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UPDATED: Same-sex marriage advocates question Duane's silence
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OFFICIAL STATE SENATE PHOTO
Thomas K. Duane (D - Manhattan), the only openly gay member of the New York State Senate has become the target of same-sex marriage advocates, upset with the senator for not speaking out on the apparent deal that will make Senator Malcolm Smith (D – Queens) the President of the New York State Senate in exchange for his agreement not to bring the issue of same-sex marriage to the floor for a vote.
Duane had previously stated that he wouldn’t support any candidate for leader who wouldn’t pledge to bring legislation to legalize same-sex marriage to the Senate floor, now seems poised to do exactly that, without protest or even a statement on the matter. He recently participated in a panel, where he re-iterated his commitment to the issue.
A new Facebook group, The POWER, a coalition of straight and LGBT individuals and organizations dedicated to garnering support for same-sex marriage, prominently calls on Duane to speak out:
SENATOR TOM DUANE, the openly gay Senator from Chelsea, hasn't spoke out against this. The chief proponent of marriage equality legislation in the Senate, He was the first senator to back Malcolm Smith for Senate Majority Leader (pushing Eric Schneiderman out of the running). Call on him to lead the gay community, and all supporters of equality, by making a statement that he is committed to leading this fight in 2009.
The gay community all across the country raised more money than any other group to elect a Democratic Senate in New York. Tom Duane has the chance to speak out or to be silent. Now it is time for him to speak out for us.
UPDATE: In an E-mail sent late Sunday morning, Laura Morrison, Duane's chief of staff refuted assertions that her boss has been silent and sent me a copy of the below statement released by Duane after the compromise was announced:
I will be honored to vote for Senator Malcolm A. Smith as President Pro Temp for the upcoming 2009-2010 Legislative Session. Many have expressed concern that with Senator Smith as leader, New York will not see same-sex civil marriage become a reality. This could not be further from the truth.
The choice that I have is: Am I going to vote for Malcolm Smith for leader, or am I going to vote for Republican Dean Skelos? The choice is simple. I'm going to vote for Malcolm Smith because he is totally, completely and utterly committed to equality for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.
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