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New York Senate Defeats Same-Sex Marriage Bill; DC Bill Moves Ahead

By Howard M. Friedman

Yesterday the New York State Senate, by a vote of 24-38, defeated a bill that would have permitted same-sex marriage in the state. The bill, strongly supported by Gov. David Patterson, had already passed the state Assembly. AP reports that the bill lost by a wider margin than had been expected. The New York Daily News has details of the roll-call vote. The Senate debate included references to religion and the Bible by those on both sides of the issue. (Baptist Press.) After the vote, the New York State Catholic Conference issued a statement saying that the bishops are "pleased and grateful" that the Senate "rejected the concept that marriage can be anything other than a union between one man and one woman."

Meanwhile, Washington, D.C.'s city council, by a vote of 11-2, gave tentative approval on Tuesday to the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009. The Washington Times reports that a final Council vote is scheduled for December 15 on the bill that would authorize same-sex marriage in the District. Then Congress would have 30 days to review the law and disapprove it. (See prior related posting.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on December 03, 2009 (boomark / email).