New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo praised New York as a beacon for social justice after the passage of their same sex marriage bill and expressed his hopes that his state's actions tonight would help to promote the message of equal rights for the LGBT community across the country.
CUOMO: [A]nd what we accomplished with marriage equality, really in some ways brings it all home, because this state, when it is at its finest, is a beacon for social justice. The legacy of this state was that we were the progressive capitol of the nation. And when you look back at so many of the great progressive movements that were birthed here in New York, the women's rights movement was birthed here in New York. The environmental rights movement was birthed here in New York, Storm King on the Hudson.
The workers' rights movement was birthed here in New York after the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire. All these great progressive movements, the gay rights movement was birthed at Stonewall. And what this state said today brings this discussion of marriage equality to a new plane. That's the power and the beauty of New York.
The other states look to New York for the progressive direction. And what we said today is you look to New York once again, because New York made a powerful statement, not just to the people of New York, but to people all across this nation.
We reached a new level of social justice this evening, marriage equality. I said to the legislators, you look at the first word, marriage, it's really about the second word, equality. It's really about New Yorkers, our brothers and sisters, looking at us and saying, we want equality. We want equality in society, equality in our relationships, equality in our love, equality in our families. We want full recognition, marriage equality, and we did it today.
Cuomo went on to praise the legislature for being willing to work together and for showing the courage to “respond to their better angels” and their hopes and not their fears. I guess time will tell whether Gov. Cuomo is right and we see more of the rest of the country follow New York and the five other states along with Washington D.C. in recognizing the equal rights of our fellow citizens in the LGBT community.
As Think Progress noted, "Cuomo just announced that he will sign the bill this evening."
