Congratulations to our brothers and sisters in New York State who now have the freedom to marry the one they love! I watched the LiveStream on pins & needles and listened to some very passionate, powerful speeches, including Senator Grisanti who, despite his strong Catholic conviction, believed that NO ONE should be denied the right to marry the one they love and receive all the rights & protections afforded that union. Shortly after 10:30PM (Eastern time) on Friday, June 24, 2011, four days shy of the 42nd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in Greenwich Village – the riots that ignited the LGBT equality movement – New York State Senate, in a vote of 33-29, approved marriage equality.
“I cannot deny a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, the people of my district and across this state, the State of New York, and those people who make this the great state that it is, the same rights that I have with my wife.” — State Sen. Mark Grisanti, Republican, Buffalo, NY
Just before midnight Eastern time, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the same-sex marriage bill into law following his promise to put his name on the bill as soon as it was passed rather than waiting the customary 10 days for it to become law.
“With the world watching, the Legislature, by a bipartisan vote, has said that all New Yorkers are equal under the law. With this vote, marriage equality will become a reality in our state, delivering long overdue fairness and legal security to thousands of New Yorkers.” –New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
New York made history, becoming the sixth state (including Washington D.C.) to allow same-sex marriage. Congratulations! Let the marriages (and divorces) begin!
I think this is awesome news!! Such a long road traveled to get to this point, though.
As a Catholic raised gal, and a military wife I have heard plenty of chatter from those on both sides of the fence. However I have always stood by my belief that we all deserve to be FREE. We ALL deserve to embrace ALL the freedoms and liberties that are fought to be preserved for Americans.
I hate that we have to grow up in a life with so many labels. He’s black, she’s hispanic, they are gay. It is my hope that one day we will look at each other and only see that we are HUMAN and Americans. That’s all that should matter.
Congratulations!