New York Legalizes Gay Marriage

After countless hours of behind-the-scenes wrangling, by a vote of 33-29, the state legislature has legalized gay marriage in New York. This makes New York the 6th state, and by far the largest, to offer same sex marriage in the United States. The bill was swiftly signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has lobbied fiercely for marriage equality since taking office. Gay marriage ceremonies should begin within 30 days of the governor's signature.

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  Todd Plank of Rochester, N.Y., holds a sign during a marriage equality rally at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Tuesday, June 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Mike Groll) ALBANY, NEW YORK--History has been made, and on Pride Weekend no less. New York, following the swift signature of the governor, is the 6th and most populous state in the union to have enshrined marriage equality.  After a long and sometimes contentious debate, the Republican-controlled Senate of New York passed the bill making gay marriage legal in the state of New York. The vote was 33-29, with 4 Republicans joining 29 Democrats to pass the momentous legislation. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill shortly after its passage, which will allow couples will be to marry after 30 days. Ceremonies should be under way before the end of July.  The passage of marriage equality in New York is seen as a huge victory not just for Governor Cuomo, who made it a political priority for his administration, but for the gay marriage movement as a whole. New York is larger in population than all five previous states who legalized gay marriage combined. This is a sea change moment for civil rights that promises to spark further change throughout the United States.

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  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo walks to a news conference in the Hall of Governors at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Tuesday, June 21, 2011. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

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  Gay marriage supporters hold signs in a hallway at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Friday, June 24, 2011. Following the latest marathon session on Thursday, the Senate Republican majority plans to again take up a gay marriage bill that could be pivotal moment in the national gay rights movement. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

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  An opponent to gay marriage holds a sign outside the Senate Chamber at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Thursday, June 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

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  Supporters of same sex marriage celebrate that the Senate members will vote on legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in New York, during a session of the New York State Senate at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., Friday, June 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

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  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reacts after same sex marriage was legalized after a vote in the Senate Chamber at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Friday, June 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

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  People in the Senate gallery react to the passage of gay marriage at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Friday, June 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

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  People watch from a window in the Senate Chamber as Senators passed a gay marriage bill at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Friday, June 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

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  Supporters of same sex marriage celebrate after Senate members voted and approved same-sex marriage at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., Friday, June 24, 2011. New York lawmakers narrowly voted to legalize same-sex marriage Friday, handing activists a breakthrough victory in the state where the gay rights movement was born. New York will become the sixth state where gay couples can wed and the biggest by far.(AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

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  Revelers celebrate the passage of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in New York State outside the Stonewall Inn on Christopher St, Friday, June 24, 2011, in New York. The measure passed, 33-29, following weeks of tense delays and debate. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

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  Revelers celebrate the passage of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in New York State outside the Stonewall Inn on Christopher St, Friday, June 24, 2011, in New York. The measure passed, 33-29, following weeks of tense delays and debate. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)