Same-sex marriage legalized in New York

NEW YORK — On Friday, June 24, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law historic legislation, making New York the sixth state to sanction marriage between same-sex couples. He did so after the Senate voted 33 to 29 in favor of the Marriage Equity Act. “New York has finally torn down the barrier that has prevented same-sex couples from exercising the freedom to marry and from receiving the fundamental protections that so many couples and families take for granted,” stated Cuomo from Albany. “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.”“There was a feeling of pure joy and excitement, that still has me buzzing,” said Wassaic resident Leo Blackman, who along with his partner, Ken, has been waiting for the law to pass. “The prospect of how quickly change has come, that something was attained that was unimaginable a few years ago [is incredible].”Blackman said he received calls Friday night from across the country, as well as from around town, celebrating the news. The best part, he said, was that his mom got to partake in the excitement.“My mom happened to be visiting and was elated that she had actually lived long enough to attend our wedding,” he said. “The unequivocal support of so many of our neighbors has been really moving, and confirms our positive feelings about small town life. And we are now looking forward to exchanging vows before our friends and family.”Not everyone agrees, of course. The Rev. Jason J. McGuire, executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, is among those who oppose the governor’s and the senate’s decision.“Despite [their] vote, the people of New York recognize that marriage provides a strong foundation for a thriving society,” McGuire wrote in a press statement. “State senators who have chosen to pursue their own agenda or the agenda of liberal activist groups are ignoring the 62 percent of Americans who believe marriage is one man, one woman, nothing else.”Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry, made his own statement. He said the passage of the new law shows instead that New Yorkers and their lawmakers are opening their minds, and their hearts, to what’s right.“This unprecedented support from Republicans, corporations and even pro-athletes demonstrates how mainstream ending the exclusion of gay and lesbian couples from marriage has become,” stated Wolfson. “The surge in new support and this epic win in New York add to the momentum for the work ahead: ending the cruel exclusion from marriage in other states and overturning the so-called ‘Defense of Marriage Act,’ which denies married gay and lesbian couples — even in New York and other states that issue marriage licenses without discrimination — the safety-net of protections and responsibilities marriage brings at the federal level.”Not only do same-sex couples in the Empire State now have the freedom to marry under the law, they will also be eligible for hundreds of rights, benefits and protections that have heretofore been limited to married couples of the opposite sex. The Marriage Equality Act amends New York’s Domestic Relations Law to state:“A marriage that is otherwise valid shall be valid regardless of whether the parties to the marriage are of the same or different sex; “No government treatment or legal status, effect, right, benefit, privilege, protection or responsibility relating to marriage shall differ based on the parties to the marriage being the same sex or a different sex; “All relevant gender-specific language set forth in or referenced by New York law shall be construed in a gender-neutral manner; “No application for a marriage license shall be denied on the ground that the parties are of the same or a different sex.”The Marriage Equality Act, meanwhile, does offer some protection to religious organizations. It allows religious entities, benevolent organizations and not-for-profit corporations that are operated, supervised or controlled by a religious entity, or their employees, to refuse to perform marriage ceremonies or provide their facilities for marriage ceremonies, consistent with their religious beliefs. Additionally, religious entities will not be open to any legal action for refusing to wed same-sex couples.The Marriage Equality Act will go into effect 30 days from when the governor signed it into law, which will happen toward the end of July.