Hudson Valley Debate Union
The Marriage Equality Debate, 6 May 2009
In the biggest turnout ever for an HVDU event, an audience of more than 70 came out to the King's Daughters Public Library for the Marriage Equality Debate
Originally scheduled to be a No Confidence in the Stimulus Bill debate, the subject was changed on 16 April when Governor David Paterson of New York introduced the Marriage Equality Bill into the New York Senate and Assembly.
The Governor said he wanted a debate on the bill, and the Hudson Valley Debate Union was prepared to give it to him.
Since the Indian Point Debate was cast as, "This House urges the NRC to reject the re-licensing of Indian Point Generating Stations Nos. 2 and 3," the HVDU cast the motion as, "This House urges the New York Senate and Assembly to reject the Marriage Equality Bill (Assembly Bill 7732/Senate Bill 4401)."
One of the guiding principles of the HVDU is to frame its debates around decision points, that is, real legislation or executive decisions or judicial decisions that affect concretely, rather than abstractly. With a real Bill in the Assembly, the HVDU could take on the Marriage Equality mission
It took some scrambling and a lot of phone calls at the last minute, but we got a full slate of Principal Speakers for both sides. Speaking in favor of the motion (and against the Bill in the Senate and the Assembly) were:
- Mr. Ed Mechmann, of the Family Life/Respect Life Office, Archdiocese of New York
- Mr. Kevin McCullough, radio talk show host and author of Musclehead Revolution and The Kind of Man Every Man Should Be
- Mrs. Judith Anderson, co-director of Hudson Valley Coalition for Life
Speaking against the motion (and in favor of the Marriage Equality Bill):
- Mr. Michael Sabatino, former communications director, Marriage Equality New York
- Ms. RoseAnn Hermann, marriage ambassador, Empire State Pride Agenda
- Mr. Richard Sussman, attorney/mediator and marriage ambassador, Empire State Pride Agenda
The debate was calm and restrained, and no voices were raised in anger. When the voting chips were counted, it was evident that more supporters of the Bill had come out than opponents; the motion was rejected 49 votes to 27
Some views from the Marriage Equality Debate
HVDU Founder Pat McGrath just before the event started
Judith Anderson of Hudson Valley Coalition for Life
Principal Speakers against the motion: RoseAnn Hermann, Michael Sabatino (hidden) and Richard Sussman (in cap)
Richard Sussman of Empire State Pride Agenda
Ed Mechmann of the Archdiocese of New York
Michael Sabatino, Marriage Equality New York
Radio talk show host Kevin McCullough
RoseAnn Hermann, Empire State Pride Agenda
The following pics are courtesy of Bert Berat Images LLC. Thanks, Bert!
