About four hours ago the first tweets came down:
ladygaga Lady Gaga
I am so proud to be a New Yorker! One step closer to equality and toward the legalization of Gay Marriage in America. Full Equality. Unity.
Will be tweeting soon how little monsters can get involved to mobilize social justice. NY State needs us, and the time for change is now.
Then the specific instructions to 10 million of her followers tweeted out:
Today we are on the Edge of Glory and 1 vote away for marriage equality passing in New York State. Go to www.newyorkersunitedformarriage.org
Attention Little Monsters URGENT. Click here: http://bit.ly/... call your Senators, and help legalize Gay Marriage in NY TODAY. Justice.
Click: http://bit.ly/... and enter your Zip Code and phone #, the HRC will connect you. Ask to Vote Yes for the Marriage Equality Act.
Not leaving it at that, Gaga then proceeded to target a specific on-the-fence NY State Senator:
NY Monsters call 202.684.2471 Ask for Mark Grisanti. Ask to Vote Yes for the Marriage Equality Act. Call+leave a message for him. Be brave.
Perhaps she didn't like this quote by Assemblyperson Dov Hkind from yesterday's debate in the NY State Assembly:
“One of the things I love, I got to tell you. I came close to maybe changing my point of view when I started looking at all the celebrities who were telling New Yorkers what the moral, what the right thing was. And none other came close Lady Gaga,” said Hikind. “When Lady Gaga got involved and told us this, we should support gay marriage, you know I said Lady Gaga. You know she is my example of how I should lead my life and how I should behave. Came close, but I didn’t quite do it.”
Or maybe she really didn't like the picture he held up during his rant. (It's a great picture, but still...)
As you've probably heard by now, for the second day in a row, the Republican Caucus of the New York State Senate came away with 'no decision' as to whether or not to allow a vote on marriage equality before they adjourn.
Will Gaga's Little Monsters be the final straw that breaks the religious crazies hold on Senator Majority Leader Skelos and his colleagues? Believe it or not we may not know for some time, as there is talk of extending the session well into next week, instead of adjourning on Monday as was originally scheduled.
You can add to the Monster's calls:
Sen. Greg Ball (Putnam County) (518) 455-3111
Sen. Joe Griffo (Utica) (518) 455-3334
Sen. Mark Grisanti (Buffalo, Grand Island, Niagara Falls) (518) 455-3240
Sen. Andrew Lanza (Staten Island) (518) 455-3215
Sen. Jack Martins (Nassau County/Garden City) 518-455-3265
Sen. Saland (Poughkeepsie) 845-463-0840
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (the person who ultimately decides whether a vote will be taken or not):
Albany Office
Legislative Office Building, Room 909
Albany, NY 12247
United States
Phone: (518) 455-3171
District Office
55 Front Street
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
United States
Phone: (516) 766-8383
Email address: skelos@nysenate.gov
You know what to do.
5:51 PM PT: TowelRoad
After a meeting with Governor Cuomo attended by Senators Lanza, Hannon, and Saland this evening, Hannon and Saland left without saying anything to press. Senator Andrew Lanza held a short gaggle and told press that broader religious exemptions is a "line in the sand" for his vote, according to reporters on the scene.
A better contact list courtesy of TowelRoad:
Senator Gregory R. Ball of Putnam County (845) 279-3773
gball@nysenate.gov
Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr. of Suffolk County (516) 882-0630
fuschill@senate.state.ny.us
Senator J. Kemp Hannon of Nassau County (516) 739-1700
hannon@nysenate.gov
Senator Andrew J. Lanza of Staten Island (718) 984-4073
lanza@senate.state.ny.us
Senator Betty Little of Glens Falls (518) 743-0968
little@nysenate.gov
Senator Mark Grisanti of Erie County (518) 455-3240
grisanti@nysenate.gov
Senator Stephen M. Saland of Poughkeepsie (845) 463-0840
saland@nysenate.gov
Senator John Flanagan of Long Island (518) 455-2071
flanagan@senate.state.ny.us