NY Law & Cleveland Pride Collide

Cleveland’s 23^rd annual Pride Festival on Saturday June 25^th was not the only event the LGBT community had to celebrate this past weekend. Nearly coinciding with this local festival was the legalization of gay marriage in New York state. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the law late on Friday June 24^th and in doing so New York became the sixth U.S. state to allow same-sex marriage. The marriage equality bill was approved 33 to 29. This decision goes down in the history books as yet another important event for gay rights activists that has occurred in June. Gay Pride month is celebrated every June throughout the world in order to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of June 1969 that started the gay rights movement in America.

The law will not take effect until thirty days following the signing, but people throughout the country are already strongly showing either support or opposition to the new legislation. For example, many New Yorkers have become engaged to their partners over the weekend and the Empire State Building was even illuminated by rainbow lights (picture to the left). On Twitter and Facebook the new law has been the subject of countless statuses and tweets. Celebrities also used social media to express their views. Lady Gaga posted on Twitter in response to the passing of the bill that she “can’t stop crying.” In addition to the positive reactions, there are many people that are unhappy with the new legislation. Some Republicans and organizations such as the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) were particularly upset because the bill was only able to pass after a small handful of New York senators changed their opinions on same-sex marriage from their original views that gained them office.

It seems that the question on everyone’s mind, whether pro- or anti-gay marriage is how New York’s legislation will affect the entire country over the following months. When Gay Pride month rolls around next year in June of 2012 it will be interesting to see how things have changed.

Related News Articles:

The Atlantic – “How Did the Empire State Building ‘Go Rainbow’ So Quickly?”

Fox News – “New York Vote Has National Impact For Gay Marriage Supporters”

The Guardian –

“New York: Activists Celebrate Gay Marriage Victory, But the Fight Goes On”

The New York Times –

“New York Allows Same-Sex Marriage, Becoming Largest State to Pass Law”

Post submitted by Meredith Hale.