Philadelphia-Area Gays See New York Same-Sex Marriage Law As Watershed
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Now that New York State recognizes same-sex marriages, will members of Philadelphia's gay and lesbian community be traveling there to get married?
Chris Bartlett, executive director of the William Way LGBT Community Center in Philadelphia, says yes. He calls this a "transformational moment" not only for New Yorkers but for members of the gay and lesbian community elsewhere around the United States.
"I've already seen in conversations on Facebook, Twitter, and elsewhere that men and women are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity to become married and become full married citizens in their communities," he told KYW Newsradio.
Bartlett says the New York legislation means a great deal to gay Americans:
"Lesbian and gay citizens, like all citizens, want to declare their commitment, their love, and to form families. And so the new New York law allows citizens from Philadelphia, from Pennsylvania, to go to New York to make that commitment."
But same-sex marriages are so far recognized only in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Iowa, New York, and the District of Columbia. Still, Bartlett believes it will only be a matter of time before they are legal in Pennsylvania.
There are about 33,000 same-sex couples in Pennsylvania that were counted in the recent census.
Reported by Michelle Durham, KYW Newsradio 1060
