UPDATE: Statement from the Rt. Rev. Prince Singh, bishop of the Diocese of Rochester, NY
33-29 – the bill for marriage equality passes NY Senate having already passed Assembly it becomes New York state law. It will take effect in 30 days.
NYTimes reports:
Lawmakers voted late Friday to legalize same-sex marriage, making New York the largest state where gay and lesbian couples can wed, and giving the national gay-rights movement new momentum from the state where it was born.
The same-sex marriage bill was approved on a 33 to 29 vote, as four Republican state senators joined 29 Democrats in voting for the bill. The Senate galleries were so packed with supporters and opponents that the fire marshals closed them off. And along the Great Western Staircase, outside the Senate chamber, about 100 demonstrators chanted and waved placards throughout the night — separated by a generation, a phalanx of state troopers and 10 feet of red marble.
UPDATE: From Bishop Singh, Diocese of Rochester NY, from Facebook:
Prince wrote: ” First, I want to celebrate the fact that our leaders in Albany have demonstrated their affirmation of the human rights of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender persons. This is a good day for New York and I am profoundly proud to be a New Yorker, an American and a follower of Christ. Second, as a leader in the Church it is significant to celebrate what our baptismal identity affirms as God given: the human dignity of a community that has been overtly and covertly ostracized and often treated as less than others. Equal Marriage Act gives faith traditions like mine the ability to transparently enrich the definition of marriage. We will use the lenses of human dignity and loving kindness to live into a new normal where all adult lifelong-loving-commitments are treated as they should be: Holy. Third, I want to assure members of my Diocese that no priest will be forced to bless the civil marriage of the LGBT parishioners. We already practice a provision in our polity that does not mandate a priest to officiate in the marriage of a heterosexual couple for any reason. I will be setting up a task force in our Diocese to help us chart our course to engage this journey reverently, deliberately and in congruence with Church Law. I pray that the all New Yorkers, those who support and those who oppose this Act, will celebrate the fact that the human rights of a community have been affirmed by the state. Since no one is free until everyone is free, Marriage Equality takes us closer to our pursuit of a more wholesome society.”
Integrity joins with those across the country celebrating the historic 33-29 vote making New York the sixth state to provide marriage equality to same-sex couples.
“The journey to justice is a long one,” said Integrity President Caro Hall, “but today’s action in New York is a huge step forward and one to rejoice and be glad in. We give particular thanks for the tireless work and witness of bishops, clergy and faith leaders whose willingness to believe out loud changed hearts, minds and votes and helped make today’s vote possible.
”
Background on the politics from the NY Times is here