Apr 24, 2009  |  By: Chris Johnson  | COMMENTS     

Lawmakers are pushing a same-sex marriage bill in New York despite vociferous, bi-partisan opposition from two prominent politicians.

If the legislation introduced last week by Gov. David Paterson (D) passes, New York would become the most populous state in the country where same-sex marriage is legal, joining Massachusetts, Iowa, Vermont and Connecticut.

But Rudy Giuliani, a former mayor of New York City and former contender for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, expressed opposition to same-sex marriage in a New York Post article published Monday.

Giuliani, who is rumored to be pursuing a run for governor of New York in 2010, was quoted in the Post as saying he believes marriage “both traditionally and legally, has always been between a man and a woman and should remain between a man and a woman.”

The former mayor, who was unavailable for comment, has been married three times.

But Giuliani expressed support for civil unions and noted that many prominent Democrats, including President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, hold the same view.

Giuliani also predicted that the advancement of same-sex marriage legislation would cause a backlash and “create a grassroots movement” that would lead to victory for Republicans seeking state offices in 2010.

Jeff Cook, a Log Cabin Republicans consultant who’s lobbying state GOP lawmakers to approve the marriage bill, said Log Cabin officials “respectfully disagree with the mayor on the strategy on this.”

“The sense among Republicans in Albany is that marriage equality is inevitable in New York and there’s a growing sense among many that they want to be on the right side of history on this issue,” Cook said.

Carl Schmid, a gay Republican activist and co-chair of Giuliani’s 2008 presidential campaign in D.C., also disapproved of the former mayor’s comments.

“Unfortunately, it looks like he is using this issue to create a partisan political wedge issue between the Democrats and the Republicans,” he said.

Cook said he didn’t think Giuliani’s comments would affect the advancement of marriage legislation in New York because “individual legislators are looking at this in their own calculus, and where their hearts are, and I expect that most will vote their conscience on this issue.”

On the Democratic side, State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., who represents the Bronx, has been one of the most vocal opponents of same-sex marriage within the New York Legislature.

After reports emerged last week that Paterson intended to re-introduce a bill in the legislature, Diaz convened an “emergency summit” with the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization on April 16. About 100 people attended, and Diaz told the crowd he’s planning a rally against same-sex marriage in May, according to the New York Times.

When Democrats narrowly took control of the state Senate last year, Diaz reportedly was part of a deal allowing State Sen. Malcolm Smith to become majority leader in exchange for holding off on a vote on same-sex marriage, although Smith later denied that any such deal took place.

Diaz told the Blade he’s opposed to the marriage legislation because he’s a minister. He also noted, “I don’t think that’s something that we should be dealing with.”

Paterson ‘was disrespectful’

The senator criticized Paterson for introducing the marriage bill while annual religious festivities were underway and Timothy Dolan was taking up the mantle as archbishop of New York.

“I believe that the governor … was very disrespectful, very disrespectful by introducing this bill the week that we are celebrating the Holy Week,” he said. “The Catholics are receiving their new leader and the Jews are celebrating their holy day [of Passover].”

Diaz said he doesn’t know whether the bill would fail in the New York Senate, but said he’s “working for it.” Diaz said he and other opponents of same-sex marriage would soon announce how they intend to campaign against the legislation, but declined to give any details.

John Marble, a National Stonewall Democrats spokesperson, said Diaz “is not just outside the mainstream of the Democratic Party, but outside the mainstream of all New Yorkers.”

“Our experience with New York Democrats has been a resoundingly positive one and the New York Democratic Party as well as the Democratic leadership there … are committed to moving the bill forward,” he said.

Marble said New Yorkers should call on Diaz to support same-sex marriage and take the New York Democratic Party’s position on the issue.

Many support marriage

Despite opposition from Giuliani and Diaz, same-sex marriage is backed by many key public figures in New York.

Supporters include Paterson, Smith, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo as well as U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

Paterson announced his ...