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    Gay marriage opponents sue to overturn NY law

    GENESEO, New York (AP) — Opponents to New York's gay marriage law filed the first lawsuit challenging the measure, an anticipated salvo that came one day after weddings were celebrated around the state.

    A representative of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms and a rabbi said in a lawsuit filed Monday in state court that New York's Senate violated its own procedures and the state's open meetings law when it approved the bill on June 24.

    The lawsuit claims that the Senate prevented lawmakers who opposed the bill from speaking and that the Senate didn't follow procedures that require a bill to go through appropriate committees before a full Senate vote.

    Opponents of the gay marriage law had promised lawsuits.

    "We should have an open and deliberative process," the Rev. Jason McGuire, executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, told The Associated Press. "If truly the legislation can stand on its own merits then it should be able to withstand being deliberated publicly."

    Spokesmen for Senate Republicans and the state's attorney general declined to comment.

    Hundreds of gay couples got married starting just past midnight Sunday as New York became the sixth and largest state to legalize same-sex weddings. Ceremonies were held around the state, mostly in New York City where the day's celebration was tempered by a protest in which thousands of opponents marched to the United Nations.

    On Monday, a mass wedding in Niagara Falls saw 46 same-sex couples exchange vows.

    The bill was adopted the night of June 24, the last day of the legislative session after days of closed-door negotiations involving Gov. Andrew Cuomo and key lawmakers. The lawsuit claims that Cuomo improperly waived the three-day waiting period between a bill's introduction and a vote. Such waivers are common in Albany for negotiated bills.

    The debate on the night of the vote on June 24 was severely restricted in a manner unprecedented in recent years.

    The Senate's Republican majority allowed unlimited time for supporters of the bill to speak, including Democratic Sen. Thomas Duane who sponsored it and Republican Sen. Stephen Saland who provided the pivotal vote. But Lieutenant Gov. Robert Duffy, presiding of the Senate, repeatedly cut off Democratic Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., a minister who led the opposition to the bill. Diaz sought to persuade his colleagues to vote "no."

    The lawsuit also claims that promises of campaign contributions were made to Republican senators who voted for the bill.

    Financial filings with the state Board of Elections July 15 showed Cuomo and the four Republican senators who voted for gay marriage received large campaign donations from groups and individuals who pushed for the legalization of gay marriage.

     

    870 comments

    • Mary  •  9 mths ago
      Girls' locker room?! Not any more. Having lesbians in the girls' locker room is no different than having the boys in there taking showers etc. This is just one of the many implications of a society that embraces and endorses homosexuality. Prepare your kids for sexual harassment in the locker rooms, bathrooms, buses etc. Heterosexual kids will be afraid to say anything because the homosexual kids could just lie and say that they were being treated unfairly!! Whose side do you think the school administrators will favor.....a clue....look at the NYS legislature and whom they favor!!
      • jemiljan 9 mths ago
        This is nothing but an appeal to fear fallacy. Lesbians are already in the locker room, and have always been in the locker room. Sexual harassment isn't allowed no matter the gender. Claiming that because the NYS legislature passed gay marriage that they will suddenly give into to allowing gay sexual harrassment is a false cause.
      • Mary 9 mths ago
        Considering what you just said, why do you think that facilities incorporated the use of a girls' shower room and a boys' shower room to begin with? Gee, maybe so that girls and boys could be free from sexual advances while showering nude after gym class. Don't you see how this is null and void in a case where a lesbian is showering with heterosexual girls and homosexual boys showering nude with heterosexual boys. Like...do you really think they will be able to control their same-sex desire and sexual appetite? It is bound to happen that they will try something on someone!!
      • Mary 9 mths ago
        As homosexuality is embraced by the mainstream media, and endorsed by the state, members of the GLBT will be emboldened and will feel a lot more comfortable expressing their sexual preferences. Expressing sexual preference for a lesbian is to try and get other females interested in sexual activities with them. What better place to do this than the girls' locker room shower where all the girls are nude. Don't try and tell me that lesbians aren't turned-on in the girls' locker room shower?!!
    • MichaelG  •  10 mths ago
      Can those who are opposed to gay marriage help me understand something...why does it make a difference to you if people with different love and/or sexual preferences, who it seems you will probably never spend quality time with, get married? Why do you staunchly oppose this with words and actions? How does it impact you?
      • A Yahoo! User 10 mths ago
        They can't explain because it doesn't impact them. They will quote the "Bible" after carefully ignoring the parts that effect them. It makes no sense, but hate never does.
      • HardTruth 10 mths ago
        How does homosexual marriage affect me? What concern is it of mine or of anybody else what homosexuals do? The answer is that the consequences of homosexual marriage will affect you, your children, and your grandchildren, as well as the morality and health of the society in which you and they live.

        Studies of the effects of same-sex marriage in Scandinavia and the Netherlands by Stanley Kurtz raise at least the inference that when there is a powerful (and ultimately successful) campaign by secular elites for homosexual marriage, traditional marriage is demeaned and comes to be perceived as just one more sexual arrangement among others. The symbolic link between marriage, procreation, and family is broken, and there is a rapid and persistent decline in heterosexual marriages. Families are begun by cohabiting couples, who break up significantly more often than married couples, leaving children in one-parent families. The evidence has long been clear that children raised in such families are much more likely to engage in crime, use drugs, and form unstable relationships of their own. These are pathologies that affect everyone in a community.

        Homosexual marriage would prove harmful to individuals in other ways as well. By equating heterosexuality and homosexuality, by removing the last vestiges of moral stigma from same-sex couplings, such marriages will lead to an increase in the number of homosexuals. Particularly vulnerable will be young men and women who, as yet uncertain of and confused by their sexuality, may more easily be led into a homosexual life. Despite their use of the word “gay,” for many homosexuals life is anything but gay. Both physical and psychological disorders are far more prevalent among homosexual men than among heterosexual men. Attempted suicide rates, even in countries that are homosexual-friendly, are three to four times as high for homosexuals. Though it is frequently asserted by activists that high levels of internal distress in homosexual populations are caused by social disapproval, psychiatrist Jeffrey Satinover has shown that no studies support this theory. Compassion, if nothing else, should urge us to avoid the consequences of making homosexuality seem a normal and acceptable choice for the young.

        There is, finally, very real uncertainty about the forms of sexual arrangements that will follow from homosexual marriage. To quote William Bennett: “Say what they will, there are no principled grounds on which advocates of same-sex marriage can oppose the marriage of two consenting brothers. Nor can they (persuasively) explain why we ought to deny a marriage license to three men who want to marry. Or to a man who wants a consensual polygamous arrangement. Or to a father to his adult daughter.” Many consider such hypotheticals ridiculous, claiming that no one would want to be in a group marriage. The fact is that some people do, and they are urging that it be accepted. There is a movement for polyamory—sexual arrangements, including marriage, among three or more persons. The outlandishness of such notions is no guarantee that they will not become serious possibilities or actualities in the not-too-distant future. Ten years ago, the idea of a marriage between two men seemed preposterous, not something we needed to concern ourselves with. With same-sex marriage a line is being crossed, and no other line to separate moral and immoral consensual sex will hold.
      • Bryan 10 mths ago
        "there is a rapid and persistent decline in heterosexual marriages" And you're trying to blame gays for this??? A bit far-fetched, don't ya think?

        "removing the last vestiges of moral stigma from same-sex couplings, such marriages will lead to an increase in the number of homosexuals" OMG, what moronic idiot came up with the results of this 'study'. Homosexuality isn't borne of environment. It's no wonder there are so many people who are completely ignorant of the facts.

        "There is a movement for polyamory—sexual arrangements, including marriage, among three or more persons." Again, gays are to blame for heterosexual couples who decide to bring in a third person? You, my friend have been misled by the Scandanavians.....BADLY.
    • jemiljan  •  10 mths ago
      When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
      • redrider 10 mths ago
        Not workin. Moral people won't accept the gay life style. And thats 99% of the country. Nice try though.
      • jemiljan 10 mths ago
        Gee, it's only the exact same principle that supposedly "moral people" like yourself apparently base their prejudices upon. The bible was written by men, not by any deity.
      • Beer 10 mths ago
        @Redrider: Isn't it interesting how 99% of all statistics you read on the internet are made up by some guy living in his mother's basement? Nice try though.
    • Mary  •  9 mths ago
      It isn't natural or moral for a man to marry a man or a woman to marry a woman or a transvestite to marry "either" or a bisexual to marry at all! You are barking up the wrong tree on this issue!
      • jemiljan 9 mths ago
        Simply claiming that something is "immoral" is a statement, not a valid argument. the burden of proof to demonstrate that gays are immoral is upon you, not gays.
      • Mary 9 mths ago
        1. Jemijan, where did HIV come from?
      • Mary 9 mths ago
        Jemijan....All of the world's major religions consider homosexual behaviors to be immoral. Do you agree that the moral teaching "Thou Shalt Not Kill" is a universal truth? It is not up to the 'individual' to decide whether to follow this precept or not. This moral teaching exists outside of their own personal viewpoint or values. People of faith have moral precepts that they try to live by. The vast majority of Americans are against same-sex marriage....31 out of 50 states voted against it.
    • Rudi  •  10 mths ago
      I would be very curious to know how many of the devoutly religious posters here were virgins on their wedding nights. Doesn't the Bible say that non-virgins should be executed?
      • Mike Y 10 mths ago
        Or never cursed, or masturbated, or told a lie, or envied another man's wife...yeah right.
      • Beer 10 mths ago
        Don't forget the shellfish. Evil, evil shellfish...
      • Herr Fernseher 10 mths ago
        Call me sheltered, but I was only "guilty" of eating shellfish. Of course Acts 10 exonerates me. I probably told a few lies as a kid too... :\

        @ Beer: Thank God beer isn't prohibited! lol. In fact...brb!
    • Rice Fields  •  10 mths ago
      @Michael, if you really must know since you have some educational background but I heed you the knowledge/opinions I write requires no educational background but requires an innate knowledge/wisdom you lack but the fault dear friend is not yours but in your make-up. Below are my post to other peeps but you can read and decipher them to your likens but note this, peeps like me will never in all the eons to come will succumb to your beliefs for the contentment of your fantasy and illusions. Nethertheless we will spare an ounce of compassion to you afterall you are the defects of the natural order of things and as much as normal peeps want to see you cleanse of your defects your kind will surface every now and then.
      Such irony exist in this world of men, lets make something clear before I elaborate further, I am no fan of same(retarded) marriage. Marriage was an institution design and made by hetero peeps for hetero peeps. If gays want their own thang call it something else but don't disrespect other peeps existing institute. But the reasons and pyschology behind it, is gays need to base their identity on existing institution(marriage) as to gain approval or blessings from us hetero(normal) peeps. Because if gays went ahead and accepted something new like civil unions they would be starting fresh with no grounds or foundation hence it would be like building a house on hallow grounds.
      But here lines the irony in this debate, the majority of peeps protesting against gays marriage are Christian/Catholics. YET, Christian/Catholic teachings negates the concept of family or mother/father, and the concept of sex for procreation by believing in the Virgin Mary who magically got pregnant by a God. So what exactly do these two religions proclaim or base their concept of marriage on? They sure don't acknowledge the concept of mother/father nor do they acknowledge the concept of sex for procreation, these two things are the main attributes of marriage. Think deeply about what I say folks if you are Christian/Catholic your religion innately approves of Gay already, could explain why most Gays are of these two religious background hence might explain why clergymen like molesting little boys!!?!? Speaking for myself as a Buddhist we uphold the concept of mother/father (family), and sex for procreation hence the union of these are what we call the institute of marriage. Anything else IMO is civil union but out of compassion for all peeps if gays want to disrespect and spit on the marriage institution we as the better of the two will allow them to. So please hetero peeps be patience and keep your posture. But even in my disrespectfully comments I am respectful of all peeps regardless of sexual orientation or relgious background. But if we are all to get over this wall or obstacle lets speak freely.
      But to answer your question how does it effect me, for now and until the stars fall from the heavens and lands on the Earth we all come from you will never comprehend but I will tell you anyways. It's hard enough to raise kids something you will never know but if you have your ways in the future defects like you are allow to raise kids now which is another topic. Let me answer your question before I get carry away with that topic...kids is the big concern for normal people like us. We need to shelter them from the dangers of the world from the defects(gays) from the chaos from all the unwholesome things. Here comes peeps of your kind with no care shouting and blah blah to the world about being gay...when my kids see the defects(gay) what I am suppose to tell them. Son, this is normal, when my son see two men sucking faces on TV with a baby that came from another women which is not theirs what do i tell him, son this is normal? I don't F'ing think so!! I will tell my son(s) for now and all the eons to come this is not normal and two mens cannot have babies etc etc, we will preserve the family structure instill by me by my father/mother and by nature
    • HardTruth  •  10 mths ago
      brace yourself for there are going to be those Brothers and Sisters that will attack you. For in the manner and in the way that My Word was transposed into the English Language , but don't let it bother you. For there will always be people like that. People with hardened hearts . People that cannot see and People that just don't want to see . They wouldn't see it and they wouldn't digest it, even if it came out perfectly clear to the letter , to the every dot on every (i).
      (When you do stand with God's True Word, the 1611 KJV, you will be attacked by the enemy, for they try to make you believe that the KJV was not translated into English correctly, or that there have been thousands of changes in the KJV.)

      For you don't want to hear the Word of your God, the straight Word, the correct Word. (The liars, cheats, thieves, abortionist, homosexuals, search for a version that tells them that it is OK to do what they are doing.) and all of the devil doesn't want what is straight, what is good. He wants to snuff you out! Every time you type a Word, every time you type a Letter, He SCREAMS and He YELLS! The more you type, the more He screams, the more He yells. You need the prayer cover. You need everyone who reads the Word. (Satan hates every word of God) but even Satan, himself, trembles at My Words.
      (Satan knows all of God's Word better than you ever will) He has lots of fear, for he knows you have My Word, and My Word will stop him. (Satan wants to take your Bible away from you and give you an imitation bible because he knows that if you have THE BIBLE and believe it, that he is stopped cold.)
    • Ron  •  10 mths ago
      What is the punishment for homosexuality according to the book brought to us by a bronze age tribal desert people?
    • Michelle  •  10 mths ago
      Reading these comments today, I have lost a lot of faith in humanity. Not that I had much to begin with, but I am sickened by the hatred and downright immoral speak by a lot of you. You speak of God and what He wants, yet you speak in murderous viscous tongues!! If you're religion is right, then I hope those who follow and disagree with you do much praying for your souls. Not that it would do much good -- they are black as night. If I believed in Satan, you would be his puppets. Spreading hatred and violence, instead of love and tolerance. We are all born under the same sky and die into the same Earth. And if there is a Heaven, I hate to think I'll have to be sharing it with you terrible angry people... You can't honestly believe that "your God" wants His kingdom crowded up with a bunch of hatemongers such as yourselves.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  10 mths ago
      The gay and lesbian population is a small minority. Why the constant persecution? How does two people who love each other getting married upset your apple cart?Leave gay folk the hell alone and mind your own #$%$ business for a change.
    • jemiljan  •  10 mths ago
      According to St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:6, a woman must cover her head when attending a church, otherwise her hair must be shorn off. Am I obligated to shear her myself? Or is this the duty of her husband or father? What if they refuse?
    • steve  •  10 mths ago
      The biggest threat to my marriage is me, not same-sex marriage. I don't care if Bill & Bob or Jean & Joan marry. I'm hetero, will stay hetero. Same-sex marriage just does not effect my life or my marriage of 26 years. I got a smokin hot wife.
    • republicans ruined the US ...  •  10 mths ago
      Religious thugs don't own marriage.
    • Michelle  •  10 mths ago
      Also, for those who keep throwing the incorrect usage of "sodomy" out there to explain homosexual behavior... Merriam-Webster says sodomy is "anal or oral copulation with a member of the same or opposite sex" SAME OR OPPOSITE! If you've ever performed oral sex on your heterosexual lover, you too are a "sodomite" and I guess you'll be in the fiery pit with all the gays. See you there, hypocrites!! LOL!!!
    • Robert  •  10 mths ago
      lol ... first they say a judge can't overturn the definition of marriage ... it takes the government to do that. So the government passes a law that changes the definition of marriage ... so what do they do? They run to a judge to overturn a law passed by a government. ;)
    • Michelle  •  10 mths ago
      I got this reply earlier to one of my posts: "Jesus said " You belong to your father, the devil..." Only when we accept the Son can we call God 'our Father'."

      So Christian's have two fathers? Is this why they detest gays so much?? ;)
    • Wolfgang McLopez  •  10 mths ago
      Archeojoel said, "Marriage is not instituted in the Bible. It is a secular tradition usually engaged in between families looking to better their economic and/or political fortunes."

      And looking back through 10,000 years of human history, how many families arranged marriages between same-sex couples for these purposes?

      How many families, cultures, civilzations, kingdoms, or countries considered same-sex pairings to be "marriages?"
    • Spock  •  10 mths ago
      Now that gays, lesbians, bu and transgendered people can marry... it's high time for the state to change the way they tax them for that privilege in a free society.
    • edward  •  10 mths ago
      Religion is religion and I respect the Christian beliefs, but you have to remember that the bible can't be taken literal. They are just stories to understand that have a certain morality to it. The Bible itself contradicts itself. Sodom and Gomola was the old testament live with the new people. Jesus said, " Love one another." Respect. You have to stop bashing groups and communities just for what they believe. Christianity teaches that you should respect and accept groups and if people are gay then they are gay. They are still made in the image of God. Stop being fanatics and stubborn and look at the issues that are around the world and near our own home. Gay marriage is acceptable it allows for people to feel happy just as people who aren't gay. They aren't that different from you and I. It's time to accept the world how it is.
    • jemiljan  •  10 mths ago
      I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
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