Breaking: Gay Marriage Legal in New York, Others to Follow
The New York Senate approved the Marriage Equality Act today on a vote of 33 to 29. The move comes as a bit of a surprise since it is the first Republican controlled senate to ever approve such a bold law on a traditionally liberal issue. It was not an easy process, as it took an extended session to get the votes.
New York News photo Stonewall Inn. The Gay Rights movement started during the Stonwall riots after citizens protested aggressive police action against gay assembly.
According to Reuters, Gov. Cuomo (D-NY) has signed the law. New York now joins five other states in approving gay marriage. Yet, being fifth in line does not mean being fifth in rank. New York is the most populated state to have passed the legislation that will allow gay couples to consummate their relationship through legal marriage. Passage in New York will support nationwide passage of a similar act.
The other states to approve the Act are Massachusetts, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington DC, while not being a state, also approved a similar law. One factor which helped speed the law through the Senate was an agreement to hold churches harmless if they did not want to participate in the law, according to New York Daily News.com.
Over 30 grass roots organizations lobbied the Republican held Senate this week, which also helped yield victory to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) community. According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) which has been an active voice for gay rights and helped lead the fight, celebrities and dignitaries showed up in force to encourage a yes vote, including Barbara Bush, daughter of President George Bush, and Richard Simmons. The yes vote included over 75,515 post cards, 25,622 phone calls to state senators with tens of thousands of people involved. At the core were more than 1000 volunteers.
The Amreican Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) suggests the Defense of Marriage Act may be dangling by a thread. Democratic President Barack Obama has not voiced his support for a national marriage equality act. Instead, he has indicated his point of view is "evolving". The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) community is urging the president support a national law so marital equality can become the law of the land.
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