Cuomo, who was not considered an early champion of gay marriage, became one of its strongest advocates, and some said they hoped his successes in Albany would propel him toward the White House. Christie said on the NBC News program “Meet the Press.” “I wouldn’t sign a bill like the one that was in New York.”īut many people in the parade crowd were grateful that Mr. “I believe marriage should be between one man and one woman,” Mr. He held a blue sign that read, “Thank you Gov. Paterson, who unsuccessfully pushed for a same-sex-marriage bill in a Democrat-led Senate in 2009, marched a few blocks behind Mr. Several people carried hand-lettered signs thanking by name the four Republican senators who voted for the bill.įormer Gov. Velázquez, whose district includes parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
O’Donnell, both Manhattan Democrats the state attorney general, Eric T. Other officials in the parade included State Senator Thomas K. Cuomo’s deliberations over same-sex marriage, according to those who know the couple: she repeatedly reminded him that she wanted the law changed. Cuomo’s girlfriend, Sandra Lee, a celebrity chef who has a gay brother, marched by his side. In a rare public appearance with the governor, Mr. And it’s that once again, and it’s a pleasure to be part of it today.” Cuomo drove through several measures opposed by liberals, including a cap on property tax increases, the governor said, “New York is the progressive capital of the nation. for every other place to do it.”Īfter a legislative session in which Mr. “I think you’re going to see this message resonate all across the country now. “I’ve been to the parade many times, and there’s always a lot of energy and it’s always been a ball, but this was special,” the governor said as he stepped out of the parade on Christopher Street.