Over two decades ago, I did some volunteer work for a
non-profit organization in Syracuse, New York. One of the executives at that organization
was a young man named Dave Valesky. I remember his genuine appreciation toward
me and other volunteers for putting in time to help there. His attitude toward
his volunteers made working there fun and rewarding.
After I moved to New Jersey, I was pleased to learn that in
2004, Valesky was elected to the New York State Senate to represent the people
of Central New York as a Democrat.
I was even more pleased to read this Catholic senator from a
conservative district has been a supporter of marriage equality, leading to
full marriage rights in the Empire State.
So even though the parameters of the marriage equality
battle may be different in New Jersey, I reached out to Valesky to learn about
his decision to vote for equality and how it might help the upcoming debate
here. He was gracious enough to spend some time with me on a telephone
interview.
Valesky was not always a supporter of marriage equality. He
told me that at one time, he felt that civil unions would grant equal rights to
same-sex couples. But prior to the 2009 vote, he took it upon himself to do
some research – what he called an “educational process” – to learn more about
the issue. Through this effort, he came to the conclusion that civil unions
were “separate and unequal” in terms of the benefits that accrue to people who receive
state marriage licenses.
But the key factor in Valesky’s decision to vote for
marriage equality, both in the failed attempt in 2009 and the success in 2011,
was separation of church and state. He said that his Catholic sacrament of
marriage is totally different than the piece of paper he received from the
State of New York. He spoke about this on the Senate floor, and with the help
of four Republicans, marriage equality passed in the Republican-controlled
Senate. (The New York Senate consists of 32 Republicans and 30 Democrats, four
of whom caucus separately from their party as an independent group. Valesky is
one of the four.)
I asked Valesky about the impact of his 2009 vote in his
2010 re-election bid. He told me that it was not a significant issue.
Of course, the situation here in New Jersey is different.
Valesky told me that Governor Andrew Cuomo’s leadership on this issue was a
significant factor in its success. Here, Governor Christie has already stated
that his personal opposition to same-sex marriage will trump the equal rights
issue. As long as our governor harbors national political ambition, groups like
Garden State Equality will have an uphill battle in ensuring equal rights for
all New Jerseyans.
While we can count on the progressive Democrats to do the
right thing, the key to passing marriage equality will be convincing
conservative Democrats, similar to Valesky, that civil and religious marriages
are two separate issues. Senate President Sweeney has already said that he regrets abstaining on the vote that was taken last
year. But we need to convince other Democrats like Fred Madden and John Girgenti to do the right thing.
Factual arguments and introspection, such as Valesky’s, are
necessary. New York’s vote is a shot in the arm to the equality movement here. Contributions
to Garden State
Equality are essential to help get the message out. And we should show
appreciation to those politicians who vote their conscience to promote rights
for all.
Valesky is up for re-election next year. His campaign web
site is here.
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