Andrew Heslop writes: Just as Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle did last week, within 30 days all people in love the world over will be able to flock to New York and be married after legislators voted to allow same – sex marriage.
Hours after the Republican-controlled senate voted 33-29 in favour, with amendments, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed his bill into law. Last week the Democrat-dominated assembly passed it 80-63 and then moved quickly to pass the amendments.
This momentous result during New York City Pride Week comes on the eve of the 42nd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in the city on 28th June – widely recognised as the birth of the global gay rights movement.
On Sunday 500,000 people are expected to take part in Pride March and celebrate the ‘Proud and Powerful’ theme.
New York is the third-most populous state after California and Texas. It follows Iowa, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont in allowing same-sex marriage. Washington, Hawaii, California, Nevada, Oregon and New Jersey allow civil unions.
In March a poll found 53 per cent of Americans are in favour of allowing same – sex marriage.
Senator Mark Grisanti, a Republican elected declaring his opposition to same-sex marriage, voted in favour of the bill.
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