New York Senate passes Marriage Equality Act, Andrew Cuomo signs it shortly after
A few scenes from the state Capitol Friday night.
The state Senate passed the Marriage Equality Act 33-29 Friday night.
Earlier in the evening, the Assembly passed amendments to the bill that included increased protections for religious organizations that choose not to participate in same-sex marriages.
Andrew Cuomo signed the bill shortly before midnight on Friday. It takes effect 30 days after his signature.
Recaps, quotes and pics from the vote after the jump...
Senator Stephen Saland -- a Republican from Poughkeepsie (that's him on the right) who was a big part of the effort to write the amendment that extends protections allowing religious orgs to opt out of participating in same-sex marriage -- was the 32nd and deciding vote.
Saland conceded his decision would "disappoint a significant number of people." He explained his vote during statements ahead of the amendment vote:
"I have to define doing the right thing as treating all persons with equality and that equality includes within the definition of marriage. And to do otherwise would fly in the face of my upbringing."
"I feel if my parents were here they would have told me I have done the right thing."
The statements ahead of the vote on the actual bill were at times touching -- and cranky.
Said Ruben Diaz, the most vocal opponent of same-sex marriage in the Senate: "God settled the issue of marriage a long time ago." He then ran over his time and refused to stop when Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy asked him to stop.
Tom Duane, Democrat from Manhattan who's openly gay, then talked about the struggles he's faced and the progress that's been made, and the significance to him of legalizing same-sex marriage: "Marriage says that we are a family. [My partner] Louis and I are a family. Marriage strengthens all families."
Mark Grisanti, a Republican from near Buffalo, represented the 33rd vote in favor of the bill. He explained that he struggled with the idea of same-sex marriage because of his Catholic upbringing, but ultimately, "I cannot legally come up with an argument against same-sex marriage. ... I cannot deny that right for someone or stand in the way of obtaining the rights that I have."
The votes by Senators from the greater Capital Region:
Yes: Neil Breslin, Roy McDonald
No: Hugh Farley, Betty Little
The crowd outside the chamber erupted when the finally tally was announced. At one point there were more than 40,000 people watching the vote on the Senate live online feed.
Next up: a signature from Andrew Cuomo. Said the governor in a statement: "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."
He said later in a press conference: "This state, at its finest, is a beacon for social justice." And: "Tonight I am especially proud to be a New Yorker." He also gave a shoutout to Roy McDonald, calling him and others "people of courage and principle."
Cuomo signed the bill at 11:55 pm Friday. The law takes effect 30 days after his signature.
New York will become the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage.
A few scenes from the Capitol
Same-sex marriage supporters waiting on word from the Senate chamber.
Opponents of same-sex marriage praying before the vote.
Waiting for a thumbs up from the chamber.
Senate gallery right after the vote.
Libby Post right after the vote.
Celebration in the Capitol
Supporters celebrating after the bill passed.
"We've waited so long..."
Saland screen capture from NYS Senate Livestream
Cuomo screen capture from NYS Governor Livestream
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Comments
Congratulations, New York! Woooohoooooo!
... said James Cronen on Jun 24, 2011 at 10:55 PM | link
And with that Cuomo absorbs another block of blind voters. Bring on the hydrofracking. It's all corporate interests from here on out!
... said reality on Jun 24, 2011 at 10:56 PM | link
This is offensive and sad. No matter what the New York legislature thinks, marriage has always be between one man and one woman. It will always be this way. Two men or two women being called "married" is a perversion of the most important institution the world has know. I will take solace in the knowledge that 31 of these 50 United States have constitutions that prevent this sort of tragedy from taking place... I pray we can amend our state constitution or revoke this law with a referendum.
... said Preserve Marriage on Jun 24, 2011 at 11:21 PM | link
Go New York! Hopefully we'll get this through the federal government so those remaining 31 states that are DISCRIMINATING against its citizens won't be able to.
Marriage is a legal contract between two consenting individuals and always will be.
... said Olivia on Jun 25, 2011 at 12:55 AM | link
"marriage has always be between one man and one woman".
Especially, you know, if that man or woman is your first cousin.
Go NY.
... said -S on Jun 25, 2011 at 2:11 AM | link
Like AOA, I too was on twitter live last night watching this vote unfold. Here's what I observed: an brazen, outlandish disgust towards Diaz and is oppositional speech. Even at the end of this road, supporters are just as bigoted when it comes to expression of free speech that they don't share.
http://twitter.com/#!/search/diaz%20ssm
That's progress.
... said Jeff S on Jun 25, 2011 at 7:26 AM | link
Gay marriage (check). Up next, legalize pot.
... said Barold on Jun 25, 2011 at 7:43 AM | link
I applaud our state government for this momentous achievement- this is one less instance of our government telling us what we CAN'T do !
... said Brandon on Jun 25, 2011 at 9:16 AM | link
signing this bill was the right thing to do. how is it that anyone can play God and say it's wrong? you are not God, so don't try to be God. also, mot passing this would not only have been a violation of the constitution, but remeber the whole issue of seperstion of church and state? people getting married certainly isn't unlawful, and the only other opposition to it is through people's religious beliefs. so, this bill had a right to be passed, and passing it represents what america is truly about: freedom.
... said Beth Moffitt on Jun 25, 2011 at 9:34 AM | link
It's about time!!!! This is fantastic!
... said Nancy on Jun 25, 2011 at 3:23 PM | link
I'm still surprised that there's so much confusion on the distinction between civil marriage and religious marriage. They're two completely separate institutions, one being a legal partnership defining one's rights with relation to another and the other being a religious ceremony. This bill took so long to pass simply because the Senate wanted to ensure that that distinction was made clear in the bill, and that no religious group would be forced to go against their beliefs so that this full legal partnership could be recognized. New York State did not redefine whatever one's deity of choice defines a marriage to be, they only extended the civil right of marriage to all couples, irrespective of orientation.
I made the drive up from New Jersey for this last night, and I'm really glad I did. I'm proud that Albany came together to ensure that all New Yorkers are that much closer to being completely equal under the law.
... said Pete on Jun 25, 2011 at 4:09 PM | link
@PreserveMarriage:
The family has been around for substantially longer than the institution of marriage. Regardless of your personal religious beliefs, there really is no legal argument against same-sex marriage. From the liberal side, it's a basic human and discrimination issue akin to legislation banning blacks and whites from marrying 60 years ago. From the conservative side (I mean true small-government conservativism, not this morality-legislating nonsense the right has become in recent decades), it's the government intervening in a private contract between two consenting adults. If you're against gay marriage, don't get one. It's as simple as that.
... said Tom on Jun 25, 2011 at 7:13 PM | link
I ask all NY Gays to help us straight people and decrease the 50%+ divorce rate and save the sanctity of marriage!
Thank you!
... said GMONEY on Jun 26, 2011 at 12:17 AM | link
I was watching it unfold on TV and it was beautiful. I felt truly moved and got a bit weepy when it passed.
@Jeff S.: I was also angry at Diaz, but not because he was opposed to same-sex marriage... in my case it was because he was making very little sense and when Duffy tried to get him to wrap it up, he wasted another few minutes simply arguing with him and babbling about a bunch of nonsense. Or at least it sounded like nonsense. It was very frustrating to watch.
@S- yes! I think that's hilarious about the cousin thing. I was telling a friend that maybe there's no law in NY banning first cousins from marrying because we never needed one, because it was never a problem here. That's what I'm choosing to believe in my mind.
... said Summer on Jun 27, 2011 at 11:45 AM | link