OUR VIEW: Time has come to allow gay marriage in New York

Editorials

May 11, 2009

Anonymous The Tonawanda News Mon May 11, 2009, 01:16 AM EDT

While one must always consider the source, we support Gov. David Paterson’s effort to jump-start the gay marriage debate in New York.

It’s a hot-button political issue, but as more and more states surrounding New York embrace the social changes that come when homosexual couples are allowed to marry, we are falling behind the curve.

Gay marriage is a serious debate, and one that New Yorkers have avoided for too long.

The time has come for New Yorkers to set aside their preconceptions about gay people and offer the same legal protections to them as we do to straight people.

Too quickly this debate is moved from the arena of public policy into one fought on religious grounds. Paterson and state lawmakers are not religious leaders, and those who support the measure do not seek to weaken those religious institutions that stand in opposition.

This is a legal question — a debate over public policy, and whether our laws treat all New Yorkers fairly. They don’t.

If justice is truly blind, then surely gay people deserve the same legal protections as straight people. Rights like hospital visitation, joint tax filings and child adoption are granted to some in our state, but not all. That is the very definition of injustice.

If your religious beliefs are offended, we would question why. Your church will never be legally obligated to perform, or even recognize, homosexual marriages if it doesn’t want to.

Four states now allow gay marriage and none have been besieged by plagues or fallen into the sea. Indeed, it’s been the opposite. States that have allowed gay marriage see a drop in divorce rates. More children have loving homes.

In an age where “family values” — such as they’re broadly defined — are at a premium, it makes no sense to deny willing, productive members of society the right to join the rest of us.

There exists not a single legal reason why this state’s legislature could deny these rights. Any effort to do so is brought about by religious and social conservatives who simply don’t like homosexuality in any context. If lawmakers allow these interests to dominate the debate and eventually squash the governor’s efforts, they are ignoring reason and siding with church over their stately obligations.

The Constitution plainly calls for the equal protection of all Americans under the law. By definition, we will not live up to the meaning of this creed until gay and straight people are treated the same.

Text Only

Editorials

OUR VIEW: Time is up for SPCA board
This is no time for subtleties or polite requests.

February 7, 2012
OUR VIEW: Now who’s waging class warfare?
It was absurd for Republicans to cast President Obama’s call for a slightly higher income tax rate on the wealthiest Americans as class warfare.

February 3, 2012
OUR VIEW: SPCA off to good start
We were pleased to see members of the SPCA of Niagara’s board of directors take swift action and fire Executive Director John Faso on Monday.

February 1, 2012
Progress on marina, new funds, laudable
City leaders deserve praise — praise we’re pleased to deliver after years of criticism — for finally cementing a plan for redeveloping the city marina on River Road, a property that has sadly fallen into disrepair following to years of false-starts and faltering leadership.

January 27, 2012
OUR VIEW: In address, Obama focused on the practical
We were pleased to see President Obama mark a return to focusing the government on simple, achievable goals to help create jobs and bolster the nation’s economy.

January 26, 2012
OUR VIEW: Romney’s wealth shines spotlight on tax equity
Though it may not prove politically expedient for Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, his decision to release his 2010 and anticipated 2011 tax returns will have at least one benefit, even if it wasn’t intended:

January 24, 2012
OUR VIEW: Cuomo pension plan makes sense
Cuomo proposed adding a 401(k) tier to the state’s pension plan. We’ll forgive workers in the private sector where plans of this nature are the accepted norm if they wonder why this would even be controversial.

January 18, 2012
OUR VIEW: Cuomo's plans are praiseworthy
In the annual state of the state address, Gov. Andrew Cuomo was long on big promises that will be a boon to New York’s government, business and education infrastructure. But as every New Yorker — particularly ones in this neck of the woods — knows, talk is cheap.

January 7, 2012
OUR VIEW: Do something about the SPCA
Although the dust still has to settle around the horrific complaints by a former employee of the Niagara County SPCA and others, we were discouraged to learn that the animal shelter is still struggling with a lack of leadership.

January 5, 2012
OUR VIEW: Time Warner skating on thin ice
In a high stakes game of chicken between cable network MSG and the region’s largest cable TV provider Time Warner Cable, the only people losing right now are hockey fans the region over.

January 3, 2012
More Editorials Headlines

Editorials

Search Results

OUR VIEW: Time has come to allow gay marriage in New York

Site Map

Contact Us