One of the best things about the New York victory is the momentum it brings. The pro-equality movement has been emboldened in several states. In Maine, where a ballot initiative (pro-marriage equality, not the usual anti-equality kind) previously failed has been given hope for another go. Lambda Legal is suing the state of New Jersey for marriage equality. People from Maryland are urging Governor O'Malley to take a more active role in the state's quest to legalize same-sex marriage the way that Governor Cuomo of New York did (O'Malley has already said that he would sign a marriage equality bill if it came to his desk and the state's Senate passed an attempt this year, though the measure failed in the Democratic assembly). Minnesota will see a ballot initiative to amend the state's Constitution and institutionalize discrimination in November of 2012 and hopes are high that this will provide time to build support for equality. North Carolina is in the same situation to Minnesota. If that state could give its electoral votes to a Democrat even in 2008, anything is possible. And there are of course continuing cases against California's Prop. 8 and DoMA.
Obviously all of these battles are going to be tough fights. They will take a tremendous amount of effort, time, man power, and money to win. They are all, however, winnable.
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