CNN

[...] CNN: "A new poll indicates that majority of New Yorkers support the legalization of same-sex marriages. Fifty-three percent of New Yorkers questioned in a Siena College Research Institute poll support a bill that would allow same-sex couples to wed, with 39 percent opposing the move." [...]

The "Institution of Marriage" as a concept only dates back to the 1950s, when it was used as a political tool along with "In God We Trust" and "under God" in the Pledge by social conservatives. The inclusion of marriage among the seven sacraments of Catholicism does not make the sole province of religion. We as a society have adopted a social role for marriage which extends beyond its religious and reproductive function - otherwise, why would we allow situations like the marriage of two childless atheists?

And it's that social role which is being discussed here. Other societies have historically used different models of marriage than ours does (note the incidence of polygamy, even in some modern cultures), and I don't see why we can't adopt a new model in our civil society. The "Sanctity of Marriage" is no concern of our civil government, and is the sole province of religious institutions. I don't have a problem with religious institutions recognizing different marriage rules than the civil government - they've managed to disagree on plenty else without it tearing our society apart.

This is not a zero-sum game. Churches and existing marriages lose nothing when the government also recognizes additional marriages. Some of them might even gain something - the satisfaction of living in a society which gives equal recognition to their peers.

Anyone who believes marriage is purely religious should no longer be allowed to file their taxes married filing jointly. Any reference to marriage in the tax code should be removed. If you want the church to dictate who should be married than get the government out of it. We are not a theocracy. My personal opinion is that marriage in the US is a sham. If you have ever been divorced, you have no say in marriage becuase you broke a convenent with god that no man should put asunder. I must ask "did you get the approval from god himself to get divorced?" I for one do not foresee myself ever married. I don't need a peice of paper or a church to tell me I love someone for the rest of my life.

Vermaont, Massachussetts, Iowa, the 3 states with gay marriage laws -

Not one state had a vote by the people, all was done by the liberal governments and judicial systems, the true voice of the people in a state vote was NEVER done. They tried to by pass the citizens in California the same ways and the people now have had two votes that DID NOT legalize gay marriage. In fact, 30 states have constitutions banning gay marriage. When the people have a chance to vote, gay marriage will always be defeated.

The majority of Americans do believe in the santitiy of marriage as being defined as between a man and a woman. Gays have civil unions with all the same constitutional rights of normal heterosexual married couples.

If marriage is truly a religious issue, then what the state and federal governments should do is strip all marriage benefits it gives to heterosexual couples. No joint filing of taxes, no inheritance laws, no social security benefits. Then gays and straights will truly be equal. Don't want to do that?!? Then gays need to have their relationships recognized in the same way as heterosexuals... I want the same rights as my neighbors, and nothing less is acceptable.

Ever notice that the states which have adopted same-sex marriage didn't put it to referrendum, and the states that put it to referrendum were shot down? Even the most "liberal" "progressive" state, California? Democracy can only work if the governed are allowed to speak.

So then let's ban old people and infertile people from getting married, since they can't reproduce, either.

How does Paterson know what New Yorkers want when his approval rating continues to plummet?

Two people, heterosexual or homosexual, should be able to get license to marry and have all the benefits of marriage from the State.
The State and Church are separate for a reason. For instance, a Jewish couple, whether heterosexual or homosexual, cannot and should not be allowed to get married in a Catholic Church. The Catholic Church has a religious right to refuse them, and visa versa if it were a Catholic couple. My folks down south in the strict Southern
Pentecostal Church would never perform a wedding ceremony between a couple unless they were "born again" Christians. When I say "born again" I mean "BORN AGAIN". They would never entertain any couple just off the street. We live in an age where heterosexual couples go to Las Vegas and get married in building shaped like a guitar by a preacher dressed like Elvis. Where is the sanctity is that? There is no such thing as the "sanctity" of marriage if you just look at it from the civil point of view. The "sanctity" of marriage is in the heart and soul of the two people getting married. That is the freedom we enjoy in this country. We enjoy the freedom to embrace what we like and reject what we don't like. We should cherish that freedom, and be grateful that we have been blessed with it, instead of trying to deny it to someone who lives a life we don't approve of.

@ Dante

You're correct that marriage existed before civil laws. However, because currently civil laws grant marriage rights (and NOT religion), your argument was basically a complete waste of time.

So, If you go to a church and get married, but don't register your marriage with the state, then you're allowed to have your point of view. But, I highly doubt you would do that, because its the civil benefits of marriage, not religious, that people want.

Divorce rate among heterosexuals pushes 50%; pedophiles are predominantly heteresexual and how many times have you heard news stories where a child molester was a homosexual? Let same-sex marriage exist, in can't hurt anymore than straight marriage.

A company wanting to create 200 manufacturing jobs in Western New York is turned down by the NY Power Authority as Paterson does nothing and focuses on same sex marriage as a highly important need now?!

Massachusetts has been allowing gay marriage for a while now and I don't see that state crumbling under the weight of its own "sin".

Even if this doesn't pass now, as a native new yorker, I know that it is only a matter of time before this issue will be... well, a non-issue and we will wonder what the hell took so long. If a person can go to the county clerk and be married just the same as a ceremony in a church, then the religious argument is moot.

how does someone having the right to marry a person they love have any effect on my marriage. this is the same as when the southern states outlawed black/white marriage. it was a crime and the southern churches felt the same way, some "ministers" were in the KKK also. today this is a human rights issue and we are all created equal. if you don't like it, then don't do it.

It won't pass, this is the last ditch effort by the illegal media in this country to persuade someones ability to vote against it, so the lib lying media has to explain why it didn't passs again.

Outlaw divorce too and then these do-getter zealots may sing another tune since I am sure many of them have sinned by doing that. I would gladly approve this measure since I am not a bible-thumping, all knowing hater that interprets a book of stories like it's the absolute truth, and THEN cherry-picking certain lines to fit their narrow minded thought process

Let's make sure Timothy Dolan, the new evil archbishop, hears this and let him know gays will not take his opposition to same sex marriage lightly!

Evildoer Timmy!

This is all about "dirty politics" at the expense to gays. Whether it is approved of or not, it is not nice to use gay rights as a weapon. Gays are human, and Paterson is just trying to "buy votes"! To pass a bill because you believe in it is one thing, to pass a bill because it will get you ahead is unfair!

All of you are so concerned about religion and what is your opinion of "normal" that you have been conformed. This is ridicuous. Two people that love eachother, regardless of sex, have rights too. If Gays and Lesbians want to get married, tell me, exactly how, that is going to affect your life in any way, shape or form? I assure you that if this bill gets passed, the sun will still rise the next day. Dont worry, I promise. =]

patterson states he respects the point of view that "many people of religious beliefs feel that the sacred relationship between a man and a woman is the only threshold for marriage....but, this is a nation of civil laws with separation of church and state".......excuse me but the institution of marriage existed long before the declaration of independence was signed and before laws in this country were established with regulations and requirements (i.e., licenses) regarding marriage.......marriage is also known as holy matrimony and is one of the seven sacraments..........its pure hypocrisy and incredibly intrusive for patterson to claim separation of chuch and state in support of his bill....call them civil unions, partnerships, whatever....give them equal rights......but don't redefine marriage......maybe the gay community can start their own church.... perhaps the new england rainbow church might work.....just saying

New York: Now is your chance to pass California, and catch up to Iowa and Vermont.

This is the future. Accept it, or don't, it will happen anyway. Raging against equal rights is like arguing with a thunderstorm.

Paterson is definitely trying to boost his approval ratings. I doubt it will work. Unfortunately, he's a good man, who had an honorable career. He never wanted to be Lieutenant Governor, and got thrust into the job of Governor. Unfortunately, this will overshaddow the noble career he had before this.

If marriage is in the eyes of the creator lets let him worry about it. If he doesn't accept their marriage it should BE his decision. We are not here to judge. I am tired of these loud mouth consevatives who want everyone else to abide by their views.

This guy is like any other politician... trolling for votes. I'm beginning to wonder if these narcissists actually believe in what they're pushing.

When everything else fails, jump on the 'most popular issue' bandwagon. If it gets you elected, more power to ya.....

April 20th, 2009 11:31 am ET

The only question is: Will this be enough to shore up Pattersons weak approval rating for another election? That is all this is about.
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Doubtful, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that he's doing what's right, regardless of his intentions. Lincoln didn't free the slaves because he had a moral reason to do so; he did it to keep the nation whole. His reasons didn't matter, but the outcome was the right one.

I question this poll....how many were polled, from what region?
In my area the masses are against.....hmmm
David, you can do better than this...look at all the children going to bed hungry in New York State, living in rat infested apts.....put your priorities right.

The number one threat to heterosexual marriage is divorce!

Just ask John McCain! or Newt Gingrich! Heck, Newt is on wife number three already.

Now, tell me again how two gay people who love each other and want to marry somehow diminish marriage for the rest of us?

The point is to keep the focus on the term "civil marriage." The argument against marriage equality is often framed in a religious argument. If you keep the church out of these marriages (like when you go to the Courthouse to get married), the argument crumbles.

It's just very confusing to me how many on the Right (rightfully so) rail against Sharia Law in the Middle East and decry it's rigid religious rules but then want to impose a Christian version of Sharia Law in the US. They argue that the Bible has laid out marriage in such-and-such a way and any deviation is an affront to God. That's the exact argument the Muslim extremists use in the Middle East when they beat women for being raped, etc.

Marriage equality is the right thing to do. Just keep the churches out of it.

It doesn't matter if the poll were 100% in favor of it, gay marriage is still wrong. It's not natural and is counter to the evolutionary process.

Thank goodness that the people of my beloved home state are open-minded enough to do the right thing. This isn't about Paterson, Dems, Repubs, Christians, or anyone else. It's about whether the State has a right to discriminate against a group of Americans. The answer, of course, is found in our Constitution: "All ... are created equal".

It is wrong to allow religious beliefs to interfere with Americas laws. America was founded on freedom from religious persecution and that is exactly what denying same sex marriage is all about. What the gay community needs to do is to make homosexuality a religion. Then they would have more rights and protections in the law.

Can't wait to see how this plays in Buffalo. Maybe they'll threaten to secede from the state. Have a nice day!

Same-sex marriage should never be approved by any form of government, state or federal. Those states that already allow this, should move to have it stopped. Marriage in the eyes of our Creator is between a male and female only and is for the several reasons with one being that of producing children...

To say that Same-sex couples should not be allowed to have a civil union should be up to the states only...

Good. Its about time.

If it's so popular it should be made a ballot measure this fall rather than a bill pushed through the state legislature. Then, the people of the state of New York would be able to vote on whether to destroy the sanctity of marriage or let it continue to be a revered institution.

I'm a democrat who opposes this bill. But I do understand why the governor is passing this legislation. His chair is up for grabs and he's reaching out to the gay community. I still think if he goes up against Cuomo or Giuliani he's going to lose.

The poll must have been taken among gays, because any normal human being would say NOOOO!

The only question is: Will this be enough to shore up Pattersons weak approval rating for another election? That is all this is about.

Kinky Friedman said that gays should be allowed to be married and then they would be as miserable as the rest of us. Amen to that.