Marriage Equality Vote Isn't Happening Today, Or Tomorrow

Garth Johnston

Published Jun 17, 2011

Modified Jun 17, 2011

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Garth Johnston

Published Jun 17, 2011

Modified Jun 17, 2011

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

If the State Senate is going to vote on marriage equality, it isn't going to happen today. Or tomorrow. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos came out of yet another three-hour Republican conference today to tell reporters that “There is a concern right now as to the unintended consequences of some of the religious causes, carveouts, protections and we’re reviewing that.” If a vote is to happen on the measure it will now happen either Sunday (since, as Skelos points out, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver will be observing the Sabbath) or Monday. Meanwhile, despite support for the measure from more than 700 faith leaders across the State, Archbishop Dolan continues to talk about the “ominous threat” the idea of marriage equality presents.

Calling into Fredric U. Dicker’s WGDJ-AM radio show today from Seattle Dolan repeatedly expressed his opposition to gay marriage, calling it "unjust and immoral," "detrimental for the common good" and "a violation of what we consider the natural law that’s embedded in every man and woman." He also called proponents of marriage equality "well oiled" and "well financed" before adding that though the measure is just one vote short of passing in the Senate it is "not a done deal. There is a good chance that this is not going to pass this year."

Dolan's radio tirade comes as the GOP is using religious concerns to drag their feet on a vote. And not "God hates gays" concerns, instead they are arguing that the measure does not offer enough legal protection for situations like when religious groups don't want to perform or recognize gay marriages. Which is frustrating to many since there are already protections for religious groups in the bill that passed in the Assembly (for the fourth time) on Wednesday. And so it goes.

Tagged

Albany

dean skelos

gay marriage

marriage equality

Garth Johnston

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE news

NYC’s whiplash weather continues into weekend with heavy winds, chilly temps, NWS says

Friday expect scattered showers and thunder, cooler temperatures Saturday, and a sunny Sunday.

Monica Melton

Published Oct 16, 2026 at 10:22 a.m. ET

Early Addition: Winning an affordable housing lottery is great unless it's not

Because the apartment might be very small and not that affordable, here are your early links: Congestion pricing is paying for new subway elevators, G.W. Bridge has a new pedestrian walkway, not so many airplane barf bags and more.

James Ramsay

News

Early Addition: Winning an affordable housing lottery is great unless it's not

James Ramsay

Mamdani and 100+ NY officials urge parking lot owners to ban ICE

Arya Sundaram

NYC ambulance response times have grown 41% as life-threatening calls rise

Ben Feuerherd

Federal judge tosses Trump administration lawsuit challenging NYC sanctuary laws

Phil Corso

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .