“It was a historic day as New York became the sixth state in the union to legalize same-sex marriage. According to Politico reporter Ben Smith, “”484 same sex marriages in nyc today, per City Hall,”” including the two women in the photo above, Connie Kopelov, 85, and Phyllis Seagal, 77, who were the first couple married in Manhattan this morning. “”I am breathless. The fact that it’s happening to us, that we are finally legal and can do this like everyone one else. It’s mind boggling,”” Siegel said after a ceremony at Manhattan’s marriage bureau. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who is openly gay, was on hand for their ceremony, and broke down in tears when they kissed: “”When the city clerk said, ‘I now, under the power of the laws of the state of New York, marry you,’ it was an unbelievable thing to hear. To hear that he was marrying these two women, both in their 80s, because the law of my state gives them that power was an overwhelming and thrilling thing to hear.”” Newlywed Jim Consolantis put it this way: “”To be able to finally say that we’re legally wedded rather than ‘living in sin’ means the world to us.””
Gabriel Blau and Dylan Stein, who had hand-drawn boutineers from their three-year-old son, said they had a religious wedding five years before, but were overjoyed to make it legal today: “”The rabbi that day five years ago said, ‘The State of New York was invited and declined the invitation.’ And we’re really excited that today we get to complete that ceremony,”” Blau told NY1. Gov. Andrew Cuomo praised the legislators who voted for marriage equality, and called this a proud day to be a New Yorker: “”This is a statement that we should all feel good about. New York has always been about equality and bringing people in. New York has always been about acceptance…This state has always been at the progressive lead in making statements of equality, that this is a land of opportunity. This is a land of equality,”” he said today.”