Opponents Sue NY to Overturn Gay Marriage Law

Groups claim governor, state senate ignored procedure
By Tim Karan,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 25, 2011 6:23 PM CDT
Opponents Sue to Overturn Gay Marriage Law
Opponents of New York's gay marriage law have filed the first lawsuit seeking to overturn it.   (Getty Images)

Opponents of New York's gay marriage law aren't done yet: A day after the first legal same-sex weddings were conducted, they've filed a lawsuit challenging it, reports the AP. A representative for New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms and a rabbi allege in the suit that legislators violated state senate procedures when they approved the bill in June.

The lawsuit says Gov. Andrew Cuomo illegally waived the three-day waiting period between a bill's introduction and vote, and the Republican majority gave promoters of the measure unlimited time to speak, while all but silencing detractors. It also claims that Cuomo and the four GOP senators who voted in favor of gay marriage received large donations from groups and individuals who pushed for it. "We should have an open and deliberative process," says the Rev. Jason McGuire. "If truly the legislation can stand on its own merits, then it should be able to withstand being deliberated publicly." (More gay marriage stories.)

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