On Monday, State Senator Shirley L. Huntley announced her support for marriage equality in New York State.
Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Queens) made her announcement in support for marriage equality on the same day that three other state senators, who had each voted against legalizing same-sex marriage two years ago voted, also reversed course, The New York Times reported. The senators said that their constituents’ thinking had evolved on the this important stepping stone toward full LGBT civil rights had evolved.
The Times described the move as "significantly" improving the odds that New York state legislature will pass a law that legalises marriage equality, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Citizens in New York state stand on the cusp of charting a new course for LGBT civil rights nationally, and the state itself is on the verge of becoming the largest state in the nation to allow gays and lesbians to wed.
Meanwhile, Sen. Huntley made her announcement less than two months after a daring civil disobedience protest against her and her legislative office by two LGBT civil rights activists, Iana Di Bona and Alan Bounville, who are members of Connecting Rainbows.
