How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
The New York State Senate rejected 38-24 yesterday a bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage in New York. All of the Republicans, along with several Democrats, voted against it.
NYU politics professor Christine Harrington was surprised that the Republicans voted as a block.
"It is fairly surprising since northeastern Republicans are seen as being more favorable to individual rights and civil liberties than non-New England Republicans," Harrington said. "I think people really have to look at this issue in terms of religious views determining the scope of civil liberties."
Steinhardt junior Jason Fullen, president of NYU's Campus Crusade for Christ, was disappointed the bill was defeated.
"It's disheartening and saddening when any group of people has any sort of right held from them," Fullen said.
He noted that there are often many "opposing ideas" on same-sex marriage in the Christian community.
"I think it's important as Christians to remember … love and compassion for our fellow brothers and sisters," Fullen said. "I can't really see how we're doing that when we're disallowing people to pursue a basic fundamental right."
According to Maggie Gallagher, president of both the National Organization for Marriage and the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, the vote was a result of the grassroots efforts by those against gay marriage.
"I think it's a huge win for marriage in New York by an unexpectedly large margin," Gallagher said.
She added: "I think it will spell the end to the idea that you can pass gay marriage democratically."
Steinhardt sophomore Carly Gilfoil, a member of T-Party (NYU's transgender allied student group), said that although the bill didn't pass, it is important to acknowledge the progress the LGBT community has made.
"Any small step in law is a big step for us. However, it shouldn't be the only thing we're focusing on," Gilfoil said. "We should be focusing on the inclusion of gender identity … non-discrimination policies."
Tom Smith, president of the Brooklyn Community Pride Center, said he wished the bill was defeated by a smaller margin.
"It's good to know who our friends are and those who are not our friends," Smith said. "Clearly we have more work to do."
Second-year law student Scott Blair, political action co-chair for NYU OUTLaw (a group for LGBT law students), thought the debate was an important way for the public to see which senators were for and which were against same-sex marriage.
Blair said: "I'm interested to see who on the Senate has a reason to not support gay marriage other than 'We don't like fags.' "
