Assemblyman Harry Bronson of Rochester says today's Supreme Court ruling affirming gay marriage is a big step in the LBGT community's long quest to be recognized as full citizens.
"I and many, many people in the LGBT community have been fighting to be full citizens for decades and this is another step in that quest that we are not treated as second-class citizens. We're treated as full citizens with all the rights and responsibilities everyone else has," Bronson said.
Bronson is the first openly gay elected member of the New York State Legislature outside of New York City.
He said it was crucial for the high court to grant same sex couples the right to marry, and not to simply be granted civil unions.
"All people are created equal in the United States. That's what our foundation is. That means even if you have the exact same rights and responsibilities but you call it something different, you are separating a group of people out. And that separateness is what truly means that you are not fully equal."
Bronson said the LGBT community will still undoubtedly have to wage a social battle for equal rights, just as racial minorities continue to fight for civil rights.
"Those who are willing to hate on the basis of who a person is, that is going to continue. We have certainly seen that recently. That kind of hate....it takes a long time to remove hate."
