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.
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.