After a long and hard-fought battle, the New York State Senate has voted to approve same-sex "marriage".

The final vote was 33-29 with all but one Democrat, Sen. Rev. Ruben Diaz (Bronx), voting for the bill. Sen Diaz deserves special recognition for his strong defense of the family. Four Republicans voted for the bill, ultimately allowing for its passage. Those GOP senators were Alesi (Perinton), Grisanti (Buffalo), McDonald (Saratoga) and Saland (Poughkeepsie). The full voting record can be viewed here.
 
Rev. Jason J. McGuire, Executive Director, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (NYCF), said, "Despite today's vote, the people of New York recognize that marriage provides a strong foundation for a thriving society. State senators who have chosen to pursue their own agenda or the agenda of liberal activist groups are ignoring the 62 percent of Americans who believe marriage is one man, one woman, nothing else."
 
Throughout history, diverse cultures and faiths have recognized marriage between one man and one woman as the best way to promote healthy families and strong societies. That's because marriage between a man and a woman naturally builds families - mom, dad, and children - and gives hope that the next generations will carry that on into the future.
 
"State legislators should not decide this society-shaping issue. Because this decision has such far-reaching and long-term societal implications, all New Yorkers should have the opportunity to vote in a people's vote," McGuire continued.
 
Voters in 31 out of 31 states have strongly affirmed the lifelong, faithful union of a man and a woman as the fundamental building block of civilization.
 
McGuire concluded, "It is unfortunate that the vast majority of Democratic legislators and a handful of liberal-leaning Republicans have put personal agendas, ahead of principled positions. We had hoped for better, but now we look to next year's November."