New Yorkers Celebrate Same-Sex Marriage Decision
After the Supreme Court ruled that bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional, all marriages will now be legal in all 50 states. From Times Square to the Stonewall Inn, here's a look at how New Yorkers are reacting.
Todd Thompson went to Times Square to watch the announcement on the ticker.
"Three weeks ago I was in a courtroom in Guam and we got the same sex marriage ban reversed there and now everyone can get married," he said, "so this is wonderful news. I'm ecstatic."
And supporters gathered in the historic West Village bar The Stonewall Inn, where celebrations broke out in 2011 that New York State had voted to grant equal rights to same-sex couples.
LGBTQ youth organization is outside of Stonewall in NYC passing out flowers to the masses. https://t.co/DTNiC8cvFu pic.twitter.com/6RXZwfCsCM
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Bill Kurtzner was down at the Stonewall Inn celebrating the news.
"I told my boss, who's gay, that I wanted to leave my computer and come down to Stonewall, telling him that on my death bed I'll remember this day and I don't want to regret it."
Sipping on a celebratory beer, Joyce Mumma said the news gave her the chills. "To have our federal government say that we're equal, we have rights in the state of New York, but other states don't have that. So it's just incredible," she said.
The news also played on a TV at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. Waiting for the next ferry, David Ruiz, 54, watched the news and said he was pleased with the ruling. "It's a step up in our world," he declared. His friend, Manny Ramirez, concurred. "You got wars for religion, and you got wars for this and you got wars for that. Let them be what they want to be," he said. "Let the love take over because love is everything."
Many are expecting the celebrations to intensify leading up to the Gay Pride festivities over the weekend.
In Albany, some state lawmakers praised the court's decision.
Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, the first openly gay state legislator, said she is “elated." The only openly gay State Senator Brad Hoylman said: “as a gay husband and father, I’m extremely proud to be an American today”.
The state’s conservative party called the court’s decision “misguided”, and compared it to the Dredd Scott and Roe v Wade decisions. Those court orders upheld slavery and legalized abortion.
In honor of the court ruling guaranteeing the constitutional right to same sex marriage, Governor Cuomo says the lights on the World Trade center tower will be lit in rainbow colors on Sunday night. Cuomo, who arm-twisted state Senators to win the same sex marriage vote in 2011, said in a statement that the court “is on the right side of history”. As part of the end of session deal, the governor now has the power to perform marriage ceremonies; he says he sought the authority because some same sex couples have asked him to officiate at their weddings.
“Some of these marriages are very meaningful to me personally,” Cuomo said. “I’d like the opportunity to officiate.”
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who already has the power to marry people, officiated at two same sex marriages at City Hall Friday afternoon, in celebration of the decision. "Today, love wins," he said.
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