Albany, New York (CNN) -- The number of Americans living in states covered by same-sex marriage laws has more than doubled after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law that gave gay and lesbian couples the right to marry. Cuomo signed the measure after it passed a Republican-controlled Senate on Friday night, raising questions as to whether the move reflects new momentum in the gay rights movement. Cuomo said the law will grant same-sex couples equal rights to marry "as well as hundreds of rights, benefits and protections that are currently limited to married couples of the opposite sex."
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NEW: The number of people living in states covered by same-sex marriage doubles
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Catholic bishops in New York rebuke same-sex marriage law
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Same-sex couples can get married in New York within 30 days
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Law provides hundreds of other state benefits formerly out of reach
I emphasized that not only is marriage equality consistent with bedrock @placeholder principles, but it is also consistent with bedrock Republican Party principles of liberty and freedom -- and the Republicans who stood up today for those principles will long be remembered for their courage, foresight, and wisdom.