New York made history late June 25 as the state Senate approved a same-sex marriage measure by a vote of 33-29, the New York Post reported. ( Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the measure later that night. ) The other house, the Assembly, passed the bill last week for the fourth time since 2007.
New York now joins Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa and Washington, D.C., as the only states that legally recognizes gay marriage.
Pro-LGBT organizations immediately issued proclamations praising the development.
"History was made today in New York. This victory sends a message that marriage equality across the country will be a reality very soon," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) .
"Governor Cuomo has shown New York and the nation what leadership looks like," added Brian Ellner, HRC's senior strategist in the state. "The bipartisan nature of the vote is compelling proof that marriage equality is increasingly an issue that unites, not divides. Legislators listened to their constituents and did the right thing."
Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said, "Moments ago, the New York Senate passed a bill that will dramatically change the lives of gays and lesbians across the state. They will finally be able to marry the person they love."
For Dale Bernstein, a New York resident and PFLAG ( Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays ) National board member, the development was especially personal: "After years of actively fighting for marriage equality in New York State, I am elated that both of my sonsgay and straightwill now have the same basic civil right to marry the person they love in the state in which they were raised," she said in a statement.
Locally, Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov emailed Windy City Times, saying, "We applaud the commitment of New York legislators to equal treatment of all New York citizens. And we are proud of the work of our colleagues at Empire State Pride Agenda and other organizations, allies, partners, donors, canvassers, phonebankers, and supporters who made this victory possible. What a great victory to celebrate this Pride Month!"
Robin McGhee of GetEQUAL lauded the vote, saying, "Congrats definitely go out to all the groups and individuals who have worked so hard to get this done, who are too numerous to name. With this vote, we have now doubled the number of LGBT Americans who can legally marry in this country." However, she added, "Let us be clear, thoughmarriage is not the "end all, be all" of the movement for LGBT civil rights."
Marriage-equality foes have vowed political retribution for Republican senators who voted in favor of the bill.