Cuomo: Marriage Equality Opponents Had "No Good Arguments"

Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, state Sen. James Alesi and political consultant Bruce N. Gyory gathered at the New York Times building in midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, Oct. 18, to discuss how marriage equality became a reality in New York.

The panel-"Same-Sex Marriage: The Road to Passage"-was moderated by Times Metro Editor Carolyn Ryan and political reporter Michael Barbaro.

"Growing up in Glen Cove, everyone around me was married, so I had hopes of one day getting married. Then when I was older I realized that there was something different about me," said Quinn. "I knew I could have a success, a career, and friends, but I made the thought of marriage and love go away. When I took my sexual orientation out of my subconscious and made it part of who I was, I knew I could be in love, have a family and a home, but not until fairly close to the passage did I think I could be legally married in my own state."

Quinn said that for her and her partner Kim, both of whose mothers passed away and whose fathers are elderly, the idea of waiting until marriage equality felt "right," but it was not good enough. "We talked to these legislators about our desire to get married, and to have our fathers at the wedding as soon as possible," said Quinn. "We wanted them to understand the personal impact of waiting."

The urgency was certainly there, but Quinn knew that was not enough. A version of the bill had come up for a vote on Dec. 2, 2009, but it failed by a wider than expected margin.

Alesi said that at the time, he told his fellow Republicans that he would resign from the Senate if any of them voted in favor of the marriage equality bill.

"I knew at the time that it wouldn't pass. The other side didn't have the votes, and you don't put yourself out there politically... to take a bad vote on a bill that's not going to pass" said Alesi. He admitted that he promised himself at the time he would never vote against marriage equality again.

"Politics are about the numbers, and we didn't count right," said Quinn. "We didn't organize a strong, diverse coalition, and we lost our professional perspective."

A sea change occurred between the 2009 vote and the passage of the marriage equality bill in June. As Gyory explained it, the issue of gay marriage-the ultimate wedge issue in the 2004 election-quickly changed in the public opinion.

Cuomo Demonstrated a "Monumental Act of Political Leadership" on Marriage Equality
"In 2010 it moved 3-4 percent up, with opposition declining 3-4 percent a year," said Gyory. "Fifty-nine percent of white Catholics supported it, and 60 percent of women. Only 8 percent of suburban voters in New York said that same-sex couples were not entitled to any legal recognition. When your opposition melts to 8 percent... that's when you go forward. It was still a monumental act of political leadership by the governor... It took courage."

Cuomo further explained how this increased support factored into the ultimately successful push to secure marriage equality for gay and lesbian New Yorkers

"What past governors have done is not always the best course to follow--especially in the recent past," said Cuomo. "Politics has traditionally been that you respond to public opinion. But I say, change public opinion by educating and informing people. An organized effort came together to accelerate the education of people, to change the opinion in the polls, and the public gave the license to politicians to...vote their conscience. If you move people and change public opinion, the politicians will follow."

Alesi was among four Republican senators who backed the measure, despite the potential consequences. The National Organization for Marriage has already posted billboards throughout his district, which includes Rochester, denouncing his vote.

"I am certain they will do everything to annihilate me politically, but I knew that before I did this," said Alesi, who acknowledged that someone spit in his face because of his vote. "On the other side, nine out of 10 people in the Rochester area have taken the time to come up to me and say it was a good vote."

Gyory noted that at the time of the vote, 58 percent of the support for marriage equality came from suburban white women who brought their husbands' vote with them. As he described it, women did not think it was right to discriminate against gays and lesbians, some of whom would certainly be represented among their family and friends. The religious exemption sealed the deal.

Alesi some of the other Republican senators came to the decision on their own accord. Others, however, needed additional encouragement from the governor himself.

"The conversations I had with Republican senators depended on what the other person needed to hear," said Cuomo. "We had four senators with different concerns; it's all about understanding the nuances. For Sen. Roy McDonald, no conversation was needed. He came into my office and said, 'I've heard you, I've agonized, I agree... Tell me where and when and I'm there.'"

Cuomo: Marriage Equality Opponents Arguments Were Unconvincing
Cuomo said that although he spoke with everyone and listened to what marriage equality opponents had to say, their arguments were unconvincing.

"I don't mean to be trite, but there were no good arguments on the other side," he said. "The simple fact is most people are essentially good and smart, and if you give them the facts in a calm and open way, they will do the right thing. And if you move the people, you will move the politicians. To move the people was easy, because they knew it was not right-we don't discriminate. New Yorkers especially understand that. That is in our DNA as New Yorkers, the issue of equality."

Whether or not that understanding will translate on the national and federal level remains to be seen. Activists hope the New York model can inspire others across the country to fight for marriage equality-the Human Rights Campaign on Wednesday, Oct. 19, unveiled Americans for Marriage Equality, a project that will include videos of prominent Americans speaking in support of nuptials for same-sex couples. The organization's New Yorkers for Marriage Equality featured Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg and other prominent New Yorkers who supported the bill.

"For every politician everywhere, it says you can do this," said Cuomo. "Legislators want to be on the winning side...So you have this dialogue. When the only answer is 'I want to discriminate against gay people', well, that's anti-New York and anti-American."

Panelists noted the need to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act and to achieve national recognition of same-sex marriages. Quinn further stressed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, implementing the Respect for All Students curriculum and anti-bullying initiatives remain priorities here in New York.

Richard Socarides, president of Equality Matters and former White House advisor under former President Bill Clinton, asked whether the lawmakers knew at the time that the marriage equality bill would pass in Albany.

"We thought we'd win, and worried that we wouldn't," said Quinn. "I am most surprised at how long people have been excited about it. People have said congratulations at a senior center in Queens. It is something that has excited people, both LGBT and straight."

Cuomo agreed.

"I have very few opportunities to lead in the highest form on social and ideological issues," said Cuomo. "Whether or not we won wasn't the test; it was were you fighting the good fight. In some ways that was more important than the victory. But we knew we'd get it. The surprise is the universal joy of New Yorkers. We are all happy it passed, happy we did it, and what a beautiful statement we made. We stood up and showed the nation that there was something good that we could get done."