One More Reason to Love New York!

The Empire State Building lit up to celebrate equal marriage

Great news out of New York:  To the sound of loud cheers and applause, the Senate of the state of New York has passed its Marriage Equality Act!  The bill had already been passed by the Assembly, and will next be signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a strong supporter of same-sex marriage.

This is huge.  Marriage in New York matters because it's New York.  Other countries and states have marriage equality, too, but they don't carry the weight or influence that New York does.

New York is a big and influential state in a big and extremely influential country.  Its biggest city is, of course, New York City, known far and wide as the capital of the world.  It's the center of business, industry, trade, and media, sways the world's economies with its Stock Exchange, and is the permanent home of the United Nations.  When New York does something, the world takes notice.  "That's the power and the beauty of New York," as Governor Cuomo put it.  No doubt about it, marriage equality in the state of New York is a very big deal.

The vote came after a session of late night debates in the Senate chamber.  One of the Senators who had been undecided, Republican Mark Grisanti, said this in a speech just before the vote:

"I'm not just here as a senator who is Catholic... I'm also here with a background as an attorney, through which I look at things and apply reason.  I cannot legally come up with an argument against same-sex marriage.  I cannot deny a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, or people in my district and across New York the same rights that I have with my wife."

Congratulations, New York!  Welcome to equality!

Update:  Governor Cuomo has already immediately signed the bill into law, even though it was past 11:00PM.  Now that's dedication!

The Governor gives a smile and a thumbs-up after the bill passes in the Senate