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Lady Gaga took a moment during her appearance in Buffalo on Friday to single out a New York state senator for his wavering stance on the marriage equality bill.
According to The Buffalo News, Gaga implored her fans to send “2,000 e-mails” to state senator Mark Grisanti, a Republican elected in November. She later posted a plea on her Facebook page.
"There's a senator here in Buffalo that's on the fence about whether or not to vote for this particular bill and I would like to give you all his e-mail," she said. "His name is senator Mark Grisanti."
A spokesman for Grisanti issued a response Saturday that indicated Grisanti plans to meet soon with marriage equality advocates in his district, the News reports.
"Sen. Grisanti has already reached out to the local chapter of Outspoken for Equality, and is meeting with them next week," said the statement from Doug Curella. "Additionally, I have personally met with the Outspoken for Equality in Albany, and we had a very informative and constructive conversation. We look forward to learning more about their issues and concerns with regards to same-sex marriage."
Grisanti, a Democrat turned Republican, defeated former Democratic state senator Antoine Thompson, who was serving his second term, by only 525 votes in the western New York district last fall. In the past Grisanti said he was "inalterably opposed" to marriage equality, but now he represents a heavily Democratic district.
The marriage equality bill failed in the New York state senate by a vote of 38-24 in 2009, with not a single Republican voting in favor. Republican leader Dean Skelos, whose party controls the chamber now, has promised not to block the bill from coming to the floor for a vote, but it will need bipartisan support to pass.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said last month that he wants the senate to vote on the bill again by June.
