New York state approves law to permit same-sex marriages

Jun 25, 2011, 5:51 GMT

Washington - New York legislators voted to legalize same-sex marriage and Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law late Friday night after intense lobbying on both sides of the debate.

The legislation's fate was uncertain until just moments before the Senate vote, when four Republican members joined Democrats to approve the bill 33-29.

'I cannot deny a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, the people of my district and across this state, the State of New York, and those people who make this the great state that it is the same rights that I have with my wife,' Republican Mark Grisanti said in announcing his decision to renege on a campaign pledge and support the bill.

The law will go into effect in 30 days.

New York became the nation's largest state to permit same-sex marriages. Only five other states have adopted such laws: Vermont, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, as well as the District of Columbia.

New York's Catholic bishops expressed disappointment at the vote.

'We always treat our homosexual brothers and sisters with respect, dignity and love. But we just as strongly affirm that marriage is the joining of one man and one woman,' the New York State Catholic Conference said in a statement posted on its website Friday night.