With regards to the Senate, we don’t know who will come to power once this circus is done. The Democrats are said to be wooing Mons, which would bring the split to 31 to 31. Either way, I agree with several previous posts that the shakeup in Albany is GOOD for marriage equality. The current set-up led to political pandering to socially conservative Dems. Regardless of what I think of the moral character, political leanings, and other stomach churning details about the new leadership (and old in some respect), I find this change an opportunity for gay men and women to cast themselves as less partisan, and lobby on BOTH sides for equal rights.

I don’t even think “nurture” has anything to do with it either. I was raised by two parents, the middle child of three. Neither of my parents were more dominant than the other and my siblings turned out to be straight. None of us were raised differently either.

I do find it revealing that straights almost always refer to our orientation as a lifestyle, while nobody refers to theirs as such. I’ve asked many straights when they chose theirs and the response was, “I didn’t, I’ve always been this way”. It doesn’t dawn on them its just the same with us. We don’t choose it, it chooses us, both straight and gay and whatever in between. I’m convinced its biological, a matter of genetics, natural selection as it is in the animal kingdom.

Diaz won’t face a primary opponent. His dad is Bronx Borough President. Running a primary challenge is VERY hard in NYS with the Democratic Party. You need a specific amount of signatures, paperwork filed, etc. all done before the local party even anounces who they endorsed (so when it’s an open seat, it’s hard to predict who will be the establishment candidate). However, state Senate elections are in 2010 so anyone looking to run has plenty of time to set up a campaign committee, get signatures, etc.

What racist garbage.

The problem is not these two piglets but the big porkers, the Euroamerican Democrats and Republicans in Congress and in state legislatures. They include figures like Obama, Biden, who voted for DOMA, the Clintons, McCain and Palin. They have the real power to enforce bigotry against us and do it 24/7/365.

—————————————

Both Espada and Monserrate face criminal charges. The NY Times reports “Why Mr. Espada and Mr. Monserrate suddenly defected on Monday afternoon was not immediately clear. Both men are under investigation by the authorities. The state attorney general’s office is investigating a health care agency, Soundview HealthCare Network, that Mr. Espada ran until recently. And Mr. Monserrate, who was indicted on felony assault charges in March stemming from an attack on his companion, would automatically be thrown out of office if convicted.”

No doubt a big part of this maneuver is their attempt to broker a way out of Sing Sing in exchange for their votes.

Boss Tweed would have understood perfectly what’s going on.

Ummm… do you have any clue how the Federal government works? The Justice Department has a duty to defend laws. As long as DOMA is on the books, the Justice Department has to defend it, even if Obama doesn’t support the law.

There are many ways Obama can let us down, but this ain’t one of ‘em.

These bastards were put in power by the same mob-rule unions who always CLAIM to be progressive but then go behind our backs and vote 55% for Prop 8. They control New York with an iron fist and until they get on board behind real progressives, we will still have the race-mongering scum to control NY Senate with an iron fist!

Funny, we didn’t hear ANY mention of this before today. All four of those race-mongering CROOKS IN THE MAFIA were expected to win reelection without much Democratic opposition.

Obviously now Monserrate and Espada can kiss their reelections goodbye. Ruben Diaz, or as I like to call him DON RUBEN should most definitely face a challenger.

The problem? If ANYONE runs against them they will play the race card and accuse gay people of being racist!!!! The outrage is intense. They will gladly use their power to oppress gays and supposedly defend Latinos yet if we DARE challenge them on it or anything else we are automatically accused of being racist! This is political incorrectness run amuck!!!

So true. History shows that rights can easily be taken away from us.

Jason, we could well end up like California if we don’t get our act together. We have to figure out a way to stop any propositions and any other form of referenda from occurring just as Connecticut did, but we can’t do it unless everyone is on board, even those of us who don’t care about marriage.

http://www-news.uchicago.edu/r.....vation.pdf
http://www.newscientist.com/ch.....e-sex.html
Gay, Straight Men’s Brain Responses Differ
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155990,00.html
http://www.livescience.com/hea.....genes.html
http://www.springerlink.com/co.....00k586276/
http://blogs.discovermagazine......06/16/172/

There is overwhelming scientific evidence that homosexuality is not a choice. Sexual orientation is generally a biological trait that is determined pre-natally, although there is no one certain thing that explains all of the cases. “Nurture” may have some effect, but for the most part it is biological.

I myself have talked with my local Dems about future elections. Depends on the area, an openly gay politician could run without a problem against a republican or democrat against marriage equality.

The NY state senators who are GOP have mostly been there forever. It’s the incumbancy (and the general corruption in Albany) that keeps them there, but they are slowly falling…ask Serph Maltese.

Face it, you’re stuck with us. :-P

1. No state (or other political subdivision within the United States) needs to treat a relationship between persons of the same sex as a marriage, even if the relationship is considered a marriage in another state.
2. The federal government may not treat same-sex relationships as marriages for any purpose, even if concluded or recognized by one of the states.

So repealing DOMA does not provide for gay marriages. Each state would still be on their own to decide whether or not they want gay marriages. New York and Washington DC (effective July 3, approximately) recognize out of state gay marriages notwithstanding section 1. The Gill case challenges Section 2, but does not deal with Section 1. If we (Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) have brought the law suit) win the Gill case, then Social Security death benefits and other federal benefits would be available to gay married couples and the Census Bureau could count gay couples. Don

That’s why I have a hard time understanding all this big deal about opposing marriage equality by the NY politicians. By not allowing gay marriage, the state still has to recognize marriages from other states and doesn’t get any of the economic benefits of gay weddings that would otherwise take place in NY.

It’s kind of idiotic.