“I apologize to those who feel offended, to those who I’ve hurt,” Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti said in the chambers of the New York State Senate on June 24th of last year. “I cannot deny a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, the people in my district and across this state, the State of New York, and those people who make it the great state that it is, the same rights that I have with my wife.”

Soon after, the clerk read off the votes, formally establishing that with four Republicans in affirmation, the Marriage Equality Act would pass the Republican-controlled State Senate. It was the middle of the night.

“Ayes 33, Nays 29,” he stated, causing the chamber to boom with cheers, the audience full of supporters of the bill chanting “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” as officers struggled to regain control. Read More