June 24, 2011, New York became the sixth largest state to legalize same-sex marriage.
The New York Assembly passed same-sex marriage legislation twice before in 2007 and 2009, but in both cases it stalled in the state senate as it nearly did again last week.
The bill passed after legislators agreed on language allowing religious organizations, to refuse to perform services or lend space for same-sex weddings.
The New York Assembly passed same-sex marriage legislation twice before in 2007 and 2009, but in both cases it stalled in the state senate as it nearly did again last week.
The bill passed after legislators agreed on language allowing religious organizations, to refuse to perform services or lend space for same-sex weddings.
New York is home to more than 42,000 same-sex couples according to an analysis of U.S. census data conducted by the Williams Institute. This means among other things, that the number of same-sex couples living in states allowing same-sex marriage has doubled overnight.
Massachusetts was the first state to legalize gay marriage in 2004, beginning a trend that will quickly submerge most states in a decade.
A report last month from New York's Senate Independent Democratic Conference, estimated the state would earn nearly $400 million dollars over the next three years from gay and lesbian couples getting married; including tourism, weddings, sales-tax revenue, and wedding license fees.
A report last month from New York's Senate Independent Democratic Conference, estimated the state would earn nearly $400 million dollars over the next three years from gay and lesbian couples getting married; including tourism, weddings, sales-tax revenue, and wedding license fees.
This moment means so much to gay and lesbian couples all over the country. But to all my gay and lesbian peeps out there, please do not be naive to the fact that things can change. This is a big accomplishment however, don't forget what happened in California when gay marriage passed and then was suddenly revoked.
The big difference between the two states is that California passed a court ruling for gay marriage, and New York passed legislation which President Obama will sign into law.
The big difference between the two states is that California passed a court ruling for gay marriage, and New York passed legislation which President Obama will sign into law.
When California legalized same-sex marriage in 2008, I fully believed it was strictly for the purpose of increasing revenue within that state. This country was headed for a second Great Depression and ex-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, had run the state of California into the ground and so much so, that instead of Californians receiving their income taxes in the mail they received an I.O.U.!
A little advice: Don't have a ridiculously huge and expensive wedding until you know for sure that gay marriage is the law of the land. Should marriage equality be revoked for whatever reason all it leaves you with is debt up to your ears and a broken heart, and leaves New York with increased revenue.
