The New York Senate passed a marriage equality bill 33-29 on Friday night and Gov. Cuomo signed it, making New York the 6th state in the U.S. to legalize same sex marriage. A similar bill passed the New York Assembly last week, and passed the Senate amendments tonight. The new law will take effect in 30 days.

There is no residency requirement to marry in the state of New York, so Alaska’s gay and lesbian couples can get legally married there. New York does not have an initiative process that could be used to overturn this victory like opponents did in California. The law doubles the number of people in the U.S. who live where same sex couples can marry.

Four Republican Senators voted for the bill after strong religious protections were approved, and one Democrat voted against it. It took weeks of negotiations by Cuomo and thousands of calls, emails and tweets from supporters to bring the bill to a vote.

Supporters crowded into the senate chambers today, and gathered in NYC gay hot spots and historically significant places like the Stonewall Inn, to watch the debate and vote. Cheers broke out in the senate when the vote was complete. Saturday is New York Pride and they expect record crowds will turn out to celebrate this marriage victory.

Bent Alaska tracked the live streamed NY Senate vote on our Facebook wall and Twitter today, and LGBTA Alaskans are celebrating this victory tonight with equality supporters around the world. We will continue to celebrate it tomorrow at PrideFest in Anchorage.

Go New York!! Best. Pride Gift. Ever.