Same-Sex Marriage Passes in New York, 33-29! We Won a Thing!

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After eons of deliberations, the same-sex marriage bill came to a vote on the Senate floor tonight with extensive provisions to protect religious institutions who don’t wanna marry gay people from ever being punished in any way whatsoever forever/always/’til the end of time. Seriously. If your church won’t marry you, you flaming homosexual, you are not allowed to get upset about it. Is everyone okay with that? Okay. Moving on.

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE WON A THING

Senator Stephen M. Saland opened the ceremonies and explained the new provisions as outlined in today’s amendment. Saland was talking like a sane, rational, tolerant, open-hearted person. He’d been a fence-sitter all this time. He commended the quality of the amendment and also spoke about the importance of tolerance and respect.

Was he the rumored 32nd vote secured last night? Or is Saland not the only undecided vote who decided to join Team Gay?

When the votes were tallied the score was overwhelmingly and unexpectedly in our favor: 36 – 26.

After the announcement we, like the HRC, The Huffington Post, OUT Magazine and 600,000 other people, yelled in jubilation that we’d legalized same sex marriage. That wasn’t the case, actually, we still needed a full vote on the bill itself (not just on the acceptability of the new amendment) on the Senate Floor.

But we’re happy already because we’ve got this shit in the bag. Now we can sit back and watch the show. This is the part of a basketball game where they start going for wild three-pointers and acrobatic slam dunks just for funsies, since there’s no way they won’t finish this one for the win.

On the senate floor, we won 33 to 29.

This isn’t just great news for New York — these religious exceptions can very well serve as a model to those trying to pass same-sex marriage amendments in their states.

Republican Senator Voting for Marriage Equality - 6.24.2011

Following Ruben Diaz’s psychotic freakout, Thomas Duane and Carl Kruger made passionate speeches about gay rights and equality and things of that nature.

And we did.

I’ll write a fuller article on this but we all need to celebrate right now. The Governor will sign the bill and in 30 days marriages will begin.

If you’re in New York you have to send us your photos!!!

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Riese

Riese is the 40-year-old Co-Founder and CEO of Autostraddle.com as well as an award-winning writer, video-maker, LGBTQ+ Marketing consultant and aspiring cyber-performance artist who grew up in Michigan, lost her mind in New York and now lives in California. Her work has appeared in nine books including "The Bigger the Better The Tighter The Sweater: 21 Funny Women on Beauty, Body Image & Other Hazards Of Being Female," magazines including Marie Claire and Curve, and all over the web including Nylon, Queerty, Nerve, Bitch, Emily Books and Jezebel. She had a very popular personal blog once upon a time, and then she recapped The L Word, and then she had the idea to make this place, and now here we all are! In 2016, she was nominated for a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Digital Journalism. Follow her on twitter and instagram.

Riese has written 3036 articles for us.

194 Comments

  12. aaaaaahhhhh I am going to sit here VERY STRESSED until it actually officially happens (unless it has and I am misunderstanding something???) even though it seems like it definitely is going to happen, because, like, the Bush/Gore thing permanently damaged my psyche and I have a hard time trusting that good things can actually happen but maybe they can?
    Maybe.

    Reply to This Comment

  13. Thanks for jumping the gun + posting the live link in the other post. I am watching live now. Government in action is riveting when you care about it! I don’t know if my actual senator voted yet, but Mark Grislanti’s speech was great.

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  14. This live stream really is fascinating (minus all the interruptions). I like listening to all the different speeches.

    All the different accents are quite fun too.

    They’re voting on the marriage bill now right? Anybody have the confirmed votes for yes and no? The 36-26 vote is just for the amendment right?

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      • The legalize isn’t easy for me to read but it looks like religious discrimination is now protected?

        NOTWITHSTANDING ANY STATE, LOCAL OR MUNICIPAL LAW OR RULE, REGULATION, ORDINANCE, OR OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL LIMIT OR DIMINISH THE RIGHT, PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ELEVEN OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED NINETY-SIX OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW, OF ANY RELIGIOUS OR DENOMINATIONAL INSTITUTION OR ORGANIZATION, OR ANY ORGANIZATION OPERATED FOR CHARITABLE OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, WHICH IS OPERATED, SUPERVISED OR CONTROLLED BY OR IN CONNECTION WITH A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, TO LIMIT EMPLOYMENT OR SALES OR RENTAL OF HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS OR ADMISSION TO OR GIVE PREFERENCE TO PERSONS OF THE SAME RELIGION OR DENOMINATION OR FROM TAKING SUCH ACTION AS IS CALCULATED BY SUCH ORGANIZATION TO PROMOTE THE RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES FOR WHICH IT IS ESTABLISHED OR MAINTAINED.

        Reply to This Comment

        • I’m not bothered by that. When a couple gets married in a religious institution, the only thing they are getting in the church that they can’t get in city hall is a the ceremony. The Catholic church also doesn’t allow women to be priests. We can argue whether that’s right or wrong, but I think letting religious groups opt out of performing marriage ceremonies is entirely consistent with their role.

          Reply to This Comment

        • Really, that’s not anything *that* new. Like, if a Catholic church doesn’t want to marry a Jewish couple, they don’t *have* to. Why they felt the need to codify that, I don’t know… well, okay, I do, but I wish it wasn’t necessary!

          Reply to This Comment

  17. I seriously don’t even know what to do with myself right now. I cried while Duane was speaking, I somersaulted when Grisanti did his thang. D:

    Diaz? Diaz just wouldn’t shut it!

    Kruger just spoke and I am elated with joy. And now…I believe it has officially passed. 33 – 29!

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  35. 33-29! *fist pumps 33 times*

    My state senator voted against it. What a fuckface. Even after I emailed him and asked him nicely to vote for equality! I will be sure to register my disappointment. That fucker Sen. Ball, the douche asking for help to decide how to vote on Twitter, voted against. Weak. Maybe I should tweet him my disappointment too. I did just send a thank you email to Grisanti though. Not sure who else crossed the aisle to do this, but politically it had to be tough. These people voted for what they thought was right, not what they thought would get them re-elected. That’s important. They’ve risked a little to do right by us!

    Reply to This Comment

  38. Rachel Maddow said this vote doubles the number of people in the US for whom same-sex marriage rights are a reality. And NY is a state that has no residency requirement for obtaining a marriage license.

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  45. Fuck yeah. FUCK YEAH. I’m sorry, but it’s been a little embarrassing that NY was not the FIRST state to pass this. I know that LI exists and western NY exist but STILL we should have passed this shit forever ago.

    But whatever. I will now celebrate instead of packing to move somewhere where I have fewer rights. Fuck.

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  49. THE GAY MAN IN FRONT OF US JUST GOT DOWN ON ONE KNEE AND PROPOSED TO HIS BOYFRIEND!! I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY CRYING HAPPY GAYS IN ONE PLACE BEFORE!! THE BEST PLACE AND TIME TO BE A GAY PERSON RIGHT NOW IS IN THESE FIFTY SQUARE FEET OF MARBLE OUTSIDE OF THE SENATE CHAMBERS!! THERE IS AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF MAKING OUT AND CRYING AND HUGGING AND KISSING AND HAND-HOLDING AND I CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT I AM WITNESSING!!

    THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AUTOSTRADDLE, NEW YORK LOVES YOU FOR IT!! GAY GENERAL STORE OPEN 24 HOURS TONIGHT, THERE IS NO WAY ANY OF US ARE SLEEPING!!

    ALSO THIS IS NOT MY PHONE, IF ANYONE KNOWS WHOSE PHONE THIS IS PLEASE COME FIND ME, I CAN’T TURN OFF THE CAPSLOCK AND I’M USING IT TO PLAY TEGAN AND SARA RIGHT NOW.

    Reply to This Comment

    • For real though, who wants to be my wife? I am half Asian and half white. Mixed people are trendy these days, so hop on the bandwagon and grab me while I am still available. I can cook, am independent, and have a diverse array of interests. Recently, I have been described as “cute”, “adorable”, and “okay”.

      I’ll be at Pride on Sunday wearing a tank top, cut off shorts, and a rainbow belt. Come say hi!

      Reply to This Comment

  65. i want to be at pride so much this weekend. im so excited i dont know what to do with myself. NO ONE UNDERSTANDS! (except you guys, i mean my friends who are like, oh thats cool)

    Reply to This Comment

  66. YAY HOME STATE THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME I AM A LEGIT PERSON I CAN’T WAIT FOR PRIDE WHO ELSE IS GOING ON SUNDAY?! i’ll be wearing a grey tank top, an orange lacy bra and rainbow suspenders, find me and make out with me.
    also, my mom was watching the live feed with me and after it passed she said “can you be in a good mood now for a couple of weeks, please?” guess i’ve been kind of cranky about this lately…. :P

    Reply to This Comment

    • also a bunch of my straight friends are texting me like “gay marriage in new york!” and i’m like “who do you think i am, i’ve been googling updates on this shit every hour for a week straight”

      Reply to This Comment

    • same re: updates etc. I think a lot of people on facebook likely have me on “hide” now. lol.

      I will be at many events sat/sun, most obvs the parade.

      I’m too overwhelmed atm to even think of what to wear. maybe nothing but sun tan lotion and a bathing suit even if the weather sucks!

      *wish I had an uber cool auto-straddle this cut up racerback to wear*

      Reply to This Comment

  67. you know what this REALLY means, right? all you guys in new york better make some room for a new flat screen tv cause when the anarchy starts, you gotta get on that shit quick.
    watching my brothers friends get tvs, computers, shoes etc.,etc…..all i know is cover your face(or any identifiable marks), it needs to be a well coordinated thing with people you trust, gotta have a plan,know what you want and make it quick, son! Hide your wife, hide your kids, errrrrbody! ANARCHY!

    gonna go get drunk now.

    Reply to This Comment

  80. I REALLY REALLY want to be there for Pride on Sunday but everyone I know is busy. Does anyone want to meet up or need a ride from the Philly area? I need tobe this happy in NYC with other happy people.

    OMFG yay.

    Reply to This Comment

  84. Congratulations to all of you!

    This 20-something straight white guy (long-time reader, first-time poster, attracted first by your Prop 8 coverage) might never really know the elation you all feel right now, but now, you can all feel the joy that has been an option for me my whole life.

    Waiting for the day all 50 states allow marriage equality!

    Reply to This Comment

  89. I woke up today to my 22nd birthday and checked Autostraddle and THISSSS OMG so on facebook everyone’s like “happy birthday!” whereas my status is all “SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN NEW YORK BEETCHES!”

    AS party in Scotland tonight!

    Reply to This Comment

  97. YAY! For those of you following in the AS Live feed thread last night that saw my posts, you know my gaybff Noah was there in the room! We texted back and forth, me telling him what the schedule of discussions was, and he telling me how restless everyone was and how they could hear people shouting in the hall.

    Well here’s an AWESOME vid of the crowds reaction (note the little kids!) with him in it! He’s at 1:47 wearing the purple “legalize gay” shirt. So proud!

    http://www.cbs6albany.com/video/?videoId=1021815897001

    Reply to This Comment

  99. OH MY GOD BECKY, LOOK AT THAT BILL! IT IS SO BIG, IT”S FUCKING HUGE!

    I was so excited when I found out that I came out to someone at work who is gay too!! We were whispering in the back corner of the office, silently jumping up and down and throwing punches in the air with the biggest smiles on our faces. She’s been with her partner for almost 20 years!!! Now we need to make it legal in every fucking state. So she can legally get married and so I can develop an even greater fear of commitment. GO CIVIL RIGHTS!

    Reply to This Comment

  102. Y’ALL I can’t decide…should I take the bus down from Boston for the parade/crazy celebrating? I really shouldn’t spend the money and I’d have to get back in time for work on Monday, but we fucking WON.

    Reply to This Comment

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