I am embarrassed today to be a New Yorker, where once again our legislators have done nothing. And again, their failure to act adversely affects the lives of citizens.

I am positive the majority of the NY Senators would have voted against voting rights for women and the emancipation of slaves. Think not? Why would it be different to say all women or blacks should have equal rights, when they have decided that all homosexual women and men should not? And how about if we substitute "elected official" for "gay" in the marriage bill? Then the legislators would have said "oh, no, you can't deny 'elected officials' equal protection."

This is not a matter of religion. I wish the ministers, pastors, preachers, priests, bishops and pope would stick to preaching to their faithful instead of threatening to bring the wrath of G-d down on the heads of legislators who allow human rights and freedom of choice to be the CIVIL LAW of the US. And stop using that "protection of the family" crap as your excuse. You aren't out railing against permissive divorce laws anywhere that I can see.

This is a matter of equality. Everyone who is gay in NY and pays taxes paid part of the salary of the legislators, who in turn denied these taxpayers hundreds of rights granted to heterosexuals. I am appalled and ashamed that a majority of our elected officials denied the rights of anyone yesterday (they even voted contrary to the wishes of the majority of NY residents, but even if 99% of NY'ers opposed gay marriage, the majority may not deprive the minority of their civil rights).

I wanted to be more articulate, but I am too mad. I hope someday, very soon, this is a sad footnote in history. But even tomorrow is too late. We should have afforded equal rights to everyone yesterday.