New York

The New York Supreme Court ruled that New York law doesn't allow gay marriage today. From what I've read they're completely correct. What's refreshing is that they didn't go looking for a reason to invalidate the laws. In fact they stuck up for the idea of deciding these types of things in the designed method.

Any change in the law would have to come from the state Legislature, Judge Robert Smith said.

What's interesting is what may happen next.

Plaintiff Regina Cicchetti said she was "devastated" by the ruling. But the Port Jervis resident said she and her partner of 36 years, Susan Zimmer, would fight on, probably by lobbying the Legislature for a change in the law.

I feel very badly for the plaintiff here. She's just wanting to be married to someone she loves. I can't imagine how gut-wrenching it must be to have something as personal as your (desired) marriage to be at the center of a heated debate. But that's exactly where gay marriage is. At the center of a heated debate. And it's much better to settle a debate in a legislative way than in a judicial way.
While tooling around tonight and reading opinions, I ran across this old post from Instapundit. The entire thing is worth a read, but this part is probably the most important.

Finally, in all of this I'm reminded of something one of the New Haven black panthers said on a radio show I produced back when I was producing radio shows. Looking back at their failures in 1970, he remarked: "Revolution is a process, not an event. It's not enough to agitate, you've got to inform and educate. And they didn't do that."

Supporters of gay marriage have mostly stayed away from inform or educating. They've relied on name calling and bad faith arguments. America is filled with good people. Convince them of your cause and they'll rally 'round you.