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27 Jun 2011

New York legalises same-sex marriage

New York, the the birthplace of the gay and lesbian rights movement in the United States, has become the sixth and the most populous US state to legalise same-sex marriage.

New York, the the birthplace of the gay and lesbian rights movement in the United States, legalised same-sex marriage on Friday; just two days before the city celebrated its 42nd annual gay pride parade on Sunday. The annual parade commemorates the so-called Stonewall riots of June 28, 1969, where patrons at the historic Stonewall Inn, a gay-friendly bar, spontaneously fought back when it was raided by police.

Gov Andrew Cuomo (right) and Speaker Christine Quinn (left). Photo via the New York Daily News

Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, signed the gay-marriage into law late Friday night after the Republican-led state Senate voted 33-29 to pass it.

The Marriage Equality Act, which will take effect on Jul 24, allows gender-neutral marriages for both same- and opposite-sex couples, while prohibiting state and local courts and governments from penalising religious and religious-supervised institutions, their employees, or clergy for refusing to sanctify or recognise marriages in contradiction with their religious doctrines, or for refusing to provide services and accommodations for such weddings.

"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," Cuomo, a Democrat, said in a written statement shortly after the vote.

"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."

According to reports, the passage of the bill would literally double to 11 percent the number of US citizens who live in states where same-sex marriage is legal. New York follows Iowa, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and the District of Columbia to allow gay marriage.

Couples will be granted the more than 1,000 state marriage benefits that straight couples receive, but they are not eligible for federal marriage benefits under the Defense of Marriage Act passed by the US Congress in 1996.

Reader's Comments

1. 2011-06-27 11:36  
Congrats NY
Comment #2 was deleted by its author on 2011-06-27 11:36
3. 2011-06-27 12:24  
Congratsssss!!!!!!!!!! Welcome New York!
4. 2011-06-27 12:43  
I wonder... when divorce happens, who gets the 1/3 or half?
The bottom or the top? LOL
5. 2011-06-27 12:44  
This is what we called CHANGE.... generation after generations gay and lesbian has not been so open and comfortable in lifestyle as this day. Finally the advance of technology in this 21rst century somehow has defined an equality place for men and women in society regardless sexual preference .. and this is just the beginning.....
6. 2011-06-27 12:50  
WHO WANT TO MARRY WITH ME IN NYC???
RAISE UP YOUR HAND!
I DO! I DO! I DO!
7. 2011-06-27 14:19  
my next stop NYC!!!!!
Comment #8 was deleted by its author on 2011-06-27 14:53
9. 2011-06-27 14:54  
I can finally mean it when I say 'I LOVE NY'!
10. 2011-06-27 14:56  
NYC See uuuuuuu :)
11. 2011-06-27 15:31  
Wow
12. 2011-06-27 15:41  
marry me Newyorker.
13. 2011-06-27 18:13  
Let's see CA.. This is the direction we are going!!
Comment #14 was deleted by its author on 2011-08-13 17:19
15. 2011-06-27 19:19  
congraturation new york and the world. finaly we get freedom. i hope many conutry will approve too soon. hooray........
16. 2011-06-27 19:52  
Congrats to NY, a great step in the right direction. The real victory will be when the same sex marriages are recognized by the federal government which is still probably years down the road (2020?). US likes to think of itself as a leader in human rights and equality... but in practice we are well behind many progressive countries.
17. 2011-06-27 20:19  
Not everyone needs the approbation of the state or others to affirm the value of their relationship.
I would rather the state stay out of personal relationships.

18. 2011-06-27 20:25  
The next step is to legalize gay marriage at Federal level. I am sure this issue will go all the way up to The Supreme Court of USA. If the Supreme court rules against gay marriage, it will be the worst nightmare for American gays. I hope it will be fine. Due to Immigration laws are under Federal jurisdication, Americans living in the state that legalized gay marriage can't sponsor his/her foreign partner to live in USA because it is not recognized in the Federal laws. Ultimately, it will be soon to see the ending of all years of fight in this simple dignity issue, Gay Marriage. Canada was the first English speaking country to legalize gay marriage in 2005. I am sure USA will be soon unless its Supreme Court against it. Hope for the best.

Well Done, New Yorkers. Congratulations !
19. 2011-06-27 20:33  
WOW! A dream comes true!! Congratulations, NYers!! :D
20. 2011-06-27 21:09  
Awesome news! Wish I were there to celebrate with friends.
21. 2011-06-27 21:41  
I am not sure what the big deal is about the events this past weekend. # 18 sums it up perfectly. I am a native New Yorker who lives in Asia and just happens to be in New York for the summer with my Taiwanese partner of 7 years.The legalization of gay marriage in NY is only a token gesture and means nothing in the way of benefits as straight couples have until it becomes a Federal law.
Comment edited on 2011-06-27 21:42:48
22. 2011-06-27 22:05  
accepting the news with mixed feelings honestly

not sure if there will be real changes but maybe this is the first step

23. 2011-06-27 22:16  
MARRY ME BOYS :P
24. 2011-06-27 23:21  
Who wants to marry me? ;-))))
25. 2011-06-27 23:25  
Great news! This doubles the number of people in the US who are eligible for same-sex marriage. And since it includes NYC maybe triples the gay population. I think it sucks that the WSJ article announcing the basic facts only has a couple of facts before you have to subscribe, BUT when it comes to the article announcing the "Vote Alters Political Battle Lines" suddenly everything is free (complete with drag queen photos). I hope no one on this site is sending money to the Wall Street Journal for their anti-gay partisanship. Don't support the people who hate us.
26. 2011-06-27 23:33  
Eligible for what other than to say that 2 gay men or women are married.It does not allow us ANY benefits that straight couples get so what is the point? The WSJ is far from anti-gay as working for the news media I know about 14 gay men and women that work for the WSJ in Asia alone.If you take the total number of WSJ employees around the globe and multiply it by the 10% average gay theory you will have a substantial amount of gay men & women working at the WSJ.
27. 2011-06-28 00:14  
why must apply male-female unionship values into male-male unionship life?
we do have our own values, don't we? and these values don't need to be legalized or acknowledged by somebody else...
28. 2011-06-28 00:40  
Dear Fridae Editors,

I don't mean to be "ethno centric American" but I am surprised that this story was not posted sooner, like 24 hours sooner.......the news has been out since Saturday ...................

It is a huge huge win for gay/queer civil rights in the world.

29. 2011-06-28 00:49  
Regarding post #17... But the government is in the business of personal relationships and that is not going to change. We can sit back and wish that wasn't the case while straight couples continue to get all sorts of benefits associated with marriage or we can continue the long battle toward full equality at the federal level. Why should same sex relationships be given 2nd class treatment? So even tough the benefits at the state levels are not that significant, each little step brings us a closer to equality at the federal level. In conjunction with recent court cases and actions within the federal government, I am hoping the the days of DOMA are numbered.
Comment #30 was deleted by its author on 2011-06-28 14:55
31. 2011-06-28 06:30  
Finally glad that some level of justice has been given to me and other gays in my hometown... Now the fight is for federal protection... Bring it on!!! Thanks to all of the GLBT human rights organizations that have successfully taken on and won the first major battle in this long civil rights and culture war... Will raise a glass in celebration when I return home for vacation next month... Anyone care to join me? ;~)
32. 2011-06-28 06:40  
Congratz NY !!!
Just wondering who will be the 1st couple to get married there.
Hopefully there will be more cities following this BIG step of change. We can make it happens :)
33. 2011-06-28 08:21  
I ♥ NY
34. 2011-06-28 09:51  
God Bless New York !!! = )
35. 2011-06-28 09:59  
I am SO PROUD to be a New Yorker right now! HOORAY!!! :) :) :)
36. 2011-06-28 14:55  
congrats NY :)
37. 2011-06-28 16:22  
Congratulations to all the loving gay and lesbian couples in the state of New York who can finally realize their dream of marrying their partner.

Make no mistake... this was a big-time defeat for opponents of same-sex marriage, who have spent millions of dollars in their efforts to make gay marriage illegal. Making their defeat even more humiliating is that this was a legislative decision, enacted by NY State lawmakers, not a judicial decision handed down from a court. Even sweeter, it was passed by a Republican-majority assembly. My head is still spinning.

I feel confident that, in time, the Prop 8 nonsense in California will be overturned, too. Gay marriage WILL eventually be legalized nationwide in the US. We're a slow bunch when it comes to REAL equality, particularly for a nation supposedly founded on its very bedrock. Women didn't get the right to vote until the 1920s, some 150 years after the creation of America, and civil rights for black people took even longer.

We'll get there.


(As a friendly P.S., I've talked to a number of people here -- Malaysia -- who don't know that New York is actually a state, not just New York City... so this decision affects millions more than those in NYC.)
38. 2011-06-28 16:48  
Well done, New York.
39. 2011-06-28 18:32  
great...
40. 2011-06-28 18:36  
i now can say.. I
41. 2011-06-28 19:09  
another reason to move to NY, congrats!!
@32; maybe NPH? :D
42. 2011-06-28 19:09  
will Malaysia, ever keep up to NY'S pace?
43. 2011-06-28 19:20  
I sort of agree with #27 Heimuk who says "...why must apply male-female unionship values into male-male unionship life?" I don't want to be "married" (a religious thing and I reject all religions) but I do want to be given the same rights that married people enjoy when they are committed to another in love and life.
44. 2011-06-28 20:11  
Lady Gaga - "Rejoice NY, and propose". Sound strategy - love, marry and populate. In 25 years and 2 generations, whither hate and discrimination.
45. 2011-06-29 08:39  
Dear #27

"why must apply male-female unionship values into male-male unionship life?
we do have our own values, don't we? and these values don't need to be legalized or acknowledged by somebody else..."

I am sure you do not know the actual meaning of gay marriage in the eyes of law. It has nothing to do with proving to anyone about marriage. You have to do the research about what are the main purpose of gay marriage, then you will know it is not about marriage, it is far more than just a piece of paper.

The latest case of victim of not being able to be protected by gay marriage law is as follow:
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2011/06/28/ia.same.sex.couples.face.deport.cnn.html

Take a deep look. Isn't about proving to anyone about their wonderful 11 years together. When you are not recognized in the eyes of law. You are no body in the eyes of law and society. One day when your lover is about to die in a hospital, only closed family or spouse can be on his bed site. For example, If you have a boyfriend of 15 years living together, you CANNOT close to him in a hospital bed because you are not his closed family or spouse. You cannot sign legal paper when he is not able to make a decision for his emergency treatment in hospital. That means you will see him suffering without much help you can help him. When he dies, the house and stuffs that you both share and bought, you have to be forced to sell them or move out by the court if he does not leave you his will under your name. Unless both of you were married and recognized by Federal laws.

Can you imagine how sad Takako has to face because of her marriage does not recognize by USA Federal laws? She has to pack and go back to Japan with two luggage and leave her love of 11 years behind. When can they be able living together again? Perhaps years, they have to be apart from each other. SO SAD. Do you see the meaning of gay marriage now? Dear #27.
46. 2011-06-29 23:21  
Congratulations to the 20 million people living in New York State for choosing to respect their gay citizens and to stop discriminating against them. But because of central government marriage rights don't give them the legal equality that civil unions give people in other countries. But it is good news for America in the struggle for equal rights for all.
47. 2011-06-30 10:08  
For those gay people who oppose gay marriage, I want to say to them that you are not the only gay person in this world. There are gays who want to enter same sex marriages. If you don't want to get married personally, that's fine, but you can still stand up for those gays who want to get married. Why do you think so many straight people support gay marriage? The gay rights campaign is not just about you. It's about equality for all.
48. 2011-06-30 10:14  
Also, it's not only wrong to say marriage is a religious thing, it disrespects those married atheists, as many of them take their marriages seriously.
49. 2011-06-30 17:36  
@48, all or most of them do I expect. Marriage has nothing to do with religion.
50. 2011-07-01 04:26  
I live in New York city and the gay parede was amazing this year, the people very happy, we were wating for so many years for this day finaly our dream came true, i hope after New York many cities will do the same.
51. 2011-07-01 11:54  
I do not think marriage is a necessity.
52. 2011-07-01 16:16  
I believe that everyone in the world, gay and straight people are entitled to their own belief as to whether they want to get married and whether marriage is even important to them.

However, that option must first be open to everyone regardless of gender and orientation. So if gay marriage is allowed, and you are gay, you can totally not subscribe to it and not get married. But for gay people who want to get married and for whom marriage is important, then yes, they can have that option.

So for all the nay sayers and party poopers who don't think it is important, I get you. But can you at least get yourselves out of the way and see that other people can find it important?

Gay people, whether the state permits it or not, has always had their own relationships, have sex even when sodomy is illegal in their country. So why should it matter right?

It matters because the individual matters. Because we are citizens and we have a say in absolutely everything in our environment. Because the individual does not exist in a vaccum, we are daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, and we are all citizens.

Theoretically, we are free. But in real life, we are citizens subject to state, federal or national and international laws. We need passports, there are laws governing marriages, privileges, benefits and restrictions. And these need to be inclusive. People can choose not to subscibe to them, if the option is open to them. But the option must at least be open. Gay marriage needs to exist. Gay don't have to get married. But at least, if they want to, they can.

This is what free choice is about. This is what diversity is about. This is what democracy is about.
53. 2011-07-01 16:34  
Just to clarify the issue of state intervention. In the states, the Conservatives (as a political category and not as a moral stand) feel that the state should not intervene.

Allowing gay marriage is actually the state not intervening. State intervention is actually manifested in the restriction of gay marriage. It is rather clear. Two men or women in a stable and committed relationship would like to concretised their committment in a socially and legally recognised manner. The state says, 'nope, you are are not a man and a woman, so you can't get married'. That is intervention.

Now, in NY, the state actually does not care if you want to get married or not, whether you are one man one woman, or two men or two women. The state says, 'sure.' That, is non-intervention.

Marriage is a religious institution only if you insist that you need to be married in a religious institution and want the recognition of the religious order.

Otherwise, marriage is simply a state where two people come together in an agreement to be committed in a relationship that is legally binding. The legal element is important because it allows for the creation of a family unit, whether or not you decide to have children. If I die, it ensures my partner can be by my side in the hospital, along with my birth family. It ensures that, my family who may homophobic, or the law or even the state cannot come and take what I have shared with my partner, from her. Yes, we are individuals and yes, our relationships do not need recognition for it to be important, but we are also citizens and subject to society and government.

54. 2011-07-01 18:01  
post #'s 46.47 48.49,52,& 53, your points are exactly right! Of course marriage is not exclusively a religious institution. Take for instance those who go to the marriage registry office/town hall/city hall to get married or have the marriage conducted by a non-religious celebrant as a legal right as distinct from getting married in a church.
post # 47&48 'plino85' your words are so true.

If marriage is not the desire of some, doesnt mean it shouldnt be a right for others.
55. 2011-07-01 20:52  
WELL DOWN~ ! LOVELYS
Comment #56 was deleted by its author on 2011-07-02 09:27
Comment #57 was deleted by its author on 2011-07-02 09:26
Comment #58 was deleted by its author on 2011-07-02 09:27
59. 2011-07-02 09:30  
Congratulations to GL New Yorkers, btw How's Jakarta, Indonesia ? Could it be the same ?
Comment edited on 2011-07-02 09:42:51
60. 2011-07-03 02:20  
Dear 57 " I do not think marriage is a necessity. "

I understand your country will NEVER give you the right for gay marriage. Please read #45, 46.47 48.49,52,& 53. Open your mind even you will never have a chance in your Muslim country. Be supportive for Equality right. Straight people do not have to get married too because no one force them, it has to apply to gay people. It is a personal choice. If state intervenes gay people to get married, it will become unfair to their basic human right.
61. 2011-07-03 02:27  
If you are seriously looking into gay marriage issue, it is not about marriage or proving to anyone about signing the legal paper, it is unconstitutional to have law that exclusively giving the marriage benefits to straight people or any exclusive treatment to certain people. For example, My Malaysian friend told me, certain jobs in public and private sector in Malaysia are exclusively reserve for Malay race only, other minority races are prohibited to apply for the job.

The below is the Canadian Equality Rights in our Chartered of Rights and Freedom.

Equality Rights

EQUALITY BEFORE AND UNDER LAW AND EQUAL PROTECTION AND BENEFIT OF LAW / Affirmative action programs.
15. (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

(2) Subsection (1) does not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.
Comment #62 was deleted by its author on 2011-07-11 05:19
63. 2011-07-11 05:19  
dreams come true like they do
64. 2011-07-30 10:51  
wow in NY.

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