Pro-Gay Marriage GOP State Senator to Opponents: 'Fu** it, I Don't Care What You Think

New York State is the latest battleground in the national debate over gay marriage. Republican New York State Senator Roy McDonald -- one of the few individuals in the state's GOP who supports legalizing same-sex marriage -- joins NYC Major Michael Bloomberg in fervently supporting a new bill proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

As can be imagined, a pro-gay marriage mantra isn't going over too well among more socially right-leaning constituents. According to The New York Daily News, McDonald had some strong words in response to his conservative and religious critics:

"You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing

You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f--- it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing.

"I'm tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I'm trying to do the right thing, and that's where I'm going with this."

On Wednesday evening, the bill, proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, passed the New York State Assembly 80-63. Now, it must successfully make its way through the Senate, where it will face a tougher battle. That in mind, The Christian Post reports:

Republican senators defeated a similar bill in 2009 but there appears to be a more even split in the Senate over the Marriage Equality Act.

The bill would give same-sex couples an equal right to marry as well as other “rights, benefits and protections that are currently limited to married couples of the opposite sex,” the governor’s office said.

Some sources say the bill may be voted on and passed sometime today, which would make New York the latest state to move toward legalization. In order to nab Republican support, The Daily News reports that Cuomo's very cleverly inserted some intriguing exemptions into the bill:

In hopes of attracting needed Senate GOP votes, Cuomo's bill offers some exemptions from anti-discrimination laws to religious groups and affiliated organizations.

The Knights of Columbus, for instance, would be allowed to bar same-sex couples from renting out catering hall space.

The bill also specifies that no clergy would be forced to perform gay marriage ceremonies.

Prominent politicians like Michael Bloomberg have long been outspoken proponents of legalizing gay marriage. The mayor, in fact, has been working diligently to get Republicans on board. Yesterday, he visited Albany in an effort to court support and he has previously threatened to no longer fund any GOP politician who withholds a vote in support of gay marriage.

(h/t Huffington Post)