"There's been a lot of progress on the part of society," with regard to the acceptance of same-sex relationships, Mr. LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) told Times/Review Newspapers last Friday. But he added that it's his duty to reflect the feelings of the people he represents and "it's definitely a divided constituency."
Of Long Island's nine state senators, only former Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian Foley (D-Blue Point) and Craig Johnson (D-Port Washington) voted to approve the bill. No Republicans in the Senate crossed party lines to support the legislation, as 38 senators voted against the bill. (See Editorial)
"I have said that there should be a transitioning and that the next step should be civil union," Mr. LaValle said.
Regina Calcaterra, Mr. LaValle's Democratic opponent for the Senate seat in 2010, chastised the senator for failing to explain his vote on the Senate floor and taking 48 hours to make a statement. His explanation is no better than the 1896 Plessy v Ferguson decision in which the U.S. Supreme Court permitted "separate but equal" racial segregation in places of public accommodation, Ms. Calcaterra said.
"Separate but equal does not provide equality," she said. "Marriage equality is about families, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has been creating families for years without the protections afforded under marriage." (See Julie Lane's column)
The bill, sponsored by the Senate's only openly gay member, Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan), had lingered before the Senate for most of the past year, after a similar bill co-sponsored by Assemblyman Marc Alessi passed in the Assembly in May.
Gov. David Paterson had been a major supporter of the bill, even calling a special session earlier this year for senators to act on it. That session was derailed due to a power struggle caused by two Democrats who announced they would begin caucusing with the GOP.
Sen. LaValle said it was a tough decision for him because there are passionate people on both sides of the issue.
"What I have heard from a lot of people is that we are just not ready for it," he said, acknowledging that to approve a same-sex marriage bill would be "too much, too soon" for much of society. "It could happen someday in the future, but just not right now."
Last Wednesday's rejection was the second major defeat in recent weeks for gay-marriage advocates in the nation. In November, voters in Maine rejected a proposal to allow same-sex marriage.
Gay couples are legally permitted to marry in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts and Vermont, and a New Hampshire law takes effect in January. A vote on gay marriage in New Jersey is scheduled for today.
New York does recognize same-sex marriages validly entered into in other states.
Mr. Alessi said that while he was glad the Senate voted on the issue after avoiding it for so long, he was disappointed with the outcome and viewed it as a setback for equal rights.
"If homosexuality is just as natural as being a left-handed person, it's not a choice," Mr. Alessi said. "It's what someone is and to block someone from what is an equal right for something that there is no choice over, like the color of your skin, then you have an equal rights issue. It's very disappointing in this day and age that equal rights are continuing to be violated."
Mr. LaValle said there are people in society who are never going to accept same-sex marriage.
"They believe there's a religious underpinning to it," he said. "But for a lot of other people, they are simply uneasy about it."
Asked what would have been the pitfalls of an approved same-sex marriage bill, the senator said only, "People just have different views."
North Fork Women for Women Fund board president Sandra Benedetto called Mr. LaValle's vote "unfortunate and short-sighted." It often takes legislation to lead the way to changing peoples' attitudes, she said.
"It's unfortunate that when it comes to peoples' civil rights and equality in marriage, it's a matter of whether people are comfortable or not," Ms. Benedetto said.
gparpan@northshoresun.com peggy@northshoresun.com