Marriage Equality Act (New York)

Background

Prior legislative history

Following the Hernandez v Robles decision in 2006, the focus of the same-sex marriage battle shifted to the executive and legislative branches of government. During his successful campaign for governor, Attorney General Spitzer said that he would push to legalize same-sex marriage if elected. Same-sex marriage legislation passed the New York State Assembly for the first time on June 19, 2007, by a vote of 85–61. The bill languished in the Republican-controlled Senate before dying and being returned to the Assembly.

Governor David Paterson introduced same-sex marriage legislation on April 16, 2009. The Assembly passed a same-sex marriage bill on May 12, 2009, with a majority of 89–52, but the bill languished in the Senate during the November 10 special session. It was re-passed by the Assembly on December 2, but the Senate--then led by Democrats--defeated it on the same day by a vote of 38–24. All Senate Republicans voted against the bill, and eight Democratic senators joined them. The failed Senate vote "followed more than a year of lobbying by gay rights organizations, who steered close to $1 million into New York legislative races to boost support for the measure". The New York Times later described the Senate's defeat of the legislation as "humiliating".

In 2010, several senators who had voted against same-sex marriage in 2009 were defeated. They were: Democrat Darrel Aubertine (defeated by a Republican), Democrats Hiram Monserrate and Bill Stachowski (both of whom were defeated in Democratic primaries by opponents who supported same-sex marriage) and Republican Frank Padavan. Also in 2010, three senators who had voted in favor of same-sex marriage in 2009 were defeated (although the marriage issue was not a prominent one in their 2010 re-election campaigns). They were Democrats Brian Foley, Craig M. Johnson, and Antoine Thompson.

Activism and civil disobedience campaign

After the effort to pass marriage equality legislation failed in New York in 2009, LGBTQ activists escalated the fight for same-sex marriage almost immediately in 2010. Activists formed a direct action group named Queer Rising and staged a protest outside the New York City marriage bureau. Those activists then increased the number of direct action protests and succeeded in putting the issue of marriage equality on the social and legislative agenda for over a year. Queer Rising inspired the creation or actions of other LGBTQ or civil rights groups that, likewise, put pressure on the Government to enact marriage equality. When it was revealed that the Catholic Church was lobbying against passage of marriage equality, activists protested outside St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan in support of same-sex marriage.

Passage

Public rally in front of the Stonewall Inn minutes after the passage of the Marriage Equality Act.
Governor Andrew Cuomo, who took office on December 31, 2010, supported same-sex marriage, as did New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Cuomo called a March 2011 meeting with same-sex marriage advocates to strategize about the legislation, and he played a major role in pushing for it. Other supporters included the Empire State Pride Agenda, the Human Rights Campaign, Equality Matters, Freedom to Marry, and New Yorkers United for Marriage. Opponents included Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the National Organization for Marriage, Democratic State Sen. Rubén Díaz Sr. of the Bronx, the Empire Missionary Baptist Convention, Orthodox Jewish leaders, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, and the Coalition to Save Marriage in New York. Also, in May 2011, the Conservative Party of New York State stated that it would withdraw support from any candidate who supported same-sex marriage.

On June 13, 2011, three Democratic senators who had voted against the December 2009 same-sex marriage bill (Shirley Huntley, Carl Kruger and Joseph Addabbo Jr.) announced their support for the Marriage Equality Act. By this point in time, every Democratic state senator except one supported the bill. James Alesi became the first Republican senator to announce his support for the bill, and Roy McDonald became the second on June 14; at this point, only one more supporter was needed for the bill to pass the Senate. Democratic Senator Rubén Díaz Sr., a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, resigned from the bicameral Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus to demonstrate his opposition to its position on the legislation.

The New York State Assembly passed the Marriage Equality Act on June 15, 2011, by a margin of 80 to 63; this was a smaller margin of victory than three same-sex marriage bills had attained in the Assembly in prior years. On the same day, Governor Cuomo issued a message of necessity to the Senate, allowing the bill to bypass the normal three-day aging process.

On June 24, Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos announced that the Senate would consider the legislation as the final bill of the legislative session. Skelos had previously stated that Republican senators would be free to vote their consciences on the bill if it came to the floor.

The Marriage Equality Act was considered on the Senate floor on June 24. While the Senate met, the Assembly voted on a set of amendments developed to win the support of Senators concerned about the Act's impact on religion-based opposition to same-sex marriage, which detailed exemptions for religious and benevolent organizations. The exemptions are tied to a severability clause, ensuring that if the religious exemptions were successfully challenged in court, the entire legislation would not be ruled invalid. The proposed amendments passed with little debate by a vote of 36–26. The same-sex marriage bill passed later that evening by a vote of 33–29. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the act into law at 11:55 P.M. Republican senators Mark Grisanti and Stephen Saland joined Sens. Alesi and McDonald as the only Senate Republicans supporting the legislation, while Sen. Ruben Diaz cast the only Senate Democratic vote against the bill.

On June 25, the Gotham Gazette reported that Senate rules had been changed the previous day "in a backroom agreement before session started and then changed again during the vote to make sure it would be concluded to make the 11 p.m. newscasts." The Gazette also reported that Sen. Rubén Díaz Sr., an opponent of same-sex marriage, was ignored when he requested that the bill be laid aside for debate. According to Sen. Kevin Parker, Senate Democrats were informed prior to the vote that each Senator would have two minutes to explain his or her vote; however, legislators were not allowed to speak on the bill. The Gazette further reported that the vote was expedited because of Gov. Cuomo's desire to have the bill's passage covered on that evening's news. Sen. Parker added that the doors to the Senate chamber were locked on the evening of June 24 to prevent senators from leaving the chamber when the bill was voted upon.

The Act took effect on July 24, 2011.

In addition to legalizing same-sex marriage, the Marriage Equality Act also prohibited state and local courts and governments from penalizing religious and religious-supervised institutions, their employees, and their clergy for refusing to sanctify or recognize marriages that contradict their religious doctrines or for declining to provide services and accommodations in connection with such marriages.

The Marriage Equality Act made New York the sixth state in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage (excluding California, which legalized and performed some 18,000 same-sex marriages before a ban on further marriages was promulgated through referendum), and also made the state the most populous in the union to do so.

Final Senate roll call

Response

Organizations

• Freedom to Marry's Evan Wolfson said, "With the freedom to marry in New York, the nationwide majority for marriage will swell, as even more people get to see why marriage matters to same-sex couples, that gay couples, like non-gay, treasure the chance to affirm and strengthen their commitment, and that ending marriage discrimination helps families and hurts no one"
• National Organization for Marriage tweeted, "Marriage loses 33–29 in New York. Sad day for the state and the country. But the fight has just begun."
• The Conservative Party of New York said it would withdraw support for any candidate who voted for the Marriage Equality Act.
• The New York State Catholic Conference, led by Archbishop Timothy Dolan, stated to NBC News that it was "deeply disappointed and troubled" by the bill's passage and added that the Marriage Equality Act would "alter radically and forever humanity's historic understanding of marriage."
• Rev. Jason McGuire of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms commented, "'State legislators should not decide society-shaping issues'". McGuire added that his organization would attempt to defeat legislators who voted in favor of the Marriage Equality Act.

Politicians

• Governor Andrew Cuomo, who signed the bill into law, said that "New York has finally torn down the barrier that has prevented same-sex couples from exercising the freedom to marry and from receiving the fundamental protections that so many couples and families take for granted." He also said that "With the world watching, the Legislature, by a bipartisan vote, has said that all New Yorkers are equal under the law." Governor Cuomo made a speech calling for all states to legalize same-sex marriage; Cuomo stated that "We need marriage equality in every state in this nation… Otherwise, no state really has marriage equality, and we will not rest until it is a reality." Following the passage of the Marriage Equality Act, Governor Cuomo was criticized for describing the viewpoints of same-sex marriage opponents as being "anti-American."
• Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg, whose in-progress news conference was interrupted by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn who announced the passage of the bill, called the passage "a historic triumph for equality and freedom." He also said that he would support the Republicans who voted in favor of the bill in the next legislative election.
• White House spokesperson Shin Inouye told the Washington Blade by e-mail that "The president has long believed that gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and legal protections as straight couples." He further stated "That's why he has called for repeal of the so-called 'Defense of Marriage Act' and determined that his administration would no longer defend the constitutionality of DOMA in the courts. The states should determine for themselves how best to uphold the rights of their own citizens. The process in New York worked just as it should." On June 23, incumbent President Barack Obama delivered a speech at the Human Rights Campaign's annual gala in which he did not take an explicit position on marriage equality, but instead iterated that New York was "doing exactly what democracies are supposed to do", insisting that the decision should be left to state governments.
• U.S. junior Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand stated that "New York has always led the way for equal rights – from leading the suffrage movement, to Abraham Lincoln's remarkable speech opposing slavery at Cooper Union, and we have done it again."
• Congressmember Jerry Nadler stated that "Now more than ever, we must pass the Respect for Marriage Act, my legislation to repeal the discriminatory DOMA, and allow New Yorkers and others who are - or will be - legally married to take part in the full measure of protections and obligations of federal law. Just last night in New York City, President Obama reiterated his belief that DOMA violates our Constitution and must be repealed."
• Former New York governor and state senator David Paterson praised the vote, saying "Tonight, I am ecstatic, I am elated, and I am proud to be a New Yorker." He also reciprocated accolades offered to him by Cuomo and referred to his own 2008 directive to recognize out-of-state marriages.

Town clerks

Two town clerks, one in Barker and another in Granby, resigned their positions due to moral and religious objections to signing marriage certificates for same-sex couples. For the same reason, a clerk in Guilderland announced she would continue in her position but would no longer officiate at any weddings, allowing another official to do so in her stead. The town clerk of Volney said she will not sign marriage certificates for same-sex couples unless forced to do so. Kathleen Rice, the district attorney for Nassau County, warned all town clerks within her jurisdiction they could face criminal charges if any refused to perform their duties with respect to same-sex marriages. The town clerk of Ledyard, Rose Marie Belforti, made state and national headlines when she notified town officials that she would not sign gay marriage certificates due to her religious beliefs. Belforti later delegated marriage applications to a deputy. Same-sex marriage advocates and some town residents criticized Belforti for taking this action, and resident Ed Easter attempted to unseat her in the fall of 2011. Belforti was reelected by a substantial margin. Governor Cuomo took the position that municipal employees responsible for solemnizing or licensing marriages were obliged to solemnize or license same-sex marriage licenses as well. "If you can't enforce the law, then you shouldn't be in that position," Cuomo said. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms set up a "Courage Fund" to "assist courageous municipal clerks and other people of conscience in New York State who oppose same-sex 'marriage' from harassment, denial of rightful promotion, or unfair termination for invoking New York State law protecting their sincerely-held religious beliefs".

Media personalities

• Musician and New York native Lady Gaga, who had personally lobbied senators and had urged fans of her music to call or write their senators, stated on Twitter that "The revolution is ours to fight for love, justice, and equality."
• Wendy Williams posted to Twitter "Yay for Gay Marriage! NY, it's about time... jersey we're next! How you doin?"
• Cyndi Lauper stated that "I have never besic prouder to be a lifelong New Yorker than I am today with the passage of marriage equality. "
• Star Trek actor and California resident George Takei, who, with his husband Brad Altman, owns an apartment in New York City, said that "good waves coming from New York is going to make a profound influence on our situation here." Takei and Altman are among 18,000 same-sex couples who were married in California during the 2008 window period prior to the passage of Proposition 8 by referendum.
• At the 2011 BET Awards, Kerry Washington compared the situation to earlier prohibitions on interracial marriage, saying "we have to be very careful about legislating love in this country. If we say that people of a certain sexual orientation can't be married, we might go back to saying that people of different races can't be married. And we can't afford to do that."

Ensuing elections and appointments

Four Republican state senators−Sens. James Alesi, Mark Grisanti, Roy McDonald, and Stephen Saland−voted in favor of same-sex marriage in 2011. Following their votes, the four senators received public support from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who scheduled a fundraiser for the four senators that was expected to raise $1.25 million. Mayor Bloomberg also made maximum contributions to each of their re-election campaigns.

On May 9, 2012, Alesi announced that he would not run for re-election. He stated that many factors, including the welfare of the Republican Party, led to his decision. Prior to Alesi's announcement, Assemblyman Sean Hanna had expressed interest in challenging Alesi in the Republican primary. Alesi indicated that his same-sex marriage vote would have "severely hampered" his chances in a Republican primary.

Grisanti, McDonald, and Saland each faced primary challenges in 2012. Grisanti defeated attorney Kevin Stocker, 59% to 40%, after a campaign in which "much of the bitterest politicking had revolved around Grisanti's controversial 2011 vote to support legalizing same-sex marriage in the state." In the general election, Grisanti defeated three other candidates, including a Conservative Party challenger who opposed same-sex marriage.

In the District 43 Republican primary, McDonald faced Saratoga County Clerk Kathleen Marchione, who criticized McDonald's vote for same-sex marriage. After a primary contest that was described as "divisive", "bitter," and "nasty", Marchione declared victory by a narrow margin on September 25, 2012. McDonald later opted to cease his campaign and support Marchione. Marchione won the general election on November 6, 2012. Following McDonald's loss, a Newsday headline described the senator as "a political casualty of same-sex marriage."

In District 41, Saland received a Republican primary challenge from Neil Di Carlo. Saland won by a margin of 107 votes. Di Carlo continued his campaign as the candidate of the Conservative Party, and Saland lost the general election to Democrat Terry Gipson by a margin of 2,096 votes. Di Carlo acted as a spoiler, receiving 17,300 votes on the Conservative line.

Of the four Republican state senators who voted in favor of the Marriage Equality Act, only one—Mark Grisanti—was re-elected to the State Senate in 2012. Grisanti was defeated in the 2014 elections.

In 2013, Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed Alesi to a $90,000-per-year post on the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board.

In 2015, Gov. Cuomo appointed Grisanti to the New York State Court of Claims. Grisanti's appointment was confirmed by the New York State Senate in May 2015. The reported salary for the judgeship was $174,000.

In 2016, Gov. Cuomo appointed Saland to the board of the state Thruway Authority.

In June 2017, Gov. Cuomo nominated Alesi to a $109,800-per-year position on the state's Public Service Commission; the Senate confirmed his appointment.

Lawsuits

Sen. Rubén Díaz Sr., a Democrat and the most prominent opponent of the Act, announced at a rally on July 24, 2011 that he would file a lawsuit alleging that the same-sex marriages performed on that day were illegal. Diaz said the lawsuit would challenge judicial waivers that allowed a same-sex couple to marry on the same day they applied for a marriage license.

On July 25, 2011, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, along with Liberty Counsel, filed a lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court for Livingston County against the New York Senate and other state offices seeking an injunction against the Act. On November 18, 2011, Acting Supreme Court Justice Robert B. Wiggins allowed the plaintiffs' claims under the Open Meetings Law, but dismissed other portions of the case. He noted: "It is ironic that much of the state's brief passionately spews sanctimonious verbiage on the separation of powers in the governmental branches, and clear arm-twisting by the Executive on the Legislative permeates this entire process." On July 6, 2012, a five-judge panel of the Appellate Division ruled unanimously that no violation of the Open Meetings Law had occurred and dismissed the suit. On August 6, 2012, Liberty Counsel appealed to the New York Court of Appeals, which declined to hear the appeal on October 23.

References

• Hernandez v Robles (2006 NY Slip Op 05239), August 14, 2008
• Godfrey v Spano, Justicia, May 9, 2023
• NY High Court Refuses Gay Marriage Case, May 6, 2008, July 20, 2008, June 9, 2008
• November 22, 2008, December 7, 2013, DemocratAndChronicle.com, Monroe County ends same-sex marriage challenge, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, December 13, 2013, dead
• Spitzer Vows to Push for Gay Marriage, October 7, 2006, July 20, 2008, The New York Times, Danny, Hakim
• New York Assembly passes gay marriage | News Story on, 365gay.com, 2011-06-27
• A08590 Summary, assembly.state.ny.us, December 5, 2024
• In historic vote, NY Senate passes same-sex marriage bill, 33-29; Cuomo signs it into law, syracuse.com, Weaver, Teri, June 25, 2011
• Paterson Introduces a Same-Sex Marriage Bill, Jeremy W., Peters, The New York Times, 17 April 2009
• N.Y. Assembly passes same-sex marriage legislation, www.usatoday.com, May 12, 2009
• State Senate Delays Vote on Gay Marriage Bill, Jeremy W., Peters, November 10, 2009, The New York Times, July 10, 2021, May 13, 2011
• New York State Assembly, State Assembly Vote Tally, December 2, 2009, December 2, 2009, June 5, 2011, dead, mdy-all
• The New York Times, New York State Senate Votes Down Gay Marriage Bill, Peters, Jeremy W., December 2, 2009, December 2, 2009
• How the Votes Were Cast, nytimes.com, December 2, 2009, November 20, 2024
• dead, September 14, 2018, State Senate Votes Down Gay Marriage Bill, 38-24 | The Village Voice, www.villagevoice.com, 2 December 2009
• Aubertine resigning as NY ag commissioner, The, Associated, October 5, 2013, syracuse
• Gay Marriage Voted In, Jacob, Gershman, Wall Street Journal, June 25, 2011, www.wsj.com
• Will the Conservative Party's Long Arm Matter on Marriage Equality?, Paul, Schindler, May 6, 2011, Gay City News, July 13, 2023, May 10, 2021
• Jervis, Joe, Queer Rising: Four Arrested At NYC Marriage License Bureau Protest, December 22, 2020, February 12, 2010, Joe My God
• Colvin, Jill, Drag Queens' Gay Marriage Rally Halts Midtown Traffic, December 22, 2020, March 1, 2011, DNAinfoNewYork, June 24, 2021, dead
• Humm, Andy, State Recognizes Same-Sex Marriages But Not Weddings, December 22, 2020, March 21, 2011, Gotham Gazette
• Robbins, Liz, On Easter, a Sermon of Rebirth, and a Rally for Rights, December 22, 2020, April 24, 2011, The New York Times
• Cuomo Is Sworn In as New York's Governor, nytimes.com, Hakim, Danny, December 31, 2010
• Behind N.Y. Gay Marriage, an Unlikely Mix of Forces, nytimes.com, Barbaro, Mike, June 25, 2011
• Cuomo, in Gay Marriage Push, Will Meet With Leading Supporters, nytimes.com, Barbaro, Michael, March 8, 2011
• How New York almost didn’t legalize same-sex marriage, cityandstateny.com, Lewis, Rebecca, June 24, 2019
• Faith Groups Campaign to Block Gay Marriage, nytimes.com, Vitello, Paul, May 5, 2011
• Pressure rises on gay rites, timesunion.com, Vielkind, Jimmy, June 13, 2011
• Advocates Try Again To Legalize Gay Marriage In N.Y., npr.org, Rose, Joel, May 19, 2011
• Confessore, Nicholas, Conservative Party is Obstacle to Gay Marriage, May 19, 2011, May 19, 2011, The New York Times
• 2011-07-06, Will voting for gay marriage help or hurt Republican senators, Nahimas, Laura, The Capitol, June 29, 2011, May 17, 2012
• Once Against Gay Marriage, 4 Senators Say They Will Back It, Nicholas Confessore and Michael Barbaro, The New York Times, June 13, 2011
• In Reversal, 3 Democratic Senators Will Back Gay Marriage, nytimes.com, Confessore, Nicholas, Barbaro, Michael, June 13, 2011
• 2d G.O.P. Senator Backs Gay Marriage in New York, Nicholas Confessore and Danny, Hakim, The New York Times, 15 June 2011
• Diaz pulling out of minority caucus, Casey Seiler, Capitol bureau chief, Times Union, June 13, 2011
• dead, July 7, 2012, New York, Daily News, Kenneth, Lovett, New York Assembly passes bill to legalize gay marriage 80-63; Legislation now heads to Senate, June 15, 2011
• New York Assembly backs gay marriage, Senate showdown next, Dan, Wiessner, Reuters, 16 June 2011
• Cuomo Call for Expedited Marriage-Equality Vote, Smith, Chris, June 15, 2011, Intelligencer, July 13, 2023, November 20, 2018
• Statement from Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos on Same Sex Marriage Legislation, NYSenate.gov, June 24, 2011, August 3, 2018, May 28, 2018, dead
• N.Y. at the altar of gay marriage, Politico, Epstein, Jennifer, June 13, 2011, August 3, 2018
• New York Allows Same-Sex Marriage, Becoming Largest State to Pass Law, Nicholas, Confessore, Michael, Barbaro, The New York Times, 24 June 2011
• NY State Assembly Bill A8520, 3 October 2015
• International Business Times, New York Senate Passes Chapter Amendment, June 24, 2011, July 13, 2023, June 28, 2011
• New York Times, Nicholas, Confessore, Michael, Barbaro, New York Allows Same-Sex Marriage, Becoming Largest State to Pass Law, June 24, 2011, July 13, 2023, July 1, 2011
• Marriage Equality Act Passed by State Senate 33–29, Intelligencer, Rovzar, Chris, June 24, 2011
• Why Sen. Kevin Parker Got Mad, Gothamgazette.com, 2011-06-25, 2011-12-05
• dead, September 12, 2018, Governor Andrew Cuomo Declares July 24 "Day to Commemorate Marriage Equality", www.villagevoice.com, 24 July 2011
• Exemptions Were Key to Vote on Gay Marriage, Danny, Hakim, 2011-06-25, 2011-06-25, The New York Times
• Same-sex marriage goes down to legislative wire in New York, Chris Michaud, Reuters, June 20, 2011
• New York legalizes same-sex marriage in win for gay rights advocates, Sandhya Somashekhar, June 24, 2011, The Washington Post
• Same-Sex Marriage Victory in New York Spurs Opponents to Work Elsewhere, Erik Eckholm and Katharine Q., Seelye, The New York Times, 2 July 2011
• Wedding Crashers: Will voters say "no" to Republicans who said "yes"?, Nahmias, Laura, June 29, 2011, The Capitol, July 13, 2023, July 6, 2011
• N.Y. becomes sixth and largest state to legalize gay marriage, Gormley, Michael, NBC News, June 23, 2011, July 13, 2023, August 5, 2021
• Gay Marriages Can Start As Soon As Late July In N.Y., npr.org, June 25, 2011
• New York 6th state to legalize gay marriage, cbsnews.com, June 25, 2011
• New York legalizes same-sex marriage in win for gay rights advocates, Sandhya Somashekhar, The Washington Post, June 25, 2011
• The New York Times, Thomas, Kaplan, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo Calls for Same-Sex Marriage in All States, October 27, 2011
• Gay Marriage Opponents Want Apology from Cuomo, advocate.com, Bolcer, Julie, October 25, 2011
• Anti-Gay Marriage Advocates Seek Apology From Cuomo, Capital Tonight, July 10, 2021, January 30, 2012, dead
• NYers celebrate historic vote for gay marriage, Karen, Zraick, The San Diego Union-Tribune, June 24, 2011, July 10, 2021
• White House Responds To Passage Of N.Y. Marriage Bill, Chris Johnson, Washington Blade, June 25, 2011
• New York Gay Marriage Bill Passes State Senate, Prompting Outpouring Of Reaction (PHOTOS), Huffington Post, June 24, 2011, Elyse, Siegel
• Paterson Returns To Praise Senate Marriage Vote, Celeste Katz, New York Daily News, June 24, 2011
• 2nd town clerk quits over gay marriage, WIVB-TV, July 18, 2011, July 13, 2023, March 21, 2012
• Town clerk: I do not do 'I do', Times Union, July 13, 2023, August 11, 2011
• Carlucci: Town clerks should enforce law, Reisman, Nick, June 29, 2011, Capital Tonight, July 12, 2023, March 29, 2012
• Nassau DA: Denying Marriage Licenses to Gay Couples Could Be Criminal, Azi, Paybarah, New York Observer, 8 July 2011, Kathleen Rice, the Nassau County District Attorney who ran as a tough, law-and-order attorney general candidate last year, is warning clerks they could face "criminal prosecution" if they refuse marriage licenses to same-sex couples after July 24., dead, 6 September 2012
• Tragedy, tension, turmoil: Biggest stories of 2011, auburnpub.com, December 25, 2011
• Cuomo: Clerks Against Same-Sex Marriage "Don't Get to Pick and Choose", Hamilton, Alec, July 21, 2011, WNYC, July 10, 2021, January 22, 2012
• Cuomo: Clerks Against Same-Sex Marriage "Don't Get to Pick and Choose", wnyc.org, January 22, 2012
• Some celebrity quotes on NY's new gay marriage law, Associated Press, June 25, 2011
• Mega-Mysteries on the Casey Anthony Trial; Explosive Bristol Palin Bombshell; Jennifer Aniston's Love Confession; J-Lo's Future on "American Idol", CNN, June 27, 2011
• Four Republicans Who Supported NY Gay Marriage Getting A Big Fundraiser, Rayfield, Jillian, October 13, 2011, TPM, July 10, 2021, October 14, 2011
• Fundraiser fetes GOP same-sex marriage senators, Vielkind, Jimmy, 7 September 2011, Times Union, July 10, 2021
• Senator Alesi Won't Run Again, dead, January 16, 2013, 13 May 2012, WHAM News, May 9, 2012
• Hanna Considering Senate Primary Against Alesi, Spector, Joseph, March 21, 2012, Politics on the Hudson, July 10, 2021, July 14, 2014
• State Sen. James Alesi, one of 4 GOPers who voted for gay marriage last year, won't run for reelection - believing that vote weakened him politically, Lovett, Kenneth, May 9, 2012, Daily News, July 10, 2021, November 7, 2013
• Erie County Board of Elections, www.elections.erie.gov
• Deadlocked races for two GOPers who backed gay marriage in New York, Politico.com, Haberman, Maggie, September 13, 2012, October 21, 2012
• Grisanti Wins in State Senate's 60th District, Vogel, Charity, November 7, 2012, The Buffalo News, July 10, 2021, November 11, 2012
• It's official: Kathy Marchione running for NY Senate seat held by Roy McDonald, Cignoli, Michael, April 5, 2012, The Saratogian, July 13, 2023, April 6, 2012
• Kathy Marchione declares victory in Republican primary for 43rd Senate District, September 25, 2012, The Record News, July 13, 2023, June 15, 2015
• Marchione leads McDonald, but absentee ballots will decide primary, Thompson, Maury, The Post Star, July 13, 2023, January 27, 2018
• Fair Campaign Practices accuses Kathy Marchione of using unfair campaign tactics, Franco, James, September 7, 2012, The Record News, July 13, 2023, January 23, 2016
• Sen. Roy McDonald to leave race after losing GOP Primary, northcountrypublicradio.org, Dewitt, Karen, September 28, 2012
• Kathy Marchione wins 43rd State Senate District - saratogian.com, www.saratogian.com, dead, 2012-11-09
• Editorial: A political casualty of same-sex marriage, newsday.com
• Saland Gets A Primary Challenger, 3 Oct 2012, dead, 2012-07-01
• The Poughkeepsie Journal, Saland ekes out GOP primary win, 3 Oct 2012
• New York State Board of Elections September 13, 2012 Primary Vote, July 10, 2021
• Saland's Defeat "Unfortunate," Cuomo Says, Campbell, Jon, December 13, 2012, Politics on the Hudson, July 10, 2021, December 27, 2013
• NYS Board of Elections Senate Election Returns Nov. 6, 2012, March 20, 2013, July 10, 2021, September 11, 2013
• The New York Times, Thomas, Kaplan, In Final Tally, Vote for Gay Marriage Costs 3 Republicans, December 13, 2012
• And then there were none: Defeated Mark Grisanti last of NY Senate GOP lawmakers who backed legal gay marriage, Ken, Lovett, nydailynews.com
• New York's top court gets first openly gay judge, WGRZ, June 21, 2017
• Cuomo Taps Former Sen. Alesi for Unemployment Board, Campbell, Jon, August 31, 2013, State Politics, July 10, 2021, October 16, 2017
• Mark Grisanti appointed to New York Court of Claims, 5 May 2015, WIVB-TV, 7 June 2015
• After Supreme Court ruling, GOP senators in NY feel validated, The Poughkeepsie Journal, July 5, 2015
• Saland joins Thruway Authority board, The Poughkeepsie Journal, Spector, Joseph, June 23, 2016
• Alesi on tap for new NY post, Spector, Joseph, June 19, 2017, USA TODAY, July 13, 2023, October 16, 2017
• New PSC members OK'd including NYSERDA's Rhodes, Larry, Rulison, 21 June 2017, Times Union
• N.Y. Gay Marriages Are Not Legal, Says Senator Ruben Diaz, Cohen, Debbie, July 25, 2011, The Christian Post, July 13, 2023, June 11, 2015
• Lawsuit filed over New York same-sex marriage law, July 25, 2011, CNN, July 13, 2023, November 10, 2012
• Gay Marriage Foes File Suit to Overturn New York Wedding Law, bloomberg.com, Freifeld, Karen, Deprez, Esme, July 25, 2011
• The New York Times, Thomas, Kaplan, Judge Says Lawsuit Against Gay Marriage Law in New York May Proceed, November 29, 2011
• NY appeals court rules open meeting law not broken in passage of sex marriage law, July 6, 2012, The Washington Post, July 13, 2023, July 13, 2012
• Snow, Justin, Anti-Gay Group Challenges Marriage Equality In New York, 7 August 2012, Metro Weekly, 7 August 2012, dead, 17 August 2012
• Lovett, Ken, Court of Appeals refuses to hear gay marriage appeal, October 23, 2012, Metro Weekly, dead, January 4, 2013, October 23, 2012

External links

• Text of the bill Archived 2011-06-26, at web.archive.org