Same Sex Marriage New York Bill Passes: New Yorkers React To The News (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

New York became the sixth state in the union to support same sex marriage on Friday.

New Yorkers watched with bated breath as the Senate debated the issue Friday night. When the news broke supporters of the measure flooded the streets to celebrate the passage of same sex marriage. People cheered and broke down crying in the Stonewall Inn, couples kissed in the Village streets and embraced each other as news swept through the city.

The celebrations in the city and in Albany Friday yielded some truly remarkable -- and, frankly, moving -- images of the historic moment:

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Supporters of same sex-marriage celebrate after Senate members voted and approved the same-sex marriage bill 33-29 during a session of the New York state Senate at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., Friday, June 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

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Supporters of same sex-marriage celebrate after Senate members voted and approved the same-sex marriage bill 33-29 during a session of the New York state Senate at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., Friday, June 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

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Comments

[Nelle]

01:30 PM on 07/01/2011

I love the couple that appear to being paying homage to the Canadian riot kissing couple!

[Insightful]

10:53 PM on 06/27/2011

A few years down the line when some of these couples decide to divorce they will be so sorry they did not just write some wills instead. The lawyers will have a field day. This is more about emotion than civil rights.

[Brewster McCall]

03:12 PM on 06/27/2011

I love this pic... so glad someone shot us in that moment. It was amazing to be there at stonewall when we heard the news.

[Imma Bmama So Wat]

11:05 PM on 06/27/2011

AWWW CONGRADULATIONS

[mitchpeter]

06:32 PM on 06/26/2011

I was at the Parade.
Governor Cuomo was Queen for a day!
www.gaynycdad.com

[Biveggiecat]

10:44 AM on 06/26/2011

What is wrong with the word Union?

Gay marriage is either a legal issue with emotional attachments or an emotional issue with legal attachments. One is easier litigated than the other. If it is about legal rights, then I think we are going in the right direction. If it is about emotions alone, gay marriage isn’t doing anyone any good, because we aren’t ready for it. If gay marriage becomes a law for emotional reasons only then what is next. This would mean every emotion can now be litigated. If marriage isn’t about religion and it is about law and rights why would you want to call it marriage? Marriage indicates something to do with beliefs and Christian ways. But you don’t want that right, peoples beliefs forced on you.

If gay and straight marriage were exactly the same and interchange able then there would be no gay people. Apple and apple vs. apple and orange…different any way you slice it. Marriage was created out of religion and faith and has become a legal issue. Not the other way around. I think some people are afraid that if you call it the same thing then their faith fades away, thus their culture. This is the last step to making marriage no longer about god, but about legality. That scares some people and is a change for our culture. Why not soften the blow to these people by calling it a Union (with all the same rights) until naysayers are ready.

[ElleSea]

01:47 PM on 06/26/2011

Marriage was originally about protecting property. It existed long before the organized religions of today.

[Biveggiecat]

08:06 PM on 06/26/2011

From everything I've read anthropologists don’t really know how the tradition of marriage began.

[Libertystblue1923]

10:28 PM on 06/26/2011

The use of the pronoun 'we' is erroneous!

You are confusing 'secular' marraige with religious marraige! Although they coincide most of the time, many 'heteros' get married at City Hall and never have anything to do with a religious ceremony!
Unions are found inferior, in many states, thus unequal under those state's Constitutions.
All you pseudo christian nay sayers will NEVER be ready!

[Biveggiecat]

12:14 AM on 06/28/2011

We, New York residents, we the people, we the human race, does this clarify?

[edn]

10:09 AM on 06/26/2011

Congratulations to NY! Let's hope we're congratulating more States sooner rather than later.

[Hunter Roberts]

08:49 AM on 06/26/2011

These photos say it all. What is there left to say except Halelujah and Amen!

[Ron Bonham]

12:18 PM on 06/26/2011

Halelujah and Amen? How ironic that those words would be used considering that all the gay marriage supporters pretty much throw religion into the gutter over this issue.

[elizlucinda]

08:48 AM on 06/27/2011

and rightfully so......This is not a religious issue. This is an issue of human rights

[Hunter Roberts]

04:15 AM on 07/01/2011

While it's sadly true that religion has been used to justify suppression and oppression, from slavery to homophobia, deep faith has also fueled liberation movements: Belief in love and justice trumps hatred and prejudice. If that is not at the heart of the Gospel message, I don't know what is.

[pyramidblue7]

06:21 PM on 07/09/2011

How about, goodbgye,mankind!

[Asuigeneris1]

07:02 AM on 06/26/2011

Congratulations to New York, and the people there as well...you should feel pride.

[pollclaire]

03:08 AM on 06/26/2011

Gay marrige will be upheld in the courts, time and again, in spite of what religious conservati­ves consider to be their monopoly on the sanctity of marriage. The right to enter into contracts and enjoy government recognitio­n of said contracts cannot be limited to a particular group or orientatio­n.

Stand with New York. This Is What Democracy Looks Like

[gsandersjr]

10:46 PM on 06/26/2011

Is it like California Democracy?

[pyramidblue7]

06:25 PM on 07/09/2011

Marriage is not about contracts. It's about humans working together, in a natural way, to continue the species. Two males or two females can not do that naturally.

[pollclaire]

07:00 PM on 07/09/2011

In terms of governmental recognition, it IS about contracts.

[Lenape105]

01:41 AM on 07/25/2011

So two heterosexuals past child-bearing age should not be allowed to marry?

[DEANGIRL]

01:30 AM on 06/26/2011

Bravo New York! And YAY for Equality! May it spread through the nation and the world!
All people are equal~

[Ron Z]

01:46 PM on 06/26/2011

Way off

[gsandersjr]

10:47 PM on 06/26/2011

Except same sex couple cannot reproduce. Goes against Darwinism and evolution don't you think?

[Moudsie]

08:45 AM on 06/27/2011

What about the "straight" couples, who, for one reason or another, can't reproduce either, or choose not to--what about them?

[elizlucinda]

08:49 AM on 06/27/2011

There is lots of reproduction to go around. I wouldn't worry about it too much gsandersjr.

[pollclaire]

12:00 AM on 06/26/2011

The air is thick with Christian stones tonight. Sinners, casting stones.

Conservati­ves have been on the wrong side of history since 1783.

You were wrong when King George was sent back across the water.

You were wrong on slavery.

You were wrong on women's sufferage.

You were wrong on the progressiv­e movement.

You were wrong on civil rights.

And you are wrong on Gay Rights.

As a 42 year old suburban white male from Wisconsin with five children, I'm proud to stand in support of those who have finally gained the rights of full citizenshi­p under the law. A heartfelt 'Prost' to those of you looked society in the face and said 'This is the Truth'. Your courage is an example for a free society.

[LoyalBob]

07:34 AM on 06/26/2011

After reading all of the absolutely ignorant and evil comments about the NY marriage decision on this forum yesterday, I want to THANK YOU for the most wonderful, kind, and supportive response in celebration of our gay brothers and sisters.

Fanned and Faved, pollclaire!

[pollclaire]

11:46 AM on 06/26/2011

That's just plain false. 'Liberals' for slavery? Like John Brown, for example...?

[chancellor11]

03:35 PM on 06/26/2011

Umm, last time i checked the constitution, god is not the judge.

[Going Broke]

11:14 PM on 06/25/2011

Honestly, I think this country has more important things to concern itself with.

[Ioan Lightoller]

07:19 AM on 06/26/2011

Oh, so every thing is more important that our getting full civil rights. If the government can't multitask that is not the fault of GLBT people.

[edn]

10:13 AM on 06/26/2011

Denying equal rights is part of the problem. Many things contribute to the challenges the US is facing and double standards - on a variety of things (marriage, sex, finances, education, healthcare, etc.) - have certainly played their parts.

[jmcain4734]

11:02 PM on 06/25/2011

What is next?

[Ioan Lightoller]

07:16 AM on 06/26/2011

Marriage Equality in all 50 states and on a federal level.

[Kobi Cupps]

09:12 AM on 06/26/2011

hahaha! thats funny! i guess you have never been to the south? because thats never going to happen here!

[eric2sw]

10:37 PM on 06/25/2011

From New York state originally and think that they should succeed to be their own state less NYC area. We were sick of Govoner Cuomo's 16 years of recking the states economy and 80% of state taxes collected being pumped into NYC. NYC carried him all those 16 years. NYC does not reflect the values of the rest of the state. It is time for change!

[LoyalBob]

07:38 AM on 06/26/2011

I think you should be worried about the state of your education before crying, "throw the bums out!"

It's SECEDE, not succeed.

It's WRECKING not recking.

Instead of worrying about your bigoted values, maybe you should read a book and enlighten yourself.

[Scott Douglas]

03:53 PM on 06/26/2011

Baloney. I'm four hours north west of NYC and it reflects my values so put that in your pipe and smoke it!!!

[tlee47ftw]

10:10 PM on 06/25/2011

There is no point in even arguing religion in this issue. We are not a theocracy. Our laws are not based on relgion. Besides, even the Christian religion can't all agree on homosexuality. For example, the Episcopalian Church has an openly gay bishop. So that is a moot issue.
The other point is, does same sex marriage cause anyone any harm? No, it does not. If a gay, or lesbian, couple live next door to you and decide to get married, unless you read the announcement in the paper or are invited to the wedding you will never even know it. How could that possibly damage your marriage, or cause you any harm? Yet denying them the right to marry prohibits two loving people from making a legal and public committment to each other and deprives them of over 1,300 various rights or benefits given to married people. If you would, for once, try to be objective about this issue, instead of emotional, you would find that, whether you approve or not, you would agree they should have the right.

[Kobi Cupps]

09:17 AM on 06/26/2011

does it cause anyone harm? yes in the end when you are being judged by God! so it causes you harm and actually the episcopalian church is not associated with any other church because there beliefs are so wack! they aren't christians because they don't live from the bible! so don't associate christians with them!

[ulcseminary]

12:22 AM on 06/28/2011

I don't see that it harms anyone. I don't understand why people are so bothered. God is not so narrow-minded and judgmental. If there is one God, then it's the same god as the other religions. If two people love each other and want to be married, why does anyone care so much? Where two or more are gathered, there is love.
http://www.ulcseminary.org

[Lenape105]

01:51 AM on 07/25/2011

When you are being judged by which god?
My god is a loving god who accepts all creatures and welcomes them into a loving embrace.
If you choose to believe in a hateful, vindictive god, I pity you. You live in constant fear that you are unworthy and will be condemned to everlasting damnation and torture. Because of your beliefs, you are already suffering, and the afterlife will be a relief for you, no matter how bad it is.