06/25/11 – FoxNews.com – New York became the sixth and largest state to legalize same-sex marriage after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law late Friday night. Gay weddings will begin in 30 days.
The state Senate voted late Friday in favor of a gay marriage bill, which was backed by four Republicans and 29 Democrats in the GOP-controlled Senate. The Democratic-controlled Assembly, which had approved an earlier version, passed the Senate’s stronger religious exemptions in the measure Friday.
“We are leaders and we join other proud states that recognize our families and the battle will now go on in other states,” said Sen. Thomas Duane, a Democrat.
Gay rights advocates are hoping the vote will galvanize the movement around the United States and help it regain momentum after an almost identical bill was defeated here in 2009 and similar measures failed in 2010 in New Jersey and this year in Maryland and Rhode Island.
On OCTOBER 3, 1789, from the U.S. Capitol in New York City, President George Washington
