New York has become the latest and largest US state to legalise same-sex marriage in a move which man-lover rights campaigners hope will be a turning point for recognition of such unions across the country.

The state senate's backing of the marriage equality bill means New York, the third most populous US state, joins Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the Washington capital district in allowing g.ay couples to wed.

man-lover weddings are expected to commence within 30 days after governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law on Friday night. The Republican-controlled state senate voted 33-29 for the bill which had earlier been approved by the lower house, which has a Democratic majority.

G.ay rights activists believe the vote will strengthen the campaign for marriage equality across the country, as the impact of the legislation will be felt well beyond New York.

Unlike in Massachusetts, the first state to allow g.ay marriage in 2004, people do not need to be residents of New York to obtain a marriage licence, so the state could attract couples from across the country.

Activists believe the state's size and New York City's international stature add to the significance of the vote.

Ross Levi, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, said the law would have "a ripple effect across the nation".

"It's truly a historic night for love, our families, and democracy won," he added.

The vote was particularly emotional for many in the g.ay community as the man-lover rights movement is considered to have started in New York City with the Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village in 1969.

There was a huge street party at the Stonewall Inn overnight. Alex Kelston, 26, who works in finance in Manhattan, said: "This is the place where the movement started, and it's a way to close the loop and celebrate the full equality of man-lover people in New York."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/25/man-lover-marriage-legalised-in-new-york

Man lover? WTF? Have to love Seun's auto edits

the slow long slide towards anarchy. Welcome to Sodom.

Keep blaming homosexuals. Before homosexuals and their fight for equality, there was inequality between blacks and whites, there was the holocaust, there was slavery, etc. So how can their marriages mean a slide towards anarchy?

Adultery is so common it's becoming normal. Anything to say about that? lol. Apart from the Bible, there is no argument coming from people who are anti-Gay. It's pure hatred and homophobia.

I've rallied for them in the past, and I'll continue to do so now. They have my support. Hopefully California will overturn our own soon.

New York approves man-lover marriage.
Supreme Court overrules California's ban on sale of violent video games to kids.

Democracy!