I stumbled across this on-line and didn't see it diaried here yet, so I thought I'd pass along some good news from here in New York.
Posted last night on the NY Daily News website: Gay marriage supported by record number of New York voters: 56% according to new poll
As of 2:20 this afternoon, the Daily News (unscientific) on-line poll accompanying the article shows support for gay marriage at 49%, civil unions at 21%, with 30% not supporting either gay marriage or civil unions. Click through to the article if you'd like to add your vote.
ALBANY - A record number of New York voters want gay marriage legalized, a new poll found.
Fifty-six percent of Empire State voters favor same-sex nuptials, up from the previous best of 51% in 2009, according to the Quinnipiac University survey.
"Gov. Cuomo didn't make a big issue of same-sex marriage in his State of the State speech, but he said he was for it and so are most New Yorkers," said Quinnipiac poll director Maurice Carroll.
These new poll results follow on the heels of last week's marriage equality news out of Albany, as also reported by the Daily News:
State Sen. Thomas Duane to push gay marriage bill as hopes rise that Gov. Cuomo will live up to vow
ALBANY - The battle over same-sex marriage is about to heat up again in the state Senate.
Sen. Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan), the Senate's biggest booster of gay marriage, said he'll introduce legislation "within weeks" to legalize same-sex marriage - and will push for a vote before the end of June.
"I think everyone is aware that we have to make the lives of New Yorkers better in every way - economically, as well as to provide equality to New York families," Duane said Monday.
Both articles cite the potential influence of newly-elected Gov. Cuomo. From last week's article about Duane's remarks:
Cuomo, whose favorable rating reached a soaring 70% in this week's Siena poll, called for the legalization of gay marriage in his State of the State address earlier this month.
"I think the governor is starting in a strong political place with the people on his side and the wind at his back," said Ross Levi, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda.
Speaking of the Empire State Pride Agenda, their website has some useful tools such as
Same-Sex Marriage Myths Busted. They are also co-sponsoring (with Marriage Equality New York) Marriage Equality Day 2011 on February 8 in Albany.
From Marriage Equality New York's website for Marriage Equality Day:
Schedule of Events (Tentative-still subject to change):
10:00-10:30am Introductions- distribute meeting locations & materials
10:30-10:40am Meet your District Meeting Leader (go over materials provided)
10:40-11:10am Marriage 101: Get the facts
11:10-11:20am How we meet with a senator?- mock meeting
11:20-11:30am Speaker from Governor Cuomo's Office
11:30-12:15pm Lunch provided during district team discussions
12:45- 2:30pm Senate Meetings
3:00 - 3:30pm Return to original meeting room
3:30 - 4:00pm Event Closing and Next Steps
The event is on a waiting list for scholarships and for busses from NYC, Buffalo and potentially other locations. Here's the link to register for the event / waiting list.
Not in New York but maybe you're able to kick in a few bucks to help open up more slots for scholarship recipients? Here's the Paypal link to give the gift of a Marriage Equality scholarship donation.
Gay marriage faces an uphill battle in the Senate, which is again under GOP control.
Scott Reif, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau), said his boss opposes gay marriage, but would not block the measure from coming up for a vote.
I know it seems like just yesterday that we went through the dismal defeat in the Gov. Paterson era, but it's time to ramp up the push again (with a huge tip of the hat to the ESPA and MENY folks who've remained in the trenches throughout).