Congratulations, New York!

Since then, at least 8,200 marriage licenses have been issued to same sex couples in New York City alone in the past year, according to gay right's advocates.

New York joined five other states — Massachusetts, Vermont, Iowa, Connecticut, and New Hampshire — and Washington D.C. in the decision to legally recognize the marriage of same sex couples. And as the full extent of this landmark decision continues to develop, GLBT rights’ activists across the nation have a reason to celebrate this week. New York has been the largest and most influential state to recognize same-sex marriage, and this recognition continues to vitalize the fight for equality, even a year after its' Senate’s vote.

New York’s legalization of same sex marriage is not only a major victory for the GLBT community and gay rights’ activists, but it also produced an estimated $259 million in revenue for the state.

In May of this year, President Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage, although New York was the most recent state to vote in favor of extending full marriage rights to gay couples last July. Many are now focusing their attention on Maryland and Washington, where lawmakers have passed same-sex marriage rights and voters will decide upon on these laws in November.