VIDEO: Chris Christie: I Wouldn't Sign A Marriage Equality Bill

Frak you, Chris!

Let the Cultural Wars Begin! NOM attacks New York

Still bitter about their lost, NOM has started their attack toward the senators who supported gay marriage. Brian Brown put out this mess over the weekend.

Last night we were sold out by the Republican Party in New York.  Shortly before 10:30 last night, the New York Senate voted 33 to 29 in favor of same-sex marriage. Four Republicans – Jim Alesi, Roy McDonald, Steve Saland, and Mark Grisanti provided the margin of passage.

But this fight is far from over. In response to last night's vote, I have doubled our pledge to New York, committing at least $2 million dollars to make sure that New York Republicans understand that voting for gay marriage has consequences.

Marriage isn't a partisan issue – in fact, the hero of the past month has been Democratic Senator Ruben Diaz, a courageous friend who has withstood threats, bigotry and hatred while working tirelessly to protect and defend marriage. NOM pledges to stand with Senator Diaz and any Democrat who would share his courage in standing for marriage.

But the responsibility today rests squarely with the Republican Party. The Republican Party has torn up its contract with the voters who trusted them.  When Democrats are in control, they regularly refuse to permit a vote on a marriage amendment. When they are in the minority, they may even leave the state to prevent a vote when their base disapproves. And yet tonight, the Republican Party has sold out, and it is the Republican Party that will pay the worst price for this vote to redefine marriage.

Don't they sound like super villains? Anywho, NOM is asking for $50, $100 to a $1000 dollars to... Well... Raise money for themselves. It's highly unlikely they can get this overturned. So why are they raising money? They hope to get those Repubs out of office. Well, good luck with that.

Headlines

WATCH: The NY Gay Marriage Saga

Brought to you by Anderson Cooper

NOM Tweets their Loss in New York

Child Cheese, get used to it. There is more to come!

Today, On the 'NY Gay Marriage Vote'...

Majority Leader Dean Skelos

Here's an update the mini-series known as NY Gay Marriage.

From the NY Times

Frustrations flared in the Capitol on Friday as Democratic lawmakers and gay rights advocates suggested that the Republicans in the State Senate were deliberately delaying a vote on whether to legalize same-sex marriage in New York.

It was a marked change of tone from proponents of gay marriage, and it seemed to indicate that their collaborative relationship with the Republicans, in whose hands the fate of the measure rests, had begun to fray.

“It’s outrageous,” said State Senator Liz Krueger, a Manhattan Democrat. “We were sent home last night without really any explanation.”

But Thomas W. Libous, the Senate Republican deputy majority leader, said that negotiations were on track and that he expected votes on most issues early Friday afternoon. Asked whether gay marriage could be voted on Friday, Mr. Libous said yes.



“Nobody wants to stay here tomorrow,” he said.

So today, maybe?  We will see.

WATCH: Anderson Cooper discuss the New York Gay Marriage Vote

Could the NY Gay Marriage Vote happen in a few Hours?

The NY gay marriage could happen today. On Sunday, I received word from a lobbyist in New York that today could be the day. Maybe they are  right? Here's more:

State legislative leaders said Wednesday afternoon there are no major obstacles to a vote on whether to legalize gay marriage.


Democrats and Republicans emerged from meetings with Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and said there is progress toward proposed additional religious protections that could bring a gay marriage bill to the Senate floor for a vote as early as Wednesday night. No deal had been struck as of Wednesday afternoon.


More protection for religious organizations such as adoption agencies and marriage counselors is sought by undecided Republican senators who are key to the vote.


Currently, the Senate appears to be one vote shy of making New York the sixth state where gay marriage is legal. It's viewed as a critical moment in the national gay rights movement.

Fingers Crossed.

source

Big New York Gay Marriage Rally in Albany

Be there, or be Square

David Axelrod speaks on President Obama's views on Marriage Equality

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

P.S. the beginning piece does not reflect the overall views of the attendants of Netroots Nation

President Obama, Where You At on Gay Marriage?

President Obama said in October his views on Gay Marriage was evolving. Since then, there has been a few marriage battles in the states. And as New York's quest for marriage hits a boiling point, everyone wants to know where does Obama stand?

I'm not going demand for Obama to tell me where he is in his evolution. The evolution process is different for everyone. But, I would like to know what's blocking his vision? I wish he could share his dilemma with us. It would be helpful to know what's stalling him.

However, this could be a ruse. With the nature of politics, he could be playing the 'I'm not sure' role until the election. But it is a risky play if this is the idea. Because he hasn't evolved, Obama's making some of his LGBT supporters very wary.

Now y'all know, I will continue to support him, but it would be nice to know what our president is thinking and feeling about this.

WATCH: Maggie Gallagher vows to get any GOP Senator who supports Gay Marriage

This heifer needs to have a seat!

The Rundown on New York's Gay Marriage Battle

So much is going down in New York, y'all!

This morning folks gathered in the lobby singing and shouting up a storm.


However, there was a stalemate inside the chamber. It seems that no one can get a vote to go either way.

Here's more from The Advocate

No additional exemptions language had been announced as of Monday morning, but insiders said it would likely be presented in a chapter amendment that would need to pass separately from the bill. The chapter amendment would also require approval from the Democratic-controlled Assembly, which passed the marriage equality bill for the fourth time last week. The bill failed in the Senate in 2009.

Public pressure for the Senate to pass the bill continued to mount over the weekend. Hundreds rallied in Union Square in Manhattan Sunday while clergy members and congregants statewide rallied after religious services.

Meanwhile, opponents of the marriage equality bill announced they would present Republican state senators with 63,000 petitions against the bill in the state capital Monday. Maggie Gallagher and Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage are expected in Albany in the afternoon with former New York Giants player David Tyree, who recorded a video against the marriage equality bill.

The legislative session, although officially scheduled to end Monday, could extend into the week because of unfinished business including the marriage equality bill and other significant items.

I did get word that gay marriage could be set and ready to go by Wednesday. It is a RUMOR, but the way things are going, anything is possible. I'll keep y'all posted.

New York moves closer to Marriage Equality

Yesterday, key senators move in favor of Gay marriage. At one point, they were against it, now they have changed their minds.

Three wavering Democratic lawmakers in the State Senate on Monday announced that they now support the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York, marking a potential turning point for the long-debated measure.


Within an hour of the announcement by the three Democrats, a Republican senator said that he, too, is open to supporting same-sex marriage.


“If the bill comes to the floor the way that I would like to see it, I will support it,” Senator James S. Alesi, a Monroe County Republican, said before going into a meeting with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. Mr. Alesi did not elaborate.


The three Democratic senators — Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. and Shirley L. Huntley of Queens and Carl Kruger of Brooklyn — all voted against the measure in 2009, when it failed by a wide margin. Their switch to the yes column leaves all but one Senate Democrat supporting same-sex marriage — and the fate of the legislation in the hands of the Republican majority in the chamber. 

See here

Also in the same day, Sen. Ruben Diaz leaves the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus because they are supporting marriage equality.
Here is his little letter
Letter to Caucus From Sen Diaz
poor Ruben.

Latino Elected Leaders unite for Gay Marriage in New York

Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez

The support for gay marriage in New York is amazing! Yesterday Latino elected leaders came together to send a message... Make gay marriage legal!


From NY1

Many of New York's Latino elected officials rallied on the steps of City Hall for marriage equality Wednesday.
They called on the state Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo to act immediately to pass same-sex marriage legislation.


They said it is a matter of civil rights and social justice.


"We are here as proud Latinos to say those who claim our culture is against same-sex marriage, they do not. They do not speak for me, and they do not speak for us," said Brooklyn-Queens-Manhattan Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez.


A poll conducted last month by the Siena Research Institute found 55 percent of Latino voters support marriage equality and 41 percent are opposed.

You can't deny it, New York wants gay marriage!

People in the Bronx Rally for Gay Marriage

Apparently, Sen. Ruben Diaz don't know his people. Many gathered in support of Gay Marriage a few days ago.

News 12 in the Bronx covered the story


Here's more news

Joined by elected officials and organizations including members of the New Yorkers United for Marriage coalition, local activists will gather at the Bronx Borough Courthouse in the South Bronx on Friday afternoon to present a different face of the borough. They note that of the six state senators who represent the Bronx, five of them support marriage equality, and three are Latino, representing half of the six-member Puerto Rican and Latino Caucus in the state senate.


“The Bronx is united, and the Bronx is united for marriage, not against marriage,” said Dirk McCall, a spokesman for the newly formed Bronx Rainbow Independent Democratic Association, which is organizing the press conference with Marriage Equality New York. “We want people to know that his rally doesn’t speak for the Bronx. This is the true Bronx coming out today.”


Indeed, recent surveys suggest that Díaz holds the less popular opinion in the Bronx, a borough where 52% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census. A Siena poll from May, which found that a majority of voters statewide support marriage equality, found that among Hispanics and Latinos, support stood at 55% compared to 41% opposed. According to a Williams Institute study, more same-sex couples are raising families in the Bronx than any other borough, adding local urgency to the marriage push.

There will be a pro gay marriage march in August

Thanks to Nelson for the video

WATCH: Columnist Rich Benjamin discusses the Turning Point in Marriage Equality

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Interesting Quote: Jim Daly, the president and CEO of Focus on the Family

“We're losing on that one, especially among the 20- and 30-somethings: 65 to 70 percent of them favor same-sex marriage. I don't know if that's going to change with a little more age—demographers would say probably not. We've probably lost that.”

Jim is realizing the battle for marriage equality is shifting our way.

source

African-American, Latino and Asian Leaders come together for Gay Marriage in New York

Julian Bond is featured in the letter

A strong group of African-American, Latino and Asian leaders have joined together to fight for marriage equality in New York.

They have presented a letter to legislators, urging them to support same-sex marriage in the state.

Please read
Leaders Letter FINAL3

Gay Marriage Drama from State to State

In Minnesota, their Rules Committee of the House approved a floor vote on the constitutional gay marriage amendment. The committee voted 13-12 to put it before the full House.

In North Carolina, thousands of haters rally for a constitutional ban on gay marriage. Tony Perkins leads this group of ignorant fools in this silly crusade.

In Rhode Island, their House Committee passed the same-sex civil union bill, 9-3.

And in New York, gay marriage struggles to gain ground for support. However, Mayor Micheal Bloomberg endorses gay marriage and calls for a floor vote to see where folks stand.