June 26, 2011 04:35 PM UTC

Marriage Equality Wins in New York State

•  
• by: Colorado Pols

Sofia Resnick writes for the American Independent news network:

“I cannot deny a person, a human being, a worker … people across this state … the same rights I have with my wife,” said New York Sen. Mark J. Grisanti (R-60th District) before declaring the 33rd “yes” vote the New York Senate needed to pass the Marriage Equality Act.

“I’m not here as just a Catholic,” Grisanti told his colleagues on the Senate floor Friday night, five days past the state’s original legislative-session deadline. “I’m also here as an attorney … I cannot legally [argue] against same-sex marriage.”

With Grisanti’s vote, the final tally was 33-29. Four Republican state senators joined 29 Democrats in their affirmative voting.

Thirty days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs the bill – which he promised to do Friday night, speaking at a press conference – all individuals of appropriate age and legal status will be able to marry in New York, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Nic Garcia of Out Front Colorado circles back with our own Rep. Mark Ferrandino for his thoughts–as you know, legislation recognizing civil unions in this state came within a hair’s breadth of passage this year, attracting some GOP support in the Colorado Senate and inspiring the same kind of after-the-fact soulsearching from other Republicans who voted no one more time. It’s important to note also that Colorado’s legislation didn’t modify the definition of “marriage” in the Colorado Constitution, so the bar is, at least in theory, even lower here.

“It disappoints me we weren’t able to do [civil unions] this year in Colorado,” Ferrandino said.

But there’s hope, he argues. The composition of New York’s legislature is nearly identical to Colorado’s. In both states one chamber is controlled by Democrats and another Republicans, by one seat. Moreover, Ferrandino points out, both states have pro-equality governors.

“Hopefully, this vote will give Republican House leadership more courage to make it happen here,” Ferrandino said. He said New York’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage will be conversation in Colorado’s GOP.

“It’s national news,” he said. “It will be conversation amongst supporters in the House. Hopefully it will provide more leverage to argue for a full floor vote.”