New York becomes the 6th state to legalize same sex marriage, as Governor Andrew Cuomo signs the bill into law. He signed the bill shortly after it passed in the senate late Friday night.

The New York State senate passes the marriage equality act with 33 votes. The measure needed 32 votes to pass.

Cuomo says the bill helps tear down barriers in the road to equality. "Because New York made a powerful statement, not just for the people of New York, but for the people across the nation. We reached a new level of social justice. Marriage equality, it is really about the second word, equality. It's really about our brothers and sister saying we want equality."

The governor has been pushing for the bill since before he was even elected. In a late night address to the public, the governor applauded the work of legislators. He said the passage of this bill lives up to New York's legacy of being the progressive capital of the nation.

Earlier in the day, legislative leaders reached a framework agreement on religious exemptions in order to allow the same sex marriage bill to move forward. One of the undecided senators was republican Hudson Valley senator Steve Saland, who helped write those exemptions. He voted in favor of the bill, saying he knows his decision will disappoint many people in his party, but he feels he did the right thing.

Both supporters and opponents of the bill have been rallying in Albany for days in anticipation of the bill. Loud celebration from the pro-gay marriage side erupted within moments of the bill passing the senate floor. Among those closely watching the actions of legislators is Ross Levi, the Executive Director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, who said, "This is incredibly monumental. It's New York State saying to our families that we are equal. We are part of the fabric of New York State. That we will now have the help of our government, taking care of each other, taking care of our children. "

Levi also said they will continue to work towards trans-gendered equality and justice, but they still have a way to go.

The last vote on a same sex marriage bill on the senate floor was in December 2009, when it failed 24-38.