Today, New Hampshire became the fifth state behind Massachusetts, Vermont, Iowa, and Maine to allow gay marriage (6th if you count California, although that's no longer the case).  This occasion has made me frustrated that my own state of New York, which I consider to be among the most progressive, still can't find a way to get marriage equality through the state senate.

Right now, the New York State Senate is considering a bill that would finally give equal protection under the law to same sex couples.  This bill's passing will depend upon the votes of a few state senators, including my own here in Astoria, George Onorato.  That is, assuming we can get our majority leader, Malcolm Smith, to bring it to the floor.

Now I've lived in Astoria long enough to know that Senator Onorato could easily win re-election to his seat and vote for equality, so electability isn't an argument here.  The real issue here is which side of history our senator wants to be on, if he believes that all people, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, or sexual orientation, deserve equal protections under the law.

There's only a few weeks left in the session.  If you believe, like I do, that equal rights belong to our gay friends and family as well, then you should give Senator Onorato and Senator Smith a call and let them know how you feel.

Senator George Onorato - 518 455 3486

Senator Malcolm Smith - 718 528 4290