NY State Marriage Law Declared Unconstitutional

From today's NY Times:

"A New York State judge in Manhattan ruled yesterday that a state law that effectively denied gay couples the right to marry violated the state Constitution, a decision that raised the possibility that the city would begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as soon as next month."

"The state's Domestic Relations Law, which dates to 1909 and limits marriage to unions between opposite-sex couples, deprived gay couples of equal protection and due process rights under the state Constitution."

The City has 30 days in which to appeal; if they don't, it could "turn New York City into a gay marriage Mecca," said one city official, who spoke to the Times on condition of anonymity.

Hmm, and that would be bad because...? Has anyone done an analysis of the effects of gay marriage on the economy in Massachusetts? Last year they had a record year for tourism, and all other wedding-related industries such as florists, caterers, etc., etc. I think if we did some research on that, we'd hear George W. Bush change his tune. We all know that the way to a Republican's heart is through his wallet.

Here's the icing on the wedding cake:

"Another couple, Mary Jo Kennedy and Jo-Ann Shain, said it was their 16-year-old daughter, Aliya Shain, who convinced them to seek a marriage license and join the suit. Aliya, smiling into the blaze of camera flashes and television crews, said she was proud of her parents. The family lives in Brooklyn, and Aliya, who had skipped physics class to attend the event, said that her friends at school were supportive and that she hoped the rest of the country would be as well.

When asked about Mr. Bush's speech, she said, "I would invite the president to spend a day in my home because I think that would greatly change his mind.""

You tell him, girl.