Hot button issue at Gay Pride Parade

A contentious debate was on the minds of many people taking part in Gay Pride festivities here in western New York.

It's gay pride weekend in western New York, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community wrapped up the festivities with a grand parade.

The celebrations coincide with a crucial vote to take place in Albany. The same-sex marriage vote, it's an important issue for the people at the parade.

Madeline Davis is the Grand Marshall of the parade. Davis and her longtime partner Wendy Smiley have had a civil union, a ceremony, even a marriage ceremony in Canada.

Davis said, "We're trying to get it right and right means doing it in New York state."

The couple realized the importance of state recognition, when Madeline was hospitalized and Wendy had difficulty visiting her in the hospital.

Wendy Smiley said, "We had the forethought to have the little piece of paper that's necessary."

Kitty Lambert is waiting for the day she can marry her longtime partner in her home state.

Lambert said, "Somehow their churches are usurping our rights to practice in our religions. Our first amendment rights are being totally denied."

There are several senate lawmakers tying up this vote. Democrat William Stachowski is one of them. He plans to vote no if the bill hits the Senate floor. In a statement to News f4, he says, "I have no issue with civil unions or equal legal rights for gay individuals. I believe marriage is a religious term and not something that government should be involved in revising the definition of."

Lambert said, "People believe in marriage they believe in the sanctity of it, they believe in the religious aspect of it including gays and lesbians."

This bill isn't going anywhere right now. With some senate lawmakers against gay marriage, majority leader Malcolm Smith says he won't even bring it up for a vote, if it's just going to be voted down.