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Gov. David A. Paterson plans to introduce legislation on Thursday to make marriage between same-sex couples legal in New York, advancing his push for greater rights for gay men and lesbians, at a time when other states have done so.
Mr. Paterson’s plans represent the most public effort yet by the governor, who has been a consistent supporter of gay rights, to position himself and New York at the crest of a broadening national movement.
The move allows him to lead on an issue that could prove defining in his governorship, which has so far been marked by political missteps and the crumbling economy.
But it is also something of a political gamble, because the legislation faces an uphill climb in the State Senate. Democrats acknowledge that they do not have enough votes there to get the measure approved, meaning that its chances could rest in the hands of a few Republicans.
The move allows him to lead on an issue that could prove defining in his governorship, which has so far been marked by political missteps and the crumbling economy.
The sentence quoted above pretty much states the crux of the matter. Patterson isn't doing this because he's been a consistent supporter of gay rights. He's doing it because every other move he's made since becoming Governor has largely served to guarantee that he won't be in office beyond this one term. The gay marriage proposition is what you could call a desperate move to keep his political career afloat--whether or not it's the right thing to do.
He has spoken out for gay rights several times in the past, and has very strong support in the gay community... it was a big thing in the news when he was sworn in.
He has been actively fighting for gay rights for more than two decades.
Quote:
Few governors have made advancing gay rights as central to their policy making as Mr. Paterson. Even liberal Democrats who have long advocated equal rights for gay men and lesbians, like Mr. Paterson’s predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, have not embraced the gay community so publicly.
In fact, those who walked down Fifth Avenue with Mr. Paterson on Sunday could not recall another serving governor’s ever marching in the city’s gay pride parade.
I don't doubt his support of equal rights but personally I think he's doing this to bring in funds from the marriage licenses.If you remember when the gay couples flocked to the legal states they generated a bit of money.I think Patterson is also looking to help his crumbling reputation after all his job layoffs.
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