I Didn't Say It.....Marriage Equality Edition

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, on marriage equality:

“When I was a little girl, I dreamed I would one day get married. I never imagined that it would take tonight’s Senate action to make that dream come true. Tonight’s historic Senate vote is a great moment for all New Yorkers. New York state’s recognition of marriage equality for same sex couples is an extraordinary step towards full equality for LGBT people. Tonight’s sweet victory in Albany will be felt all across America. At long last, the change we have fought for will be seen in the lives of families throughout our great state, including my own.”

And think of all the other young gay boys and girls, gay men and women, who woke up the day after that vote, realizing they could marry the love of their lives, and suddenly seeing themselves as equal.

Tony Perkins, of the Family Research Council, on the New York vote:

"Despite all of the disappointment, God is on the move. Regardless of how things appear, never doubt that He is at work behind the scenes. Rainbow colors may cut through the New York night, but shadows are where you and I are called to shine. The world takes advantage of the darkness, but only the church can set it ablaze. "Arise... for your light has come... See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (Isaiah 60:1-3)"

God is love.
Asshat.
But, you are right about one thing, you and your ilk do hide in the shadows and plot in the shadows and spread fear and hate from the shadows.

NYC Mayor Bloomberg, on the passage of marriage equality:

“Today’s passage in the New York State Senate of legislation recognizing the right of couples to marry regardless of their gender is a historic triumph for equality and freedom. New York has always been a leader in movements to extend freedom and equality to people who had been denied full membership in the American family. By welcoming all people — no matter where they are from, what faith or philosophy they follow, or whom they love — New York became the strongest, most dynamic city in the world. And today, we are even stronger than we were yesterday.”

And, hopefully that strength, that momentum, will carry on, into Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, and out to California.

Conservative columnist David Frum, announcing a change of heart on marriage equality:

"I find myself strangely untroubled by New York state's vote to authorize same-sex marriage--a vote that probably signals that most of the 'blue' states will follow within the next 10 years. I don't think I'm alone in my reaction either. Most conservatives have reacted with calm--if not outright approval--to New York's dramatic decision. Why? The short answer is that the case against same-sex marriage has been tested against reality. The case has not passed its test. Since 1997, same-sex marriage has evolved from talk to fact. If people like me had been right, we should have seen the American family become radically more unstable over the subsequent decade and a half. Instead -- while American family stability has continued to deteriorate -- it has deteriorated much more slowly than it did in the 1970s and 1980s before same-sex marriage was ever seriously thought of."

Indeed.
Where the states have allowed gay couples the same freedoms as straight couples, there has been no problem, no issues, no tornadoes, no locusts.
Only love.

New York State Senator James Alesi, the first Republican to announce his support for marriage equality:

"We have to make this an opportunity for America to be what America was designed to be and that is the freest land in the world....."I understand that constitutionally the president is right, because it's a states' rights issue, otherwise New York wouldn't have been able to pass this. But there's nothing wrong with the most powerful person in the world espousing a viewpoint."

Freedom.
And doing what's right.
And coming from a Republican, at that.
This shows us all that people can change, that they can understand it's not about tearing down an institution, it's about building it up.
Thank you, Senator Alesi, for seeing that, and voting that.

Pat Robertson, on New York's historic vote:

"In history, there has never been a civilization that has embraced homosexuality and turned away from traditional fidelity, traditional marriage, traditional child-rearing and has survived. There isn't one single civilization that has survived...So you say, 'what’s going to happen to America?' If history is any guide, the same thing is going to happen to us."

See, now this is why I question the existence of God.
If there really was a god, you can bet she'd be sending a hurricane or a tornado or a flood, or just a strong piece of duct tape for his mouth, to Pat Robertson's house.

Newt Gingrich, serial adulterer, and habitual marrying man, on marriage equality in New York:

"I think the president should be, frankly, enforcing (DOMA), and I think we are drifting toward a terrible muddle which I think is going to be very, very difficult and painful to work our way out of."

The only pain in the foreseeable future, Newt, is your own pain at losing the presidential nomination to some other wingnut.
Oh, and the pain that the third Mrs. Gingrich will feel when she founds you schtupping the fourth Mrs. Gingrich.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, on marriage equality:

"I am not a fan of same-sex marriage. It’s not something that I support. I believe marriage should be between one man and one woman. That's my view and that'll be the view of our state because I wouldn't sign a bill like the one that was in New York."

Have another doughnut and shut up.
Of course, knowing how Christie operates, he'd probably use a police helicopter to fly his ass to Krispy Kreme and charge the taxpayers of New Jersey for it.
Douchenozzle.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz:

“It is impossible to overstate the momentous history we witnessed in Albany tonight with legislative approval of marriage equality for all New Yorkers. With his signature, Governor Cuomo will finally put an end to what can only be described as government-sanctioned discrimination against our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Whatever your religious convictions, love is love — and we need to do everything possible to foster relationships and families, not tear them down.”

Allowing all New Yorkers to marry, will strengthen marriage in the state, and strengthen the family, too. No matter what the family looks like.
Mom and dad? Good. One Mom? Fine. One Dad? That works. Two Dads or two Moms? As long as there is love and nurturing, who cares what it looks like.
 
Maggie Gallagher, NOM spokesbitch, on marriage equality:

"New York Republicans are responsible for passing gay marriage. The party will pay a grave price. Here is what we know. In state after state, Democrats who control a chamber in support of their base have prevented votes favorable to marriage: Iowa, West Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania. When Democrats are in the minority, they’ve demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to their base — in Wisconsin and Indiana fleeing the state to prevent a vote. N.Y, Republicans did not have to bring gay marriage up for a vote: What does it mean that they passed gay marriage in N.Y.? Michael Long, the Conservative-party chairman, has vowed to withhold his endorsement. The National Organization for Marriage has committed $2 million to persuading Republicans: Voting for gay marriage has consequences. Sad that the N.Y. GOP has caved. Consequences to be continued."

Make your threats, Maggie.
And spend your money.
You'll lose that......too.

New York Senator Stephen Saland, a Poughkeepsie Republican and the 32nd vote:

“I know my vote is a vote of conscience. I am at peace with my vote. It was a struggle. It was an extraordinary deliberation.”

And i would guess that most New York citizens are at peace as well, because you've done the right thing.
They are at peace because you struggled and thought, and you struggled and fought, and came down on the side of making Americans,. all Americans, in New York State, fully equal.
Thank you, Senator Saland, for taking a stand for what's right, what's equal, what's fair.
Well done, sir.

Clinton County GOP legislator Sam Trombley, using fear as a weapon, on marriage equality:

"I'm surprised the health department has not come out against this because we are going to have an HIV epidemic if this passes. They (health department) are always complaining about tobacco and smoking, I'm surprised they didn't say anything about this. You don't see two male dogs sleeping in the same dog house together. It blows my mind to think of it."

Hey Sam?
Um, do a little research, hon.
HIV is already an epidemic, asshat.
And it isn't just the gay folks getting it.
Straight women of color are the ones most susceptible.
Come out of the 1980s asshat.

And, once again, because it bears repeating:
 
New York Senator Roy McDonald:

“You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn’t black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing. You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it, I don’t care what you think. I’m trying to do the right thing.”