Assemblyman Makes Gay Marriage Bill Personal

New York Times
May 11, 2009
With the Legislature set to take up the bill to legalize marriage for gay couples on Tuesday, Mr. O’Donnell, the openly gay older brother of the comedian Rosie O’Donnell, has emerged as a tenacious, ingratiating, playful and sometimes prickly leader of the effort to pass the legislation. He has helped gather nearly 90 votes in the 150-member Assembly, which is expected to easily pass the bill. But he is also using the Assembly vote as a way to pressure members of the Senate, where the legislation’s fate will be decided, and demonstrate to wary senators that there is support in their districts for the bill. [link]