Same-sex marriage legalised in New York state as hundreds wed

Fifth and largest US state so far to pass law, but same-sex marriages still not recognised by national government Just past midnight on Sunday at Niagara Falls in New York, Kitty Lambert and Cheryle Rudd became the first same-sex couple to be legally married in the state. The couple were among hundreds of gays and lesbians married on Sunday as a new law allowing same-sex marriages in New York came into effect. Lambert, 54, and Rudd, 53, were married before more than 100 friends and family members in front of the famous water falls. Lambert and Rudd have been together 12 years and met in Arizona after divorcing their respective husbands. The women have five children and 12 grandchildren between them. “We’re finally getting the same rights as everyone else,” Rudd told Associated Press. “Nobody can take that away from us anymore.” In New York city 823 same sex couples were granted licences to wed on Sunday. Phyllis Siegal, 76, and Connie Kopelov, 84, were the first same-sex couple to become legally married in the city. The couple live in Chelsea and have been together for 23 years. Couples began lining up at the entry to the Manhattan City Clerk’s Office in New York at 4:30 am and a crowd gathered to cheer the newlyweds as they left the building. City Council speaker Christine Quinn, who is gay, told reporters: “They’re here in the most amazing of moments, where their hometown and their state are saying that their family matters, that their family is just as good as everybody else’s. And part of the law that in words said they were less than other people, which wasn’t true, is now gone.” New York mayor Michael Bloomberg officiated at the marriage between his consumer affairs commissioner Jonathan Mintz, and his chief policy adviser John Feinblatt Sunday afternoon at Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official residence. The mayor has been an outspoken champion of same-sex marriage rights. New York is the largest state so far to legalize same-sex marriage. Six other states including Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont already recognise gay marriages. Gay rights activists are pushing for New York neighbour New Jersey to recognise gay weddings. But most US states have brought in laws or constitutional amendments barring same-sex marriage, and same-sex marriages are not recognised at the national level by the US government. Gay rights New York Michael Bloomberg United States Marriage Relationships Family Dominic Rushe guardian.co.uk

Posted by on July 24, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.