How does LCR NY plan to work with Republican (and Democrat) state legislators as these events unfold?
With a Democratic majority in the New York State Senate, the onus is really on the Democratic Party to bring marriage equality up for a vote. Having said that, Log Cabin continues to lobby Republican legislators and has had a great deal of success: former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno stated he was in favor of marriage as one of the “inalienable rights” due to all Americans and rather than make a partisan wedge issue out of marriage, as had been done in the past, current Republican Minority Leader Dean Skelos has pledged to allow a “vote of conscience” among his caucus. Neither of these advancements would have been realized without the one-on-one advocacy of Log Cabin Republicans. Will LCR NY’s support of Governor Paterson’s push for same-sex marriage cause infighting within the NY Republican Party? Leader Skelos’ commitment to a conscience vote among his caucus on the marriage vote prevents infighting around this issue on the Republican side. Republican Senators are free to vote th
