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News & ArtsThursday, December 3, 2009
Homo Required Viewing: New York State Senator Diane Savino Comments During Yesterday's Debate
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 9:28 AM
I've never heard anyone do a better job refuting the my-priest-is-gonna-be-forced-to-marry-the-homos argument. Right now churches can refuse to marry straight couples—couples waving marriage licenses—for any reason whatsoever. Marriage equality for same-sex couples will not oppress religious conservatives. Religious conservatives and officials will just have to do what they do now: tolerate the existence of marriages that they do not approve of and would not solemnize.
And for those of you confused by the arguments about same-sex marriage, here's a handy chart.
3
I can't read the handy chart. It's too small when it pops up. Is there a link to it somewhere else?
7
Yes, the speeches were very nice. Daniel O'Donnell makes good speeches too. But we didn't need eloquence in Albany, we needed a vote-counter, an arm-twister, an LBJ. I'm still not sure what was accomplished by calling a vote we couldn't win.
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In fact, there are some parallels between the civil rights struggle of the mid-20th century and the current situation. The liberals were impassioned, and they were right, but they accomplished almost nothing. Finally LBJ had to step in and get some meaningful legislation passed.
Be careful what you wish for. Don't demand a vote you can't win. Now everyone knows what the score is in NY, and it's pretty grim for supporters of same-sex marriage. You have got to be clear-headed about these things or you will never win.
Be careful what you wish for. Don't demand a vote you can't win. Now everyone knows what the score is in NY, and it's pretty grim for supporters of same-sex marriage. You have got to be clear-headed about these things or you will never win.
10
She's perfect, and said everything that needed to be said.
What is it going to take to make marriage legal for gays? It's such a no-brainer, from where I sit anyway.
What is it going to take to make marriage legal for gays? It's such a no-brainer, from where I sit anyway.
13
I want to move to New York so I can vote for her. Great speech.
The benefit of the vote is that now all incumbents are on record with their stance on the matter and people can vote accordingly.
The benefit of the vote is that now all incumbents are on record with their stance on the matter and people can vote accordingly.
14
Before LC yaps on about how this should be put to the people of NY for a vote, I would just like inform her that there is NO public initiative/vote process available in that state. So the legislature must bring same sex marriage forward.
15
Ms Savino is my Senator. I just called her office to thank her for making this remarks and to tell her that I look forward to voting for her again when she is up for re-election. The staffer I spoke with said they were being flooded with calls. She was unaware that the speech had been linked by Dan Savage and seemed very interested to hear it.
16
Can someone post a link to her email address? I want to thank her for such an eloquent, thought provoking, fantastic speech- regardless of how the final vote tallied out.
This defeat has given me more than just a list of idiots to actively rally against, it has given me hope that there are people out there of sound mind in our government and the ability to help them when I can.
This defeat has given me more than just a list of idiots to actively rally against, it has given me hope that there are people out there of sound mind in our government and the ability to help them when I can.
17
@13: Yes, but unless those politicians are remarkably bad at protecting their own careers, they are not scared to be on the record opposing gay marriage. It might be a voting issue in some districts, but the senators in those districts almost certainly voted "yes." Certainly my senator did, which is smart, because the district I live in is very gay-friendly. But I have a feeling people in upstate New York aren't going to kick out an incumbent for opposing gay marriage.
So in fact I think this is a setback, because it shows that a large majority of senators simply don't think it is in their interest to vote "yes." We'll see how Monserrate's replacement feels, but at best that's one more vote.
So in fact I think this is a setback, because it shows that a large majority of senators simply don't think it is in their interest to vote "yes." We'll see how Monserrate's replacement feels, but at best that's one more vote.
20
http://maristpoll.marist.edu/wp-content/…
Marist Poll shows support for marriage equality holds a majority in the whole state and a plurality in all regions except for the NYC suburbs.
66% support within NYC, so kick the rats out.
Marist Poll shows support for marriage equality holds a majority in the whole state and a plurality in all regions except for the NYC suburbs.
66% support within NYC, so kick the rats out.
21
I would like to run into that woman in a dark ally armed with my usual bottle of chloroform aphrodisiac.... uh... I mean... uh.... great speech....
22
minderbender:
Albany Office
Senator Diane J. Savino
512 Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12247
Phone: (518) 455-2437
Fax: (518) 426-6943
District Office
Senator Diane J. Savino
36 Richmond Terrace, Suite 112
Staten Island, New York 10301
Phone: (718) 727-9406
Fax: (718) 727-9426
Email address: savino@senate.state.ny.us
http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/diane-j-…
Albany Office
Senator Diane J. Savino
512 Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12247
Phone: (518) 455-2437
Fax: (518) 426-6943
District Office
Senator Diane J. Savino
36 Richmond Terrace, Suite 112
Staten Island, New York 10301
Phone: (718) 727-9406
Fax: (718) 727-9426
Email address: savino@senate.state.ny.us
http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/diane-j-…
24
Please visit Senator Diane Savino’s website:
http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/diane-j-…
and her facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/SenatorDianeSavi…
http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/diane-j-…
and her facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/SenatorDianeSavi…
25
That was very entertaining and all and she's a good speaker, but to those yet undecided on this I just want to encourage you to think on this, why should Senator Savino solely determine what marriage means?
The truth is that Senator Savino can make that determination in her life about her friends and about whomever else she chooses and government has no business in that but when it comes to the law the whole territorial state of NY is not Senator Savino's sole private property. Concerning such a important institution, every adult of sound mind and of voting age should have a say and make it count, so that it is not only Savino's words that are heard and have weight.
That's what yesterdays vote was about, it was a vote that said social redefinitions of this magnitude who affect all citizens in one way or another need to heed the input of the citizens who will have to live with such decisions. Because when it is not and left in the hand of a few to decide, then absolute power in the end will corrupt absolutely.
The truth is that Senator Savino can make that determination in her life about her friends and about whomever else she chooses and government has no business in that but when it comes to the law the whole territorial state of NY is not Senator Savino's sole private property. Concerning such a important institution, every adult of sound mind and of voting age should have a say and make it count, so that it is not only Savino's words that are heard and have weight.
That's what yesterdays vote was about, it was a vote that said social redefinitions of this magnitude who affect all citizens in one way or another need to heed the input of the citizens who will have to live with such decisions. Because when it is not and left in the hand of a few to decide, then absolute power in the end will corrupt absolutely.
27
@11, 19, 21, 23 et al: hear hear. She's smoking hot!
...oh, and impressively eloquent and persuasive, too.
...oh, and impressively eloquent and persuasive, too.
28
Thanks for the link to that poll, Baconcat.
Loveschild, it seems like the people in NY favor gay marriage. So, if the Senators were to vote exactly as their public wanted (and, without a ballot initiative process in NY, the polls are the only good information about what the public truly thinks), then marriage would be "re-defined". Frankly, I would think that you should be outraged that the Senators did not vote the will of their people. That, in fact, the people of NY want marriage to be "re-defined" and yet their legislature is not "heeding their input." Why aren't you complaining about the will of the people not being reflected in this vote?
Loveschild, it seems like the people in NY favor gay marriage. So, if the Senators were to vote exactly as their public wanted (and, without a ballot initiative process in NY, the polls are the only good information about what the public truly thinks), then marriage would be "re-defined". Frankly, I would think that you should be outraged that the Senators did not vote the will of their people. That, in fact, the people of NY want marriage to be "re-defined" and yet their legislature is not "heeding their input." Why aren't you complaining about the will of the people not being reflected in this vote?
29
Polls are a sorta of schizophrenic parameter to take the pulse of the population and most times they are a reflection of the bias sources that put them forth like the one Bacon cited ( private liberal arts college Marist College in Poughkeepsie) rather than the population that they are supposedly polling. Poughkeepsie the headquarter from where this poll originates is for example one of the most affluent places, non representative of the diversity and background of average New Yorkers in the whole state.
The senators for a change analyzed this (as has the NY supreme court previously by the way) and has sent this back where it belongs to the people of NY state not to them (politicians) nor the courts. It's very simple, the one for all cure for this is to let the people to vote directly and decide this, no better poll than that.
The senators for a change analyzed this (as has the NY supreme court previously by the way) and has sent this back where it belongs to the people of NY state not to them (politicians) nor the courts. It's very simple, the one for all cure for this is to let the people to vote directly and decide this, no better poll than that.
30
Oh, Loveschild, schizophrenic is certainly an amusing word choice coming from someone so addled with the crazy!
I whole heartedly support your democratic approach.
All those who never want to see Loveschild's deceptively friendly user icon on these comments board again, say "Aye!"
(Aye!)
I whole heartedly support your democratic approach.
All those who never want to see Loveschild's deceptively friendly user icon on these comments board again, say "Aye!"
(Aye!)
31
As much as I enjoyed Senator Savino's speech, I found Ruth Hassell-Thompson's speech even more moving.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1criD7cM…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1criD7cM…
32
Well, #31, her speech is sincere, I'm sure. But her repeated statements about "choice" annoy me. She's got it wrong about that. However, I do admire that even though she thinks being gay is a "choice," she still voted for equality.
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@17: Depends on where in upstate - we're not a homogenous bloc. Ithaca, in particular, is extremely liberal.
@29: THERE IS NO PUBLIC INITIATIVE PROCESS IN NEW YORK STATE, you rancid, curd-dripping, yeasty cunt. Also, how about we put *your* rights up to a vote of the whole population in, say, Texas.
@29: THERE IS NO PUBLIC INITIATIVE PROCESS IN NEW YORK STATE, you rancid, curd-dripping, yeasty cunt. Also, how about we put *your* rights up to a vote of the whole population in, say, Texas.
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#25 Why should a thousands of year old compilation of what different crazies think God told them decide who should get married? Oh wait, the G word. Maybe she should have just said God told her, then you'd have agreed...
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Upstate NY has lots of gays. And family members. My mom in the suburbs of Rochester keeps getting polled and posting her Emphatic Pro-Equality Answers!!! on facebook (I love my mom)
But there are just so many Republicans... we went to a Barnes & Noble in an outer suburb to get my dad a birthday present. The store was huge. The current events/politics section was only three shelves, filled with beck, colter, et al. It was disconcerting.
But there are just so many Republicans... we went to a Barnes & Noble in an outer suburb to get my dad a birthday present. The store was huge. The current events/politics section was only three shelves, filled with beck, colter, et al. It was disconcerting.
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@25: "Let the people decide." is the course of cowards when civil rights are at stake. And the bigots who want a minority denied their civil rights.
Voting on civil rights of a minority is like asking 10 wolves and a sheep what should be for lunch.
That's why so many civil rights came first from the courts (Brown v Kansas; Roe v Wade; and very relevant to marriage equality issues before today: Loving v Virgina)
Voting on civil rights of a minority is like asking 10 wolves and a sheep what should be for lunch.
That's why so many civil rights came first from the courts (Brown v Kansas; Roe v Wade; and very relevant to marriage equality issues before today: Loving v Virgina)
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