New York may pass marriage equality this week

This may actually happen finally. Politico reports:

In a development with national implications, New York is looking more and more like it will become the next state to legalize gay marriage as a bill gains momentum in the legislature ahead of a landmark vote that could come by midweek.

“I believe that votes will be there for marriage equality if the vote happens,” Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday afternoon. “I’ve had enough conversations with enough Republicans” to think the bill can succeed.

The optimism comes after three Democrats and one Republican, who have previously opposed marriage equality, said yesterday that they’d switch their votes. That means just two additional Republican votes are needed to pass the bill in the state Senate. Of course, a couple years ago, advocates also thought they had the votes, and then all the Republicans voted against it. Which just goes to show, never trust a Republican don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

If this long-overdue legislation does pass before the end of the session next week, New York would become the sixth and largest state in the country to legalize same-sex marriage–and a potentially influential one. As Richard Socarides of Equality Matters notes: “New York sets trends and this is a trend, if it happens, that we hope would sweep the country.” Plus, a victory would probably make the upcomingNYC Pride Fest a celebration not to be missed.

So let’s do this already. 58% of New Yorkers support marriage equality and only 36% oppose it. Including all these prominent New Yorkers. I mean, even Harold Ford fucking Jr. is on board now. Oh and also? It’s just right.

Update: This afternoon, Gov. Cuomo officially submitted the bill to the legislature. The Senate GOP is expected to have a closed-door meeting on the matter and decide whether to bring it to the floor for a vote by the end of the week.