Gay marriage legalized in New York

Deborah Dupre
Human Rights Examiner

Human rights supporters and what some call homophobic opponents from around the state of New York packed two small galleries overlooking the chamber as legislatures debated same sex marriage and voted 33-to-29 in favor of a bill legalizing gay marriage.

Only one week after the United Nations Human Rights Council recognized equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and passed a resolution that the Examiner predicted would prompt US states to legalize gay marriages, New York lawmakers voted late Friday to legalize same-sex marriage in their state according to The New York Times.

On June 18, the Examiner published:

"One month after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay warned that hate crimes against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people were on the rise globally, the UN has passed a historic resolution recognizing gay rights that will place more pressure on states to rule in favor of gay marriages. The resolution was presented by South Africa." ("Gay marriages more likely with UN historic resolution," Dupré, D.)

"The declaration expresses 'grave concern at acts of violence and discrimination, in all regions of the world, committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.' (Dupré)

New York has become the largest state where gay and lesbian couples will be able to wed, giving the national gay-rights movement new momentum from the state where it was born. (AP)

The only Democratic senator to cast a no vote was a Democrat, Rubén Díaz, Sr. of the Bronx who said, “God, not Albany, has settled the definition of marriage, a long time ago.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay recently stressed that homophobia and transphobia are no different to sexism, racism or xenophobia.

New York's bill passage follows defeats in many other states where voters barred same-sex marriage by legislative action, constitutional amendment or referendum.

Only five states, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont and New York, plus the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriages, a number more likely to increase due to the UN resolution and now, New York's law.

The UN resolution highlights the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that affirms everyone is equal and entitled to the same rights and freedoms, regardless of their race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.


(2011-6-25/examiner.com)