A renewed faith in government and New York State

Within 24 hours of the vote, it was still unclear whether the New York State Senate would consider the same-sex marriage bill during this session. Thankfully, it made it to the floor on Thursday and I watched the last hour of live stream. At 10:30pm they finally tallied the vote,33 in favor (the minimum needed to pass) to 29; two Republicans voted aye and one Democrat voted nay. Senators were given two minutes at the podium if they wanted to speak. Some comments ran over five minutes revealing the complexity of the issue and the sometimes very personal viewpoint of the senators. Make a note, the New York State Marriage Equality Act was passed and signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo on June 24, 2011. It is a date for history.

Senator Thomas Duane gave a passionate speech sharing many of the struggles of his own life as a gay Catholic. James Alesi of Rochester and Senator Mark Grisanti of Buffalo, both Republicans, voted against the pressure of their constituents and found a way to see the humanity in making marriage a civil right for all couples. Mark Grisanti spoke about his previous commitment to voting against the bill and how looking at the bill from a legal perspective helped him to see that he could not justify that vote. He apologized to any constituents he might offend by changing his vote.

Protection of religious institutions was the one significant difference between this bill and previous versions that have been rejected. Recognizing that the bill had to resolve the complex and sometimes conflicting way that individuals experience life, helped sway these game-changing votes. For them, the bill allowed both viewpoints to exist simultaneously. It opened the door for a broader definition of marriage and protected those institutions that oppose same-sex marriage.

The senate floor on Thursday night was a demonstration of bravery and courage, not just of the individuals who shared the depth of their decision, but also of a collective group that created a safe space in which this vote could take place. Whatever came together that made this the right time for the vote seemed nothing short of a miracle. Timing. It's so important and, thankfully for the supporters of this bill, the timing was perfect.