While California's battle on the issue has been a legislative and judiciary see-saw, with courts legalizing gay marriage in 2008, followed by a statewide referendum in 2010 that again made it illegal, several advocates told MTV News that the New York decision will add momentum to the gay rights movement across the country.
"New York is sort of a vanguard state, so it seems that the rest of the country will eventually go that direction, but we have no idea,” said Californian Orlando Soria. “In a year they could be like, 'Oh that's illegal again.' Part of me thinks it's very exciting for now, especially after Prop 8, but it's hard to get fully excited about this stuff because you never know what's going to happen. I don't know. I should just be excited, but at the same time I'm excited with trepidation."
A pair of women hold hands as they join advocates for gay marriage as they march in the Heritage of Pride Parade through Greenwich Village on June 28, 2009 in New York. This year's parade marks the fortieth anniversary of the Stonewall riots which sparked the gay rights movement. (UPI Photo/Monika Graff)
As states such as Minnesota consider what to do about the issue, nationwide public opinion polls have showed a significant swing in favor of gay marriage in the past decade, with a May Gallup poll showing a 53 percent majority in favor of legalizing it.
"California needs to catch up. Big ups to New York for taking the lead in being the biggest state to allow same sex marriage, " said California resident Rebekah Nazarian in an MTV interview. "This is one time I don't mind being a follower, and I hope soon too California can be proud of the same beautiful accomplishment."
(via thirdage)