![](\"https:\/\/BradBlog.com\/Images\/MarriageEquality_NY.jpg\")
<\/center><\/p>\nMoments ago, the New York state Senate approved a marriage equality bill<\/a> by a vote of 33 to 29. The legislation, previously approved in the state Assembly, will result in NY becoming the sixth state where same-sex marriage is allowed.<\/p>\n After Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs the bill, as expected, New York will join Massachusetts<\/a>, Iowa<\/a>, New Hampshire<\/a>, Vermont<\/a>, Connecticut<\/a> and Washington D.C.<\/a> in recognizing equal justice for all, as per the U.S. Constitution, in regard to marriage.<\/p>\n The right to marry was confirmed by conservative Supreme Courts in both California<\/a> and Maine<\/a>, but in each state, ballot initiatives were passed in hopes of nullifying that right. California’s Prop 8, a state constitutional amendment banning equal marriage rights, has since been found unconstitutional<\/a> in federal court, and is likely to be decided, eventually, in the U.S. Supreme Court.<\/p>\n NY’s state Senate is the first legislative body with a Republican-majority to approve a bill for marriage equality.<\/p>\n The victory for real<\/i> conservatives will result in a doubling of the number of Americans guaranteed equal marriage rights under the law.<\/p>\n And, once again, as a service to fake<\/i> conservatives — such as those who oppose equal rights for gay, fellow citizens, to marry each other — a reminder: Even once this bill is signed into law, gay marriage will remain optional<\/i>, not mandatory, in the state of New York.<\/p>\n The Democratic governor signed the measure shortly before midnight Friday, following up on a promise to put his name on the legislation as soon as he received it rather than wait the usual 10 days to sign it for it to become law.<\/p><\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/BradBlog.com\/Images\/EmpireStateBuilding_RainbowLights_062411_med.jpg\")
<\/a>UPDATE 9:18pm PT:<\/b><\/i> Via AP…<\/a><\/p>\n