn) and 14 other legislators and New York residents. The first hearing in the case was held last Thursday.

The suit asks the court to invalidate Paterson's May 14 directive ordering state agencies to recognize out-of-state gay marriages.

It cites the resulting state expenditures on services and family benefits as a violation of state finance laws.

"The governor should respect New York's marriage laws over the laws of foreign jurisdictions," said Alliance Defense Fund attorney Brian Raum in a prepared statement. "Gov. Paterson is overstepping his authority and the democratic process by issuing a directive at odds with New York public policy on marriage."

Maltese's office did not respond to requests for comment by press time Tuesday.

Though there is no Queens-based organization dedicated to promoting gay marriage, local gay activists did hold a gay marriage rally in 2006 that attracted a crowd of 2,000 people.

Leaders among the borough's gay and lesbian community condemned the suit.

"This is the same thing that happens with all this legislation," said Jackson Heights Democratic District Leader Daniel Dromm. "When Mayor Ed Koch in the '70s tried to implement an executive order to prevent discrimination in employment and benefits, they tried to overturn it unsuccessfully."

Elmhurst resident Sebastian Maguire, an outreach director for the group Marriage Equality New York, said the suit would likely not get very far.

"I think it's very interesting that the right-wing groups that have cried judicial activism in the past are now turning to the courts to get what they want," he said. "Their main contention is that Gov. Paterson somehow circumvented the democratic process. However, that's simply not the case. I think the judge recognizes that as well."

Maltese's own efforts to block gay marriage date back to 1996, when he first introduced a "defense of marriage" bill in the state Senate.

In 2007, Maltese sponsored a "Defense of Marriage" bill meant to keep gay marriage illegal. The bill did not leave the judiciary committee and was reintroduced in 2008.

Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e-mail at jwalsh@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.