Gay Marriage Officially Legal In New York State

What would be the powerhouse states that if passed would pretty much indicate that the other states would follow, if any?

I always viewed NY as one of them. Cali and Texas as one of those too.

Second Republican Senator's statement who voted for it. Not quite as awesomely candid as the first, but:

"Tonight, I joined my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to legalize same sex marriage in New York State. Since I began my term as Senator I have met with many people on both sides of this issue, read numerous documents and independent studies. Given the high stakes, I felt I owed it to everyone to make a well-informed decision.

I have come to believe that all New Yorkers should be entitled to the same 1324 rights that come with a civil marriage. As an attorney I analyzed the legislation and concluded that the amendments provide critical exemptions for religious institutions. Passage of this bill now rather than later ensures that these protections be included. I cannot deny anyone in my district and across New York the same rights I have with my wife."

So proud of my home state <3

I would hope that Texas would follow suite, but I'm hesitant to get my hopes up.

In the press conference at 11:15 EST, he said he was signing the bill "this evening."

I do not think that simply because Texas is a large state that it will take NY's lead and legalize same-sex marriage any time soon. There are still a lot of hearts and minds to be won over and NY is just a momentum builder after the movement suffered loss after loss these last 2 years.

I wouldn't expect Texas to legalize gay marriage any time soon if ever.

I agree. Look to the blue states to do it first. It will be a while before red states fall in line as a whole.

I don't think so either; I'm trying to ask really "which states, if they do something, tend to influence the other states to follow suit"?

I'm a little excited atm and so maybe I'm just babbling.

It absolutely is exciting. And, yes, NY is one of the states that is often a leader among other states. As to who would follow suit, I am not entirely sure. Again, though, the blue states are the most likely atm.

Man, if I was back in Hoboken I'd be taking the train to Manhattan right now.

I bet you 100% that there is a celebration in the streets.

Of course, you are not going to see this happen in days, weeks, or even months...its just a momentum builder.

I think I speak for both those opposed to gay marriage and it's proponents when I say the supreme court needs to take this on already. You've got this weird limbo where some states say yay and others nay and then of course married filing jointly for tax purposes is both a federal and a state thing so who knows how the hell that works. The supreme court needs to grow a pair, take this issue on and either say gay marriage is in or it's out, they're going to do it eventually anyway.

Problem with this is that when the Supreme Court makes bold decisions on big social issues, they could become hotly debated as "overturnable." Roe v. Wade comes to mind. When it is enacted in the legislature it is as law was intended to be written and often seen as "case closed." I know this is not always the case, but there is a better change of stability in the legislature.

All celebration aside, SCOTUS will get the final say. Right now DOMA trumps all state laws when it comes to recognition at the federal level for tax purposes, immigration rights (green cards for spouses), benefit rights for spouses (military, federal jobs) among many others.

While the states provide some very important benefits for the married (hospital visitation, inheritance and adoption among the most important) as well as the basic fundamental recognition of a union, recognition at the federal level is what really counts in many circumstances.

Because of the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution, Federal laws hold supremacy over state laws when in conflict. This is why despite Medical Marijuana laws having been passed in many states, it is still illegal at the federal level and (due to prior SCOTUS rulings) will remain so until Congress removes marijuana from its list of schedule 1 narcotics.

Unlike Medical Marijuana, SCOTUS has yet to have the opportunity to hear a case related to the conflict between State Gay Marriage Laws and DOMA. When it does, it can either find that DOMA trumps state Gay Marriage Laws (rendering them null and void), that DOMA is itself unconstitutional and must as such be struck down as invalid - or somewhere inbetween...

Given the opinions penned by Anthony Kennedy (the only real 'swing' vote on this issue) it seems likely that DOMA is set to fall, unless the makeup of the court changes (i.e. if a Republican President is elected in 2012 and gets to replace a retiring liberal-leaning Justice.)

The Prop 8 case in California is already at the level of the 9th Circuit. It was thrown out by the CA Federal Court, appealed to the 9th, who will almost certainly uphold the ruling (support same sex marriage).

At that point it will become legal in most states west of the Great Plains.

The anti-gay side will then appeal to the US Supreme Court, and they'll be pretty much forced to accept the case so as to not let the inconsistent regional ruling stand. I estimate 2-3 years from now.

The four conservatives on the court will vote against it, and the four liberals for it. The choice will be left to Anthony Kennedy, who tends to vote independent. But his past votes to overturn anti-gay laws in Texas and elsewhere imply he would support gay marriage.

I'm so glad to see people finally beginning to support this. As someone else said, there is literally no -legal- reason to outlaw gay marriage. Opposition is based purely on religious indignation, and there is nothing in the Constitution that allows an entire group of people to be discriminated against because of nothing more than religious outrage.

Governor Cuomo has signed the law in a special late-night session.

It's now officially legal, and marriage licenses will begin to be issued in 30 days.

Woo, now I can rest easy!

That may be one of the most awesome things I've ever heard a politician say.

i dont see why its not legal everywhere else

if your avatar is you, come to ny so i can marry you.

His avi is clint eastwood lol... And seriously, NY giving gay and lesbian couples the right to marry... Bout time /thread lol

***. it's about time all of america did.

This is a great change, and hopefully the rest of the US follows. While not a gay american, I am 100% for them having equal rights.

I feel exactly the same way!

Who wants to gay marry me? :)