Equality has come to New York!
Late Friday night, the New York State senate voted 33-29 in favor of allowing gay and lesbian couples the right that every other couple in America enjoys — the right to marry. Gov. Andrew Cuomo immediately signed the bill into law, making New York the 6th and most populous state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage.
“This vote today will send a message across the country. This is the way to go, the time to do it is now, and it is achievable; it’s no longer a dream or an aspiration. I think you’re going to see a rapid evolution,” Cuomo said in a news conference. “We reached a new level of social justice.”
Cheers erupted in the Senate gallery in Albany, where supporters cried tears of joy and opponents sang religious songs in their hour of defeat. And upon hearing the news late Friday during the start of the annual Gay Pride weekend in New York City, several hundred gay and lesbian New Yorkers gathered victoriously outside the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, where a police raid in 1969 gave birth to the modern gay rights movement. “It’s about time. I want to get married. I want the same rights as anyone else,” said 36-year-old Caroline Jaeger who celebrated among the Stonewall crowd.
Republican Senator Stephen Saland was 1 of only 4 Republicans who courageously voted in favor of the legislation. “I have to define doing the right thing as treating all persons with equality and that equality includes within the definition of marriage,” he said following the historic vote.
Same-sex weddings (as well as same-sex divorces) may begin taking place in New York within 30 days, although religious institutions and nonprofit groups with religious affiliations will be exempt from having to officiate at such ceremonies.
OK California — you are now officially on the clock!
NYTimes: "A Democratic Surprise"Nobody ever expected Carl Kruger to vote yes. Democrat from Brooklyn, known for his gruff style and shifting alliances, Senator Kruger voted against same-sex marriage two years ago, was seen as a pariah in his party and was accused in March of taking $1 million in bribes in return for political favors.Some gay activists, assuming he was a lost cause, had taken to picketing outside of his house and screaming that he was gay — an approach that seemed only to harden his opposition to their agenda. (Mr. Kruger has said he is not gay.) But unbeknown to all but a few people, Mr. Kruger desperately wanted to change his vote. The issue, it turned out, was tearing apart his household.The gay nephew of the woman he lives with, Dorothy Turano, was so furious at Mr. Kruger for opposing same-sex marriage two years ago that he had cut… Read more »