Victory! New York Passes Marriage Equality Bill for Gays and Lesbians

by Joe Mirabella · 2011-06-24 19:40:00 UTC
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Today is a historic day! New York's Senate passed a bill that will grant the freedom to merry for gays and lesbians!

The bill will be signed by Governor Cuomo who lobbied extensively for the passage of the legislation. The law will go into effect 30 days after the bill is signed.

New York's progression to a marriage equality state will have an enormous positive impact on thousands of LGBT families and their children. Extending marriage to same-sex couples will protect more than 42,000 couples raising 14,000 children.

It will also be a huge economic stimulus. Couples from anywhere in the country can get married in New York under the new legislation. However, because of federal and state DOMA laws, those marriages will not be recognized in most of the country.

Nevertheless, because of New York's population, the percentage of Americans living in a state that offers marriage to gays and lesbians doubled!

More than 4,000 people pledged to support marriage for New York's gays and lesbians through the Human Rights Campaign's Change.org petition. No doubt many of them also contacted New York Assembly members, or asked their New York friends and family to do so.

Historic shifts in policy do not happen in a vacuum. They require the hard work of literally thousands of people. Congratulations to each and every one of you who participated in history. You have the power to change the world.

Joe Mirabella is a Change.org Organizing Manager for LGBT rights.

RELATED PETITION

Support Marriage Equality for New Yorkers!
VICTORY!
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