NY Assemblywoman Barbara M. Clark’s Explanation Of Her Gay Marriage Bill Vote

Voted “No”. Do You Agree With Her Reasons?

 

 

 

In New York State, Assemblymembers are allowed to “explain” their votes, on the floor, after casting them. This is done during the voting process, and in addition to time allowed before the voting process for debate. Barbara M. Clark is the New York State Assemblywoman for Queens, NY, a borough of New York City. These are her comments last Tuesday, on the floor of the Assembly, in explanation to her ‘no’ vote on the gay marriage bill:

“I will continue to vote no on this bill, and I appreciate all of the great things that were said about freedom and equality here tonight. I commend Danny, and all of the people who worked very hard to bring this bill to where it is at this point. But I think there are very important things and very important lessons and very important facts that people here on this floor still don’t realize as they make the analogy between civil rights for black people and other people who are underprivileged, and people and gay marriage. Sixty-some percent of black women right now are not married. Now, why are they not married? We in this House should wonder about that. And it’s most likely for, I don’t have the facts, but I live with this all the time, it’s that the black men, who could be eligible for husbands for them, they’re not choosing to marry another man, they’re choosing to not marry because they can’t. They’re either in jail, don’t get an education, don’t have enough income and enough revenue to support a wife and a family. So the reality is, we can talk all the nice things that we want about equality, there’s still a great deal of equality in this state, that we have to stop and recognize if we’re going to move this state forward, you know, we’re very faddish people, we do what is being talked about the most, and done the most for, at a given time in history. But right now, in this state, in New York City, people’s children are about to be sent to hell in a handbasket, by the same kind of, by the same folks, many of them, who are talking about how much we have to be caring, and considerate of people’s rights. And every child in this state, has the right to have a decent education, and every man that wants to marry has the right to have a job and an education so he can support a wife and a family. I vote, no, Madam Speaker.”

I have contacted her office and am awaiting her response to my question, asking her how her comments explain her vote against gay marriage. Should I receive a response, I will post it. What are your thoughts? Does this explain her vote? Does it have anything to do with voting ‘no’ on gay marriage? Is this a cultural issue that needs to be better understood? Should gays work to achieve better circumstances for the people the Assemblywoman referred to? Should we find a way to fight inequality together? Or, is this a case of, “we don’t have full equality, so why should you?” What do you think?

**UPDATE: 05.19.09: A very kind reader offered this link so you can watch Assemblywoman Clark make her statement about why she voted ‘no’ on the gay marriage bill.**