Just a little over 1 ½ years ago the Senate of New York rejected a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, 38-24.  On Friday June 24, 2011, however, they approved a similar bill, 33-29, and Governor Cuomo signed it into law.  Beginning July 24, 2011, same-sex couples will be allowed to marry in New York.

New York is the 9th state/district to legalize same-sex marriage (Massachusetts in 2003 by court order, California in 2008 by court order, Connecticut in 2008 by court order, Iowa in 2009 by court order, Vermont in 2009 by the legislature, Maine in 2009 by the legislature, New Hampshire in 2009 by the legislature, Washington D.C. by the legislative council in 2009, and New York in 2011 by the legislature), but only the 7th state/district to offer same-sex marriage at the present time (Maine’s law never went into effect because it was overturned by a voter referendum; California’s law went into effect but was ultimately overturned by a voter referendum to change the state constitution.  That referendum was overturned, but a stay has been put on the decision pending an appellate court’s review of the case, and thus same-sex couples cannot get married in CA at this time).

I find it interesting that the first four states/district to legalize same-sex marriage had to do so via the courts, but the last five have done so via the legislature.  This tells me that popular support for same-sex marriage is growing.

Go here for more posts on same-sex marriage.