New York's same-sex marriage debate looks like it is finally coming to a head today. A bill - the Marriage Equality Act - passed the State Assembly last week, and is just waiting for a vote in the Senate to become law. Initially it wasn't certain whether the Senate would vote before its session ended, but that's now looking likely; the word is that it will come to a vote today and is likely to pass (though with the usual US "compromise" endorsing Christian bigotry against gays). So, I've been hanging around on Twitter, watching the New York Senate feed for news of a vote.
The Governor has already indicated he will sign the law, so if it passes it will make New York the sixth US state (after Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and New Hampshire) to recognise full marriage equality. It will also significantly increase the pressure on other states to do the same.
Hopefully I'll have more news on this later this afternoon. But even if the bill fails, it'll be back next year, and the next one, and the next one, until it wins. Meanwhile, while New York is debating this, the silence from our political parties is deafening. What's the matter, guys - afraid of a few bigots?
Update: And having just posted that, they're adjourning for the night. So maybe tomorrow...
