Same Sex Marriage in New York

Recently the New York State Legislature passed the “Marriage Equality Act” legalizing gay marriage which will legally begin as of July 24^th 2011 (does anyone else recognize that date?). Already, New York City’s Mayor, Michael Bloomberg is planning a ‘NYC I Do’ event in order to attract same-sex couples to New York to raise tourism revenue.

The passage is monumental for a number of reasons including the fact that the bill was supported by three Republican state legislators. State Senator Mark J. Grisanti, a Republican from Buffalo, who was one of the 33 votes for the bill proclaimed, “I apologize for those who feel offended… I cannot deny a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, the people of my district and across the state, the State of New York, and those people who make this great state that it is, the same rights that I have with my wife.”¹

In the wake of the same-sex marriage bill being signed into law, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s name is already being floated around as a possible 2016 Democratic presidential candidate. Although he is trying to keep a low profile to ensure that he is not seen as an opportunist or losing touch with his official duties, Cuomo was instrumental in the passage of the bill. The New York Times reports Cuomo called the state senators himself and brokered a deal with Senator Grisanti and Senator Stephen Saland, to ensure that no republican senator could be the 32^nd vote and cast as the sole vote for passage. ^2-3

The Associated Press (AP) reported that persons under the age 30 are “consistently more supportive of (same-sex marriage) than their elders,” while polls nationally show that the over 50% of all American support same-sex-marriage, a trend that will hopefully will continue as we move forward.

Secretary of State and international defender of human rights, Hillary Clinton proclaimed “The State of New York’s legalization of same-sex marriage marks a historic rights victory that will give much-needed credibility and visibility to the international movement for gays and lesbians.” As Young Democrats look to the future and the 2012 presidential election, our hope is that Republican and Democratic Candidates alike can put aside partisan politics and ideology to do what Grisanti advocated, (grant same-sex-partners) the same rights that (they) have with (their spouses). Because the youth and FUTURE of this country support it.⁴

¹ New York Times, New York Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage, Slideshow

²Gothamist, Gay Marriage Hero Cuomo not Thinking About 2016, But Sorta Is

³ New York Times, How the Same Sex Marriage Deal Nearly Collapsed

⁴ Fox News, Clinton Hails 'Momentous' New York Vote on Gay Marriage