Anti Marriage NYS Homophs. Going After GOPers Voted Gay Marriage
BY GLENN BLAIN BY GLENN BLAIN
Anti-gay marriage advocates have begun targeting Republican lawmakers, like Roy McDonald, who voted in favor of same-sex nuptials with roadside ads.
Will Waldron/Albany Times Union
Sen. Roy McDonald broke party ranks and voted in New York's historic gay marriage legislation.ALBANY - An anti-gay marriage group is launching a billboard attack against Republican senators who voted in favor of same-sex unions.
The National Organization for Marriage plans to place billboards in the districts of four GOP state senators who broke ranks and voted to legalize gay marriage in June.
"Roy McDonald, You're Fired," screams the group's first billboard, which went up recently in the district of Albany-area Sen. Roy McDonald.
"This is not going to end," vowed NOM President Brian Brown, who said the group is spending about $40,000 on the initial run of billboards.
In the coming weeks, the group hopes to have billboards in the districts of Sens. Mark Grisanti of Buffalo, Stephen Saland of Dutchess Countyand James Alesi of upstate Monroe County.
The billboards are the latest salvo in the marriage group's ongoing campaign to defeat pro-same-sex senators in the 2012 election - and ultimately force a statewide referendum on the issue.
In July, the group spent $150,000 on mailings targeting voters in districts of senators who supported gay marriage.
"This is what this campaign is going to be from here on out," Brown said. "We are not going to rest until the people of this state get a vote."
Targeted senators shrugged off the attack.
"People need to get over it because the simple fact is that everyone should enjoy the same rights," said Grisanti spokesman Doug Curella. "This just rolls right off our back."
"They are entitled to their opinion; it is a free country," added McDonald spokesman Mike Veitch.
Gay marriage advocates said they would come to the defense of the four Republicans.
"We are going to do everything we can to ensure that those who voted for equality are reelected," said Brian Ellner of the Human Rights Campaign.
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