Marriage activists target Queens lawmakers

by Bryan Pirolli
EDGE Contributor
Thursday Feb 7, 2008

With November’s elections less than 10 months away, Marriage Equality New York plans to use this election cycle to further pressure lawmakers to support legislation to extend marriage to same-sex couples.

These efforts will primarily take place in Queens with the goal of ensuring each of the borough’s seven state Senatorial districts contain lawmakers who support gay and lesbian nuptials. MENY board member Sebastian Maguire told EDGE in a recent interview he feels the borough remains a lobbying hotspot because he feels bi-partisan support of bill remains critical. And he further pointed out the two Republican seats, in particular, may be up for grabs.

Maguire singled out state Sen. Serf Maltese [R-Middle Village], who almost lost his seat in 2006, as a priority for MENY based on his failure to support marriage for same-sex couples and other LGBT legislation.

"He is not considered by anyone a friend of people who care about LGBT rights or any other progressive issues," Maguire said.

Maltese’s press secretary, Vicky Vattimo, denied allegations the Senator is homophobic. She asserted, however, he is against marriage for gay and lesbian couples.

"He does not believe in it," Vattimo said. "He would vote against it."

Maguire also plans to train MENY volunteers next month on how to collect signatures at subway stations throughout Northwest Queens. Maguire said he hopes to collect at least 1,000 signatures in the coming months and present them to state Sen. George Onorato [D-Astoria].

Onorato’s spokesperson, Janet Kash, maintained her boss supports LGBT issues but believes marriage is between a man and a woman. She added Onorato would oppose any legislation to the contrary but she suggested, however, he plans to carefully examine the issue.

"He would vote against it unless his mind changes between now and then," Kash said. "The more he learns; he’d take it into consideration."

Maguire further indicated state Sen. Frank Padavan [R-Bellerose] has indicated his support for the proposed Dignity for All Students Act. He added state Sen. Shirley Huntley [D-Jamaica] has not responded to repeated requests to meet with MENY.

Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno [R-Saratoga Springs] successfully blocked legislation to extend marriage to gay and lesbian New Yorkers last summer after Gov. Eliot Spitzer introduced it and the Democratic-controlled state Assembly passed it. Activists have set their sights on the state Senate, where the Republicans maintain a slim 32-29 majority. A Democratic victory this November could set the stage for passage of a marriage bill next year.

A New York State appellate court ruled Feb. 1 the state must recognize the marriages of same-sex couples legally performed in Canada and other jurisdictions where they are legal. Patricia Martinez sued her employer, Monroe Community College in Rochester, after it denied her application for benefits for her spouse, Lisa Ann Golden, after their marriage in Ontario in 2004.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn was among the elected officials in the state who applauded the decision, even though the Senate is unlikely to take up the issue before the election.

Maguire said MENY’s lobbying will continue.

"Plan B is to get as many pro-marriage equality supporters in the Senate as possible," he said.