NY Papers: Marriage Is Close (Or Not)

New York Daily News:

Senate Republicans on Wednesday were close to signing off on a religious protection provision that could boost the chances that gay marriage will pass in New York. "We're close on language that I believe satisfactorily addresses the issue," said Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-S.I.), who remains undecided on the issue. Some senators have said such tweaks could sway them to vote "aye" on same-sex nuptials. Others, though opposed to gay marriage, said they would not support even bringing the bill up for a vote without stronger religious protections than Gov. Cuomo included in his legislation.

New York Post:

Any vote on the controversial measure to make New York the sixth and largest state to approve same-sex nuptials was put off until today or tomorrow after lawmakers spent the day haggling over elements of a massive rent-and-tax-cap deal central to Gov. Cuomo's agenda. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-LI) said Republicans yesterday had not even discussed bringing the marriage bill to a pivotal public vote, despite thunderous daylong protests, both for and against. Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), whose house passed the bill last week, both confirmed they had seen draft amendments of strengthened religious exemptions.

Albany Times-Union:

Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, Putnam County, yesterday called for a vote in the Senate on legalizing same-sex marriage. Even though Ball is officially undecided, he said the public should get a vote on the issue, despite an attempt by the state Conservative Party to quash a vote. “There should definitely be a vote, up or down. We live in a democracy,” Ball said. He went on to question the Conservative Party’s thinking on the issue, saying that same-sex marriage may ultimately become law in New York at some point and perhaps its best to fight for as strong as legal protections as possible for churches and religious organizations that wouldn’t want to perform gay marriages.

Third Grader Bait

NY Post: No To Same-Sex Marriage

From an editorial published by the New York Post today.

Gov. Cuomo yesterday ratcheted up the pressure in favor of same-sex marriage in New York, sending his own bill to the Legislature while arm-twisting lawmakers on its behalf. That's a pity. Sure, politics drives everything in Albany, but some topics properly are a matter between legislators, their constituents and their consciences. We would include same-sex marriage on that list. Cuomo isn't the only one big-footing the issue. Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long has warned that no legislator who endorses same-sex marriage will be listed on his party's ballot line -- no small matter for many Republicans. There is no denying that same-sex marriage could become law this year. This reflects a seismic shift in society's attitudes on the issue -- and a growing acceptance of gays in general. Still, the question is vexing.But if we had a vote, it would be no. Marriage as an institution has fallen on hard times in recent years. But that's no excuse for weakening it further.

The entire thing seems to have been ghost-written by Maggie Gallagher.

NY Post Claims Marriage Votes Are There

According to an article published today by the New York Post, there are now enough "yes" votes in the state Senate to approve marriage equality. The vote is expected to come this week in the last few days of the legislative session.

Seven or more Senate Republicans have signaled Gov. Cuomo that they're ready to legalize same-sex marriage, more than enough to put the controversial and historic measure over the top this week, The Post has learned. A highly knowledgeable Senate insider said yesterday that "far more of the [GOP] members are in play than anyone realizes, including some surprising names from conservative upstate areas." Among the unexpected potential Senate Republican "yes" votes, insiders say, are Kemp Hannon of Nassau County, Charles Fuscillo of Suffolk County, Betty Little of Glens Falls, Andrew Lanza of Staten Island, Greg Ball of Putnam County, James Alesi of Rochester, and Roy McDonald of Rensselaer County -- all of whom helped defeat gay marriage when the vote was held in December 2009.

We've been burned before, so don't hold your breath. But still....

UPDATE: The New York Times confirms three formerly "no" Senate Democrats will switch their votes.

Three wavering Democratic lawmakers in the State Senate have agreed to support legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in New York, several people with knowledge of the negotiations said on Monday, marking a potential turning point for the long-debated measure. The three senators — Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. and Shirley L. Huntley of Queens and Carl Kruger of Brooklyn — all voted against the measure in 2009, when it failed by a wide margin. Their switch to the yes column leaves all but one Senate Democrat supporting same-sex marriage — and the fate of the legislation in the hands of the Republican majority in the chamber. Three Republican senators will now have to vote for same-sex marriage if the measure is to pass in the 62-member chamber. The lone Democrat now opposing the measure, Rubén Díaz Sr., is the Senate’s most vocal opponent of same-sex marriage and is not considered swayable under any circumstances.

Media In The Crosshairs

Media critics are pointing out Saturday's unfortunate front page of the New York Post, which depicts quarterback Peyton Manning with rifle crosshairs over his face and the caption "STOP HIM!" According to some, Palin's usage of crosshairs is unimportant because it's such a common device.

Headline Homophobia From The NY Post

Gawker's Brian Moylan weighs in on the latest headline from the New York Post, which is rightfully famed for its witty headlines. Usually.

It is just a cheap, dull, and unoriginal joke, that it's below the NY Post, which prides itself on having some of the cleverest headlines in the business. Oh, and it's doubly offensive to gay men, not only because it says that anyone who would want to enter into a relationship with another man is womanly, but also because it also pokes fun at the fact that we can't even get married if we want to. Then it reappropriates the word "proud," which gay men associate with Gay Pride and celebrating our liberation. Sorry, Post, but only gays get to make fun of Pride—and god knows we do.

And as we pointed out to Us Magazine only yesterday, Elton and his partner are not married, so the "wife" slam doesn't work on any level at all.

NY Post Readers Weigh In

A hilarious and very NSFW spoof of the New York Times Weekender commercials. Get da fuck outta heeyah.

Today's New York Post

NY Post Writer Quits For Priesthood

New York Post editorial writer and columnist John Wilson has quit the newspaper business to become a Catholic priest.

Wilson spent three years on the Post's editorial board, landing there immediately after graduating from Claremont McKenna College in California. "I definitely grew fond of tabloid journalism as such," he says. "I had a great time and I think I was able to do some meaningful work there." He added that the Post's reputation for racy headlines and occasionally bawdy humor had little to do with his decision to seek a life of celibacy and the spirit, and said he was able to infuse a little bit of the sacred into his work there. "The phrase you hear a lot of in priestly circles is 'Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable,'" he said. "At the very least I hope I've managed to afflict some powerful and comfortable people at the Post."

From the right-wing homophobic NY Post to the Catholic Church. That's a short walk, innit?