Gay Marriage Lost in Shuffle of Divided Senate

Gay Marriage Lost in Shuffle of Divided Senate
By JEREMY W. PETERS
Copyright by The New York Times
Published: June 28, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/nyregion/29pride.html?th&emc=th


When Gov. David A. Paterson accepted an invitation to be a grand marshal in New York City’s gay pride parade this year, he had high expectations that he would march down Fifth Avenue as the first governor in state history to have signed a law allowing gay couples to marry.

Gov. David A. Paterson, right, with the City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, and Senator Thomas K. Duane. More Photos »

But the hopes of Mr. Paterson and gay rights advocates who have been pushing for same-sex marriage have collided with a political maelstrom in Albany. Like every other major public-policy issue before the State Legislature — from local sales taxes to control of New York City’s school system — same-sex marriage is on hold until Republicans and Democrats in the State Senate reach a compromise over who will control the chamber.

So on Sunday afternoon, as the governor clutched a rainbow flag in his left hand and waved to the legions of gay men and lesbians who turned out for the parade, his presence was more of an anticlimax than a climax.

“In my dream, I was grand marshal of a parade where as I’m taking steps down Fifth Avenue, many New Yorkers can take steps down the aisles to be married, which I think is their right,” Mr. Paterson said as he was beginning the 40-plus-block walk from Midtown to Greenwich Village. He noted that he was the first governor to serve as grand marshal.

Mr. Paterson said on Sunday that while he hoped the Senate would move quickly to pass a same-sex marriage bill, he remained wary of introducing the issue into such a fractious political environment.

“I think that the bill should be considered,” he said, adding, “I have tried not to insert into an already acrimonious situation any controversial legislation that might exacerbate the tension and cause the bill to lose.”

It remains unknowable what will become of the bill, which passed the State Assembly in May by a margin of 89 to 52. After Mr. Paterson initially omitted the bill from the agenda of the first extraordinary session of the Senate that he convened last week, he drew a sharp outcry from advocates of gay rights. The governor then included it among the bills he asked the Senate to consider later in the week.

But the Senate has ignored Mr. Paterson’s calls to take up any legislation, and has done all that the State Constitution essentially compels senators to do when the governor convenes an extraordinary session: show up in the Senate chamber.

On Sunday, both sides of the divided Senate returned for brief sessions, one side after the other gaveling in and out without taking up any business. Senators on each side said they had not even agreed whether to meet later that night.

“It’s almost as if they want to stall,” said Senator Tom Libous, a Republican of Binghamton.

Democrats have been pushing for a temporary agreement that will allow critical bills to pass; Republicans insist on a power-sharing deal that extends through 2010.

“We want to get the business of the people done,” said Senator John L. Sampson, the leader of the Democrats.

The question that supporters of same-sex marriage are trying to resolve now is whether the bill would be on the agenda of any session the Senate convenes, once it settles its leadership fight. But no one can be sure when the dispute will be resolved or what legislation will be considered once the Senate begins functioning again.

“We need the Senate to get back to work,” said the New York City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, who appeared at the parade with her longtime partner, Kim Catullo. “We need a vote on marriage equality. We need the New York State Senate to have the courage of its convictions and to stand up and say what they think.”

Some spectators at the parade on Sunday were not holding their breath. Kevin Silas, 40, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., who was with his partner, Charles Kelley, 47, said he did not have much faith that the impasse in Albany would be settled and that same-sex marriage would be one of the issues the Senate addresses soon.

“I mean, I’m going to love him regardless,” Mr. Silas said, gesturing toward Mr. Kelley, his partner of eight years. The two were married in New Paltz, N.Y., during the brief period in 2004 when the mayor there was performing unofficial same-sex marriages. “I’ve already got the ring.”

Danny Hakim and Mathew R. Warren contributed reporting.