Gay marriage legal in New York State after Senate passes historic bill 33-29

New York Daily News 06/24/2011 17:49

Reactions inside the Stonewall Inn in the West Village Friday after passage of the New York Senate gay marriage bill.

New York made history last night as the State Senate voted "aye" on gay marriage. Senators passed the bill 33 to 29 as the normally somnolent chambers erupted in a raucous chant of "USA! USA!" "As I have said many times, this is a very difficult issue and it will be a vote of conscience for every member of the Senate," said GOP Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau).

New York joined Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa and Washington, D.C., in legally recognizing gay marriage.

"I'm verklempt," said a nervously optimistic Assemblyman Matthew Titone (D-S.I), one of five openly gay state lawmakers prior to the vote. "I'm still in a state of disbelief."

The Assembly passed the bill last week for the fourth time since 2007.

It was only two years ago that gay marriage was easily defeated in the then Democrat-controlled Senate. Now, the rush to the altar could begin 30 days after Gov. Cuomo, who made gay marriage a priority, signs the bill.

For gay couples, marriage means more than just swapping rings.

For the first time they qualify for the same 1,324 state marriage benefits afforded to straight couples.

Same-sex couples are not eligible for federal marriage benefits because of the Defense of Marriage Act.

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