6/20/2011 10:02:00 AM
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Rallies grow as NY weighs gay marriage vote
Gay pride and the American flags decorate the desks as Assemblyman Daniel J. O'Donnell is photographed in the Assembly room before the Assembly votes on the gay marriage bill, Wednesday, June 15, 2011 in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo)
(CBS/AP) ALBANY, N.Y. - Hundreds of raucous demonstrators on both sides of the divisive gay-marriage debate jammed the usually sedate halls of New York's Capitol on Monday as Senate Republicans, who can determine the measure's fate, consider whether to schedule a decisive vote on the issue.
New York's vote is seen as pivotal in the national question over same-sex marriage, an effort that largely stalled in the same room two years ago when the Senate voted it down. Since then, efforts have failed in New Jersey, Rhode Island and Maryland. Advocates hope a "yes" vote in the nation's third most-populous state jumpstarts the effort.
On Monday, groups led by clergy opposed to same-sex marriage sang hymns such as "Victory is Mine" and prayed in small circles while pro-same-sex marriage advocates countered with "God Bless America" and lined the halls and parlor outside the Senate chamber.
State troopers were called to the Senate chamber floor as the two groups started to merge and argue with each other, but there were no immediate threats of escalation, only debate. There were no threats and senators moved unmolested from the elevators to their conference room on the Capitol's stately and normally staid third floor.
"This is not about religion, this is about civil rights," Sharon Baum of New York City said.
She was soon confronted by a woman opposed to gay marriage.
"If this passes, we will become Sodom and Gomorrah," said 80-year-old Ginny Winn, of Delmar in Albany County.
Senate Republicans, who control the chamber, were scheduled to meet behind closed doors Monday. They could call for a floor vote Monday, or it could still be a day or two away.
The Assembly has already passed the measure. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he will sign it.
New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan addressed the same-sex marriage issue at Father's Day mass Sunday, CBS New York reports.
"I know we're sort of the David here, up against a Goliath, but we're not going to give up. That's what this request for prayers was all about," Dolan said.
New York's vote is seen as pivotal in the national question over same-sex marriage, an effort that largely stalled in the same room two years ago when the Senate voted it down. Since then, efforts have failed in New Jersey, Rhode Island and Maryland. Advocates hope a "yes" vote in the nation's third most-populous state jumpstarts the effort.
On Monday, groups led by clergy opposed to same-sex marriage sang hymns such as "Victory is Mine" and prayed in small circles while pro-same-sex marriage advocates countered with "God Bless America" and lined the halls and parlor outside the Senate chamber.
State troopers were called to the Senate chamber floor as the two groups started to merge and argue with each other, but there were no immediate threats of escalation, only debate. There were no threats and senators moved unmolested from the elevators to their conference room on the Capitol's stately and normally staid third floor.
"This is not about religion, this is about civil rights," Sharon Baum of New York City said.
She was soon confronted by a woman opposed to gay marriage.
"If this passes, we will become Sodom and Gomorrah," said 80-year-old Ginny Winn, of Delmar in Albany County.
Senate Republicans, who control the chamber, were scheduled to meet behind closed doors Monday. They could call for a floor vote Monday, or it could still be a day or two away.
The Assembly has already passed the measure. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he will sign it.
New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan addressed the same-sex marriage issue at Father's Day mass Sunday, CBS New York reports.
"I know we're sort of the David here, up against a Goliath, but we're not going to give up. That's what this request for prayers was all about," Dolan said.
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