New York and Gay Marriage

Another state has joined the ranks to shoot down the proposal of gay marriage.

Much to my surprise, it's New York.

Needless to say, I was shocked when I learned this. New York, which made areas like the Lower East Side and Greenwhich Village famous for the gay community, denying one of their strongest and most vocal social groups what they've been begging for.

Between New York and California, I really wonder how the PR works on this. How do these states, which have massive gay populations--massive ACTIVE gay populations (active in the sense of vocal and involved, not actively gay. That's just a given)--, handle the public relations side of denying gay marriage?

More than just a political move, I see it as a bad PR move to do so. It reflects badly on these two hyperurbanized states when more "rural" states such as Vermont and Iowa can adopt gay marriage legislature and you cannot. It sends mixed messages and makes a community that has thrived for decades feel less comfortable and more hostile.

If this were a corporation, I would recommend just biting the bullet and passing the law. There has to be something bigger than the public can imagine working against it for this sort of legislation to be shot down in these areas.