Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell Gives Eloquent Rationale for Gay Marriage In NY

video

by Rachel Sklar | 9:38 pm, June 24th, 2011

» 16 comments

Earlier tonight — just before the New York Same Sex Marriage bill headed to the Senate floor – NY Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell was on NY1, affirming that the yeas did indeed have a 32nd vote. Here is his simple yet incredibly eloquent rationale for same sex marriage:

“It seems very quick to you folks in the media but for me it’s been a long struggle – and [now] a great sense of elation and joy. I think it’s the right thing to do, the majority of New Yorkers think it’s the right thing to do and it’s about time that we treat gay and lesbian couples the same way we treat everyone else.

The first time I debated this bill on the floor I pointed out that two drunk people can get on a plane, fly to Las Vegas, stand in front of an Elvis impersonator and they get to have something that I cannot get from my government. This is not about a seat in your synagogue, it’s not about a pew in your church – this is about a document that the state issues to people, and it issues it every day. And many of my straight colleagues in state government have had this license two or three times. It’s about time that I have the right to have it once.”

Watch the video below, courtesy of NY1:

Daniel O’Donnell, Gay Marriage, New York, same sex marriage

CosmosDan

Of course it’s the right thing to do. It’s about civil rights and equality. Throughout our history a certain portion of our population fights against equality and equal rights for certain minorities. They have all kinds of ridiculous rationale for this denial, quoting bogus science, and select passages of whatever holy book they choose. In the end , the need and push for equality is undeniable. We see, over and over, that society is made better and stronger for having persevered and finally, done what is just.

There are no rational arguments opposing SSM. None. It’s a dam shame that so many people let their irrational emotions deny thier fellow citizens equal rights.
THE REAL ROYAL KING

I am pleased to see this. Our nation is never wrong, it has never suffered when we have honored the individual spirit, when we have been on the side of justice and equality.
Pokerdude777

I’m so sick and tired of hearing this equality crap over and over. Blacks, mexicans, gays, etc. Just do it already
THE REAL ROYAL KING

Pokerdude777 said:
I’m so sick and tired of hearing this equality crap over and over. Blacks, mexicans, gays, etc. Just do it already

One wonders why we haven’t already done it.
http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

THE REAL ROYAL KING said:
One wonders why we haven’t already done it.

You don’t really wonder, do you?
THE REAL ROYAL KING

Publius219 said:
THE REAL ROYAL KING said:
One wonders why we haven’t already done it.
You don’t really wonder, do you?

Sadly, no.
darladoon

we enlightened have been making similar arguments for 40 years….
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joshua-Taj-Bozeman/661000669 Joshua Taj Bozeman

We used to oppose the awful idea of interracial marriage…we used to oppose the terrible idea of gay marriage.

Will all my liberal friends now join me and demanding equal rights for all people to enjoy the benefits of marriage by publicly supporting equal marriage rights for polygamists?
http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

redux:

So the concept of pre-determined, pre-destined, immutable, static and/or inculcated PERSONALITY IDENTITY is alive and well in Liberal-Land!

HOW QUAINT & DEVOLVED!

Progressive? – Not in the zeitgeist of Evolved Thinking.
Cecelia

Here’s a more eloquent reply:

http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/formans/LiberalCaseAgainstGayMarriage.htm
CAconservative

CosmosDan:

“There are no rational arguments opposing SSM”?

Here’s a couple of arguments against:

#1) Marriage is, and has been the institution that forms and upholds societies cultural, and social values related to human procreation. The institution that establishes the values we, as humans, pass on to the next generation. The basic human societal unit formed by a man and woman in a nurturing environment that engenders the respect, and transmission of human life. A respectful, and balanced transmission that is lost in same sex marriages!
#2) Reproduction is, and will always be the deciding factor of why two people enter into the legal contract of marriage otherwise, why bother when a simple civil contract will do? This issue is not, and never has been about just marriage. This issue, for Gay’s, has always been about an acceptance both legal, and moral. It may accomplish one (legal) but it will never fully accomplish the other. Homosexuality is, at it’s root-core is in direct opposition to human nature.
AmericaSucks

NORBIT Jr. said:
redux:

So the concept of pre-determined, pre-destined, immutable, static and/or inculcated PERSONALITY IDENTITY is alive and well in Liberal-Land!

HOW QUAINT & DEVOLVED!

Progressive? – Not in the zeitgeist of Evolved Thinking.

Hi Norbit. You’ve been on here a lot longer than me, so maybe you’ll know the answer to this:

Is there some way to set Mediaite to send me a notice when you say something credible? It’d save me (and others) lots of time wading through your tripe.

Have a great day!

AmericaSucks
edisciple

What! That was a eloquent argument! So Marriage = A Piece of Paper (Document)! Ya, okay that’s all! It seems stupid to me that you’re fighting for a piece of paper then! Hello!
catfishjuggling show

CAconservative said:
CosmosDan:

“There are no rational arguments opposing SSM”?

Here’s a couple of arguments against:

#1) Marriage is, and has been the institution that forms and upholds societies cultural, and social values related to human procreation. The institution that establishes the values we, as humans, pass on to the next generation. The basic human societal unit formed by a man and woman in a nurturing environment that engenders the respect, and transmission of human life. A respectful, and balanced transmission that is lost in same sex marriages!
#2) Reproduction is, and will always be the deciding factor of why two people enter into the legal contract of marriage otherwise, why bother when a simple civil contract will do? This issue is not, and never has been about just marriage. This issue, for Gay’s, has always been about an acceptance both legal, and moral. It may accomplish one (legal) but it will never fully accomplish the other. Homosexuality is, at it’s root-core is in direct opposition to human nature.

Should a man and a woman who don’t want to have kids marry then? What about those who want to but are unable? Are they then less married?

How about two people whose children are grown and whose spouses have died? They aren’t raising kids either.

Just curious. Please. Make me smarter.
Cecelia

catfishjuggling show said:
Should a man and a woman who don’t want to have kids marry then? What about those who want to but are unable? Are they then less married?

How about two people whose children are grown and whose spouses have died? They aren’t raising kids either.

Just curious. Please. Make me smarter.

Of course they should marry and stay.married.

No institution (particularly one springing from natural law) is defined by its exceptions.
http://justplaythegame.us JustPlayTheGame

CosmosDan said:

There are no rational arguments opposing SSM. None. It’s a dam shame that so many people let their irrational emotions deny thier fellow citizens equal rights.

Ahhh your secretly talking about smokers in America.. Legal citizens now looked down apon as second rate while gays have all the equal rights in this country..amazingly, the sucking on something has changed to something else more respected by politicians.

http://www.smokingaloud.com