ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Andrew Cuomo has become a prominent champion of legalized gay marriage, pushing his state into the center of the national debate over an emotional and divisive issue.
In the past week, the Democrat has personally lobbied wavering Republican lawmakers and has said the extension of marriage rights to gays and lesbians is “a matter of principle, not politics.”
“This state has a proud tradition and a proud legacy as the progressive capital of the nation,” he said Friday. “We led the way, and it’s time for New York to lead the way once again.”
The effort carries some political peril but could be potentially rewarding, given evolving public sentiment on gay rights in New York and the nation.
“It looks like a profile in courage, and maybe it is,” said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. “But it also may be politically smart in the long run.”
Cuomo’s support for gay rights is already known to New York voters. His efforts this past week to get the bill through the Republican-controlled state Senate — the lone roadblock to passage — make good on an issue he ran on last year. During that campaign, he took his daughters to a gay pride parade in New York City, drawing sharp criticism from his Republican opponent.
“The governor is putting skin in the game and has a steadfast commitment to the issue,” said Kevin Nix of the Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay rights group. “That he’s made marriage equality a priority for this legislative session speaks volumes about his commitment.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ny-gov-cuomo-weighs-the-political-and-personal-in-states-high-profile-fight-for-gay-marriage/2011/06/18/AGlNhLaH_story.html
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