Republican New York state senator Jim Alesi, the first NY Republican to come out in favor of marriage equality last week, gave a rousing and impressive speech yesterday in Albany. Though the vote still hasn’t taken place, Senator Alesi seemed confident that marriage equality will pass in New York.
“Passing marriage equality is the most important thing that I think I can do in my 20-year history as a legislator,” he said of the bill’s potential passage.
On losing conservative allies because of his support for marriage equality, he said: “I think I have some new friends.”
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid769549532?bctid=1011491178001
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While his statement that he was a “born” Republican might be arguable, Sen. Alesi does seem like a pretty decent guy. Hopefully more of his Republican colleagues will show some cojones and the Senate will follow his lead.
Rainfish
This is best reason for the GLBT community to be bi-partisan. Don’t put your eggs all in one basket. Support those who support you. That should be a simple enough equation to understand. Don’t fool yourself, we need allies on both sides in order to win this “culture war” that has been thrust upon us.
Don’t forget, no matter how you malign the Republicans (and rightly so 99% of the time), it was the Log Cabin Republicans that won the federal court ruling last fall which struck down DADT while our Democratic Messiah is still appealing that decision even after the repeal of DADT. Apparently, Obama does not want a federal court to adjudicate that we, in the GLBT community, are a “protected minority” and conferring upon us a “heightened scrutiny” status which makes passing discriminatory laws against us more difficult — if not impossible. Obviously, that would give us something the Democrats fear more than anything — their loss of our dependency upon them.
Jeffree
@Rainfish: Yes! We *do* need to support our allies on both sides of the aisle. A socially moderate Republican state senator standing up for equality can help set the tone of the discussion — and some state senators move on to national positions as well.
Being honest, I’d say he’s putting his neck on the line at some level, even if not in his own district. And any other peers (Rep. or Dem. who aren’t paying attention to his stance may find themselves behind the curve.
Cam
Gee, somebody who remembers that politicians are supposed to think and represent their constituents and not just take their marching orders from the party and never waver.
Good for Senator Alesi. As for Rainfish. Normally common sense would say that the gay community should be bi bartisan. Unfortunatly the current GOP party line nationally is that gays should not have any rights. If the differences between the two parties were only about Social Security, Immigration, Medicare, etc… then bi partisanship would of course be correct. But when one party absolutly wants to strip you of your rights, and it is in so much lock step that ONE SINGLE SENTATOR breaking with them to vote for our rights is considered newsworthy, then I can’t support any of them outside this one Senator. Once we have our rights, then I can look at other issues, but as long as one party basically wants to hunt me down and strip my humanity from me, I can’t support them.
Rainfish
@Jeffree: Yeah, that is why I wish some moderate pro-gay Republican, like Jon Huntsman, would get the Republican nomination. If so, Obama would be tripping all over himself to get out the message that he has really *wink, wink* always and absolutely been for marriage equality all along and that he only “suggested” civil unions as a stepping stone towards that end.
Uh huh, I can’t wait till he pulls some crap like that — after he “evolves” or has an epiphany or or something.
And just remember, he never did appear at Rick Warren’s Homophobic Saddleback (bareback?) Church. That was just an unauthorized aide who looked like him mixing it up with God (or Satan, take your pick).
Rainfish
@Cam: Agreed…I also would take it on an individual basis. But, as long as Dixi-crats and DINOs exist, I tend to judge the Dems on a case by case basis too. I’m not beholden to any party. My spouse and I are registered as independents.
He and I can be found here: http://rainfish2000.newsvine.com/_news/2010/01/19/3776376-we-are-married-let-no-one-put-asunder
christopher di spirito
Upstate NY is socially moderate but there is still a strong, older, conservative Catholic presence that often gets in the way of equality. Let’s hope this time, New York gets it together and passes Marriage Equality. If the Catholics don’t like it, move to Texas.
the crustybastard
Meanwhile, our Democrat president hasn’t yet “evolved” beyond his knuckle-dragging “separate-but-equal” shit.
He’ll take your money though. C’mon, you OWE him! Because, y’know, after nearly three years, Obama finally quit fighting against us in court or something. Oh, and he fiercely advocated “extending benefits” to federal employees who were, by all accounts, not actually being denied those benefits before they were “extended.” Okay, he didn’t “extend” benefits like healthcare or pensions, or anything really worthwhile, but gay federal employees can now have their partner’s parking validated or some stupid shit.
Free at last.
dan4
The minute Jim Alesi runs for higher office (and he will), HRC and other LGBT groups will line up with the DNC and the media to destroy him. Bank on it.