This is my first diary for the Daily Kos and is cross posted at 4lgbtrights.org.
How close are we now?
After the news of the announced switch of Senator James Alesi, a key Rochester Republican who had opposed the Marriage Fairness bill two years ago, it appears that the vote is getting closer toward passage. He was one of the many Republican senators who had voted no to gay marriage. More importantly, he stated that his reason was strictly political, and not motivated by religious concerns. Although this is important – his potential vote, his reasoning for his earlier stance, and even his contrite statement advocating equality and freedom for all, one question continues to dominate
How close are we really?
We have seemed to have been so close before, and even had assurances that passage two years ago would be certain. However, the vote came in the New York Senate and once again, the measure fell short of a majority. Undoubtedly, having one additional senator in support and vocalizing his decision to both the press and the public has a natural advantage. The concept of backpedaling (or jokingly, the flip-flop) is less likely to occur, and we should trust our representative process to proceed with honor and integrity. This is even more important when discussing an issue that is clearly about human rights and suppressing those basic rights that are so fundamental to our culture and our liberties.
How close are we now?
There are also repercussions which may occur to Senator Alesi, who may need to have the additional ballot line ‘Conservative’ which will not occur to any Republican who votes for Marriage Fairness. That is the prerogative of the Republican Party (and especially Dean Skelos, the Senate Majority Leader) to determine who best meets their definition of conservative and Republican. This strategy of limiting Republican ballot choices permits the influencing of senator’s votes as they run for re-election in their respective districts. Many Republicans depend on having both ballot lines, as voters may be dissatisfied with the Republican Party label but vote for a politician who has the Conservative label.
Yet again, we must ask the question.
Does Marriage Fairness fail again in the Senate, or do we see passage and the dawn of a beautiful day over New York State?
How close are we really?
We must continue to reach out, we must continue to advocate, and we must put the pressure on our Albany representatives that no to marriage fairness is just plain WRONG. Interestingly, one of the Republican members knows this, but the others must know this and also understand that this issue will not die down, but continue until the day where people are allowed to marry whom they want and enjoy their expression of love and commitment in our land of liberty.
We want to include New York this month; however, the movement will continue all throughout this land until every one of our fifty states and our U.S. territories has this same guarantee – freedom and justice and equality for all.