Super Bowl Update

"Someday we'll find it. The rainbow connection. The lovers. The dreamers. And me." - Kermit The Frog.

This was the picture on HuffPo today and it made me smile a wistful smile and think of this song.

After nearly 6 months of delays, and a debate on the floor today that lasted almost three hours, the NY State Senate rejected a bill that would have made NY the sixth state in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage. The State Senate had never debated the issue on the floor before today, though the State Assembly has passed such measures before in past years. I watched many of the speeches via webcast today and they were quite passionate and moving. Still at the end of the debate, the final vote was 24-38. Eight Democrats voted "no" - Addabbo, Aubertine, Diaz Sr., Huntley, C. Kruger, Monserrate, Onorato, Stachowski - while not a single Republican voted "yes." Representation in Queens really failed their constituencies today. I've got you in my sights, Onarato! I've said this before and I will say it again. There is a large LGBT community in Astoria, LIC and surrounding neighborhoods. For you to vote as a Legislator to deny civil rights - to people FOR WHOM YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO ADVOCATE - and say that they are citizens with lesser options because of who they are, is totally deplorable. I am disgusted by your actions and look forward to the day when you are no longer my state senator. I hope you live to feel great personal shame over your actions and either use future votes to correct what you've done, or just get voted out of office for good. The fight for those of us who believe in marriage equality will go on. We will continue to make our voices heard and our stories known.

Here's a rundown of how everyone in the Senate voted. Along with some comments from Senators as they voted. If you do not know who your senator is PLEASE FIND OUT THE NAME OF YOUR SENATOR. Just enter your address here!

Adams - Yes. "Hoping New York State comes out of the closet and understands that all Americans deserve the right to marry and love…this is about love."
Addabbo - No. (Note: Addabbo took $8,000 from Empire State Pride Agenda while he struggled with his relection campaign. Shameless. Thanks for sharing that fun fact, JG.)
Alesi - No.
Aubertine - No.
Bonacic - No.
Breslin - Yes.
DeFrancisco - No
Diaz Sr. - No. (Diaz Sr. said a bunch of things against gay marriage but dailynews.com - where i got this list - did not mention it.)
Dilan - Yes.
Duane - Yes. (refuted some of the things Diaz Sr. said)
Espada Jr. - Yes. "Yes to this bill and to as many do-overs as we need to bring it home."
Farley - No.
Flanagan - No.
Foley - Yes.
Fuschillo - No.
Golden - No.
Griffo - No.
Hannon - No.
Hassell-Thompson - Yes.
Huntley - No.
C. Johnson. Yes.
O. Johnson. - No.
Klein - Yes.
L. Krueger - Yes.
C. Kruger - No.
Lanza - No.
Larkin - No.
Lavalle - No.
Leibell - No.
Libous - No.
Little - No.
Marcellino - No.
Maziarz - No.
McDonald - No.
Monserrate - No.
Montgomery - Yes.
Morahan - No.
Nozzolio - No.
Onorato - No.
Oppenheimer - Yes.
Padavan - No.
Parker - Yes. "This is the right thing to do, and we should do it now. I proudly vote 'aye'."
Perkins - Yes.
Razenhofer - No.
Robach - No.
Saland - No.
Sampson - Yes.
Savino - Yes.
Schneiderman - Yes.
Serrano - Yes.
Seward - No.
Skelos - No.
Smith - Yes.
Squadron - Yes.
Stachowski - No.
Stavisky - Yes.
Stewart-Cousins - Yes.
Thompson - Yes.
Valesky - Yes.
Volker - No.
Winner - No.
Young - No.