Welcome to the Fold!

Late on Friday night, New York State finally passed the Marriage Equality Bill with the help of four Republican State Senators. One of them, Sen. Mark Grisanti, gave an extremely relevant speech. I believe everyone should hear it.

He is a lawyer, but also a very religious, very devout Catholic, yet he still found reason to support marriage equality. These are basic CIVIL marriage rights. Decisions on religous marriage should be left to those churches who want to make them. (cough... Catholic church... cough cough...). This truth is BLATANTLY obvious for those who understand how the US system of government actually works.

In related news, the American Medical Association has just officially endorsed marriage Equality.

209. MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Introduced by Medical Student Section

Reference committee hearing: See report of Reference Committee B

HOUSE ACTION: FOLLOWING SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION 209 REFERRED IN LIEU OF RESOLUTIONS 209 AND 210

RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association recognize that denying civil marriage based on sexual orientation is discriminatory, imposes harmful stigma on gay and lesbian individuals and couples, and contributes to health care disparities affecting the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA support ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from civil marriage in order to reduce health care disparities affecting those gay and lesbian individuals and couples, their families and their children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA support the repeal of the “Defense of Marriage Act” as it discriminates against married same-sex couples and their families and directly contributes to health care disparities among the GLBT community.

210. MARRIAGE EQUALITY TO REDUCE HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES

Introduced by Young Physicians Section

RESOLUTION 210 WAS CONSIDERED TOGETHER WITH RESOLUTION 209.

SEE RESOLUTION 209.

RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association recognize that denying civil marriage based on sexual orientation is discriminatory, imposes harmful stigma on gay and lesbian individuals and couples, and contributes to health care disparities affecting the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA support ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from civil marriage in order to reduce health care disparities affecting those gay and lesbian individuals and couples, their families and their children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA support the repeal of the “Defense of Marriage Act” as it discriminates against married same-sex couples and their families and directly contributes to health care disparities among the GLBT community.

(AMA)

But anyways. CONGRATS NEW YORK!!