By HarlemGuy
A few weeks ago we reported on Harlem Pride events taking place this weekend during New York’s Gay Pride celebration.
Little did we know that there would be an additional reason to celebrate.
Tonight in a historic vote the NY State Senate has approved marriage for same sex couples, which represents a tremendous opportunity. New York Becomes the Seventh U.S. Jurisdiction to Allow Gay and Lesbian Couples to Marry.
The energy around this has been building in the last few months, culminating in this evening’s historic achievement in civil and human rights history.
- In recent months dozens of New Yorkers – everyday people and celebrities alike – recorded video testimonials in support of marriage equality in New York.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ofDLFnH4WTY#at=13]
- In April the Huffington Post covered Harlem Stage’s premiere of the new documentary short film, “Marriage Equality: Byron Rushing and the Fight for Fairness, directed by New York native and award-winning African American gay filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris, and sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign.
- On June 24th President Obama said “I believe that gay couples deserve the same legal rights as every other couple in this country.”
- This evening NY Governor Cuomo said that we “reached a new level of social justice this evening,” making him “especially proud to be a New Yorker”.
- And later, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg called the vote a “historic triumph for equality and freedom.”
“In recent weeks, I have had many conversations with our state Senators. I emphasized that not only is marriage equality consistent with bedrock American principles, but it is also consistent with bedrock Republican Party principles of liberty and freedom — and the Republicans who stood up today for those principles will long be remembered for their courage, foresight, and wisdom. In fact, 10 or 20 or 30 years from now, I believe they will look back at this vote as one of their finest, proudest moments.”
The part I liked the most about Cuomo’s speech was his focus on the word “equality”. No doubt this will resonate deeply with all Americans.
And as I wrap up this post I find myself humming Kool & The Gang’s CELEBRATE.
Happy Harlem Pride.
