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Monday, June 27, 2011

Extra! Extra! Read All About It



I fell asleep at my computer on Friday night. At 1:30 AM, I was awakened with cheering on the streets. I heard someone say something about gay marriage. I flipped open my laptop and hit the bookmark for the New York Times. There it was - live front page news- an all-caps, six-column headline: NEW YORK PASSES SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, BECOMING LARGEST STATE TO PASS LAW.

Wow. That really is big news. This late Friday night passing of this law is a watershed event. That evening, there was late night celebration at the Stonewall Inn at 53 Christopher Street. On Sunday, the annual Gay Pride parade was held. The timing of the passing of the same-sex marriage law with the annual parade was perfect - the march became a celebration of this historic event for the gay community. Paraders held signs proclaiming "Thanks Governor Cuomo," "Promise Kept," "Marriage Now," "I DO support marriage equality," and "Our Next March Down the Aisle."

An opinion piece from the New York Times says:

New York State has made a powerful and principled choice by giving all couples the right to wed and enjoy the legal rights of marriage. It is a proud moment for New Yorkers, thousands of whom took to the streets on Sunday to celebrate this step forward. But this moment does not erase the bigotry against gays and lesbians enshrined in the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal recognition of same-sex marriages and allows any state to refuse to recognize another state’s unions.

There are many gay couples who have long term committed relationships. They have, however, had to settle for living in the margins and alcoves of society. I have had family members, employees and friends who were gay, as I am sure many of you have. Most speak of the tremendous stress and pressure of living a lifestyle which requires secrecy and obfuscation. Even in New York City, complete openness about being gay is limited to times and places. You will only on rare occasion see gay couples walking hand in hand. And there still is opposition to gay marriage. Most major religious institutions do not sanction homosexuality.

Same-sex marriage is legally recognized nationwide in 10 countries: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. In the United States, couples can marry in six states (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York) and Washington, DC.

The New York State Marriage Equality Act became law on June 24, 2011 and will take effect in 30 days - July 24. The New York law has no residency requirement. New York also recognizes same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries where same-sex marriage is legal.

There is a business side to this also. According to Bloomberg News:

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to unveil a campaign to sell the most populous U.S. city as a gay-wedding destination after thousands marched to celebrate the state’s legalization of such marriages. The “NYC I Do” campaign “will create millions of dollars in additional economic impact to the city’s $31 billion tourism industry,” Kimberly Spell, a spokeswoman for New York & Company, the city’s marketing office, said yesterday in an email. Bloomberg will unveil more details in coming days, she said.

On Friday night, June 24, 2011, it certainly was Extra! Extra! Read All About It.

Related Posts: They Are a-Changin', No Red Faces, Time Has Come, Buddies, Steal the Show, Pride March, Dyke March, Gay Liberation Monument, Gay Pride Parade

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations New York, it was about time!

abrazos,
Maricarmen

Anonymous said...

Congratulations New York!

But same sex marriage is also legal here in Germany.

Didn't want Germany be left out.

Jack said...

This is big deal for the gay community.

Da Rev said...

My partner of 6plus years on Friday became my fiancee.

There is no reason that marriage which is a state sanctioned contractual agreement between consenting adults or those who can receive consent should be denied entry into agreement on the basis of their gender.

Today NYState brings the USA closer to the repeal of DOMA.

Anonymous said...

Same-sex marriage is also legally recognized in Brazil !!!

blournalist said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
blournalist said...

It would be great if this union had its very own word, though. I suggest that the word "marriage" is taken. Today the word tells you less than it once did, and this aspect is a bit disappointing to me.

Okay, gay community. Break out that Latin book or something and get to work! Take pride in the opportunity to bring a brand new word of your very own into the world.

mikefontana1@gmail.com said...

Our country is growing up...finally, a state at a time. One may define utopia as a place where non issues carry no credance, a place where gentle tollerance of harmless activity is held precious and inalienable, a place where we are free to love whom ever we choose no matter their sex or proclivity.

This may not mark the begining of utopia but it does mark a higher way of
being. It'll bring all kinds of new perspectives to a community that has only been able to hold certain notions from observations outside of their particular group. Dreams do come true.... Ask any divorce lawyer, They've been waiting for this rulling just as long.

Mary P. said...

Leave it to our mayor to figure out a way to make money from it!

Sally Darling said...

You are so clever, you even made a rainbow of colors for your related posts. I dont know if it was an accident on on creative purpose, but very very neat.

Alice said...

...don't forget Germany in your enummeration. My male Cousin is married to a really cool guy since 5 years...