New York’s legalization of same-sex marriage last week is a milestone for the nation and a triumph for those who cherish and promote fairness and human dignity.
The state Senate’s 33-29 vote will permit gays and lesbians to marry in New York beginning in late July. The victory was a long time arriving; its importance cannot be overstated. New York is a bellwether state, and approval there will encourage those who support same-sex marriage to expand their efforts to other states. Those endeavors should be encouraged.
The legislative victory in New York will be hard to duplicate. Twenty-nine states – including Tennessee – currently have constitutional bans on same-sex marriage. Twelve others have laws forbidding it. That scenario is unlikely to change, even though recent public opinion polls indicate a majority of Americans now support same-sex marriage. Too many people and legislators continue to define marriage as an institution between a man and a woman. That’s an arcane definition that should be updated to reflect contemporary society..
While a majority of marriages today are between a man and woman, there is no guarantee that such a union is the only or the best one. Indeed, there’s considerable evidence to the contrary. Too many heterosexual marriages end in divorce to sustain that claim.
There are many stable and long-lasting unions between same-sex couples that testify to the strength of their bond. Those couples – and the families they raise – deserve the same legal rights, benefits and protections that legality confers on heterosexual marriages. New York becomes the sixth and largest state to provide them.