New York State Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

Albany, NY (WIBX) --  New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed the same-sex marriage bill into law.  New York is now the 6th state to legalize gay marriage after a historic vote in the state last night. The state Senate passed the bill by a narrow margin, 33-29.

The law will go into effect July 24th.  For weeks it was believed the Senate needed just one more vote to pass the bill and they got two Friday night.  Republican Senators Stephen Saland and Mark Grisanti were both undecided heading into Friday, and made the decision to back the legislation.  Leading up to the much anticipated vote, the Assembly and House both passed amendments that would not force religious institutions to perform same sex marriage.