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Anti-gay organization challenging New York’s marriage equality law
August 8, 2012
Marriage equality Marriage Equality Trials
By Jacob Combs
As Poliglot reports, the anti-gay group Liberty Counsel asked Monday for New York’s highest court to review a lower court decision dismissing a lawsuit the group filed seeking to nullify the state’s marriage equality law, which was passed last summer. In the suit, the anti-gay group alleged that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other supporters of marriage equality violated the state’s open meeting law by pursuing closed-door meetings on equal marriage rights, and objected to the governor’s use of an emergency law that allowed him to waive a requirement that bills be delivered in their final printed form to legislators three days before a vote.
Liberty filed its first lawsuit directly after the June 2011 vote legalizing marriage equality in New York, and the first judge to hear the case allowed it to proceed to trial to learn more about the open meetings violation claim, saying that “clear arm-twisting by the Executive on the Legislative permeates this entire process.” But just last month, the state Supreme Court’s Appellate Division issued a unanimous decision dismissing the case, holding that the meetings between Republican senators and marriage equality advocates were legal.
“In the event that we were to adopt plaintiffs’ limited definition of ‘guests,’” the opinion read, “it would be impossible for a Democratic member of a governor’s office, such as a budget director, to speak to a majority Republican caucus.”
Liberty Counsel will most likely face a steep climb at the New York State Court of Appeals as it seeks to have the marriage equality law voided. Courts are by custom loathe to take such measures after a law has been duly enacted, since a decision striking the law down would have immensely complex ramifications, both politically and logistically. In reality, Liberty Counsel’s lawsuit is more a last-ditch attempt to roll back a law that it disagrees with. Nonetheless, we’ll follow this story here at P8TT as it develops.
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10 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Tyler O. | August 8, 2012 at 8:17 am
There is literally zero percent chance of this succeeding. Nevermind the flimsy accusations. The political blowback of throwing out the law would be enormous.
2.
MightyAcorn | August 8, 2012 at 8:29 am
Yeah, it seems like posturing for the sake of fundraiser letter fodder….as is often the case. "Let the people vote!" and "we desperately need your donations to fight the Gay Peril!" blah blah blah.
3.
Sagesse | August 8, 2012 at 9:12 am
@
4.
Seth from Maryland | August 8, 2012 at 9:45 am
Jon Stryker Gives $325K To Fight Minnesota Marriage Ban : Openly gay philanthropist Jon Stryker has given $325,000 to fight a proposed constitutional amendment which would ban gay marriage in Minnesota.
Stryker of Kalamazoo, Michigan gave the gift to Freedom to Marry Minnesota's political action committee on Tuesday, the AP reported.
Minnesota United for All Families, the coalition of groups working to defeat the November referendum, was formed by Freedom to Marry.
5.
Seth from Maryland | August 8, 2012 at 9:46 am
Stryker and sisters Pat and Ronda are heirs to the Stryker Corporation medical supply company fortunes of grandfather Homer Stryker. Jon Stryker founded the Arcus Foundation to further his social and environmental activism.
In 2008, Stryker told The Chronicle of Philanthropy that he prefers to stay out of the spotlight. He has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to support gay rights causes and great-ape conservation. He has also spent millions of his fortune to elect lawmakers who support causes he cares about.
http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=12621&…
6.
Nickey J | August 8, 2012 at 11:46 am
<img src="http://www.goldstoressite.com/shop/listz/ud.jpg">These organizations are really ridiculous that they even exist in america. <img src="http://www.goldstoressite.com/shop/listz/ho.jpg">
7.
Seth from Maryland | August 8, 2012 at 11:53 am
Milestone for Maine Marriage Equality:
Matt McTighe is the campaign manager for Mainers United for Marriage, the campaign working to win marriage equality in Maine.
One-on-one conversations are the heart of the campaign to win marriage equality in Maine. To date, we’ve spoken with more than 135,000 Mainers about why marriage matters.
These conversations are paying off in a big way. We’ve persuaded more than 10,000 Mainers to be more supportive of marriage equality!
8.
Seth from Maryland | August 8, 2012 at 11:54 am
It’s hard work, but it’s so rewarding. We meet a lot of people who feel conflicted about the issue.
One of our canvassers recently spoke with an 89-year-old veteran from Bangor who didn’t know anyone who was gay. After Amy, the canvasser, spoke with him about his service, she told him about a fellow canvasser named Chad who served in the Iraq war and who was gay. This man and Chad had both fought to protect freedom for the people they love. Amy found common ground in their shared values, and the veteran told her he would probably vote in favor of marriage equality in November.
9.
Seth from Maryland | August 8, 2012 at 11:55 am
Our 10,000 is a great milestone – but with less than 90 days left before Election Day, there are many more conversations to be had!
No matter where you live, you can make a difference in Maine. HRC has set up a special fund – HRC Maine Families PAC – to direct 100 percent of your contribution to help win marriage equality in Maine. Together, we can mobilize the majority of Mainers who support marriage equality and win at the ballot this November.
.http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/milestone-for-maine-marriage-equality/
10.
Stefan | August 8, 2012 at 3:03 pm
Those numbers are promising, but in Minnesota we move between 10% and 25% of voters that we've spoken too (we also do not include those who are already supportive of marriage equality since they can't move at all!).
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