On Thursday, April 16, 2009, Gov. David Paterson introduced legislation to legalize gay marriage in New York State. Two years and two months later, the bill passed with a clear majority and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed it without hesitation.

At the same time, Paterson said, "The time has come to act. I understand the trepidation and anxiety people are feeling right now. Rights should not be stifled by fears. What we should understand is silence should not be a response to injustice."

Paterson believed, then as now, that there should be equality in marriage. Moreover, without his early work to try to pass this bill, gay marriage would not be about to become legal in the coming weeks.

The gay and lesbian community has been fighting for equality under the law for decades. Members of the community have seen their lives turned upside down because as partners, not married couples, they were not allowed to make decisions on each other's behalf, be at the bedsides of their beloveds as they died or make decisions about their medical care. This fight for marriage equality was so much more than just wanting the right to get married – it was about all of the legal, social and financial rights and commitments associated with marriage.

Unmarried gay and lesbian couples are denied almost 1,350 civil protections – including health care and pension rights. Now those rights are protected under the law. Gay and lesbian partners can be married in the eyes of their family, friends and the state.

New York's bill will be the shot heard around the country. Now the rest of the country will see allowing gay marriage for what it should rightly be: a further extension of the principle to treat all people equally.

That being said, the reasons for passing gay marriage are not simply altruistic – there are some real economic benefits for society as well. Stable gay marriages can be a great benefit to society, just as stable straight marriages strengthen our communities. And those in the wedding business may experience a boom as those who have been cohabitating for decades are finally able to make their relationships legal in the eyes of the state.

No doubt there will be some challenges to this law – although the legislators have already put in their poison pills, making it difficult to challenge, both for those seeking an even more expansive law and for those who don't want any law at all.

It is likely that our law will be the catalyst for legislation in dozens of other states. But until the 44 remaining states have an affirmative gay marriage law on the books, this fight is not over.

Every person should have the right to marry if he or she chooses. This bill will ensure that gay marriage is legal and all the rights associated with marriage are available to those who choose to enter into a union. I applaud New York State, especially the seven legislators (four of them Republicans) who changed their minds and said "yes" to marriage equality. New York will be better for it.