Last night the NYS Senate approved our marriage equality bill, allowing same-sex couples to marry. This is historically significant in several respects:
- New York is the largest state to legalize same-sex marriage.
- New York is only the 6th state in the US to legalize same-sex marriage.
- This more than doubles the number of same-sex couples who can marry in their home state.
- Marriage has numerous benefits to families.
- The vote was largely the result of advocacy groups working overlooking their differences for a common goal.
- New York State lawmakers were able to overcome their differences, which have become paralyzing at times, to effectuate this.
- The bill includes religious exemptions.
- Credit also goes to Republican state senators like Steven Saland, who said, ” I have to find doing the right thing as treating all persons with equality, and that equality includes within the definition of marriage.”
- It shows the strength of Andrew Cuomo’s leadership and guidance.
- And perhaps most importantly, marriage equality is, as Julian Bond says, a civil rights issue.
And we can’t help noticing that the vote was passed on the eve of Gay Pride Weekend — let’s get the party started!