Question of the Day: What do you think of gay marriage?

Are you for or against the New York State gay marriage bill introduced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo?

The state assembly Wednesday night approved a same-sex marriage bill, sending it to the Senate, where it faces a closer vote.

The Marriage Equality Act passed the Assembly 80-63.

It would grant same-sex couples equal rights to marry "as well as hundreds of rights, benefits and protections that are currently limited to married couples of the opposite sex," according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office.

Local policiticans have spoken out against the bill as it is written. Assemblyman Robert Castelli voted no.

State Senator Greg Ball (R-C, Patterson) said in a press release he is seeking provisions for religious organizations, such as preventing them from being required to "provide any services to which they object because of religious or other beliefs," among others.

"I have always been an advocate on behalf of gay rights, and to this day, would proudly support the most comprehensive civil union legislation in the nation, while placing marriage equality out to the public for a referendum and a vote," he said. 

But on the specific issue of marriage equality, without basic religious protections, he "clearly must vote no," he said. 

On the Senator's Facebook page, constituents have already begun expressing their beliefs, some urging him to vote in favor, and others urging him to vote "no."

Local residents from Yorktown and Bedford are among those who have written on Greg Ball's Facebook page. Comments include that marriage in not a religious union, but a legal contract and that two consenting adults should given the right to enter into a legal contract. Another woman wrote she would like her kids to grow up in a world where everyone can access the same legal rights that she and her husband have. Others have written that traditional marriage is defined to be between a man and woman.

If same-sex marriage legislation—previously defeated in the New York State Senate in 2009—is approved this time around, New York would become the sixth state in the nation to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Such licenses are granted in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.

The Marriage Equality Act bill memo is available here. The bill text is available here.

What do you think? Do you support the bill or not? Why?