It’s easy to get cynical, especially during  an election season; however, it’s a sign of progress when a same sex marriage rally can attract some heavy hitters in the New York political world.

Marriage Equality New York for the fifth year held what it called the “Wedding March,” a rally that began at City Hall and continued with a march across the Brooklyn Bridge. Local politicians, some considering a run for mayor of New York,  put in their two cents about when same-sex marriage will become a reality in New York.

“I don’t think we are that far away,” Comptroller William Thompson, Jr. said at a rally in City Hall Park before the march.

No matter what voters decide in California, and the polls right now point to an anti-marriage loss, New York will be the next  battleground for marriage rights. But the odds are in favor of those gay and lesbian Empire State couples looking to marry without having to travel to California or Massachusetts. Governor David Paterson  has already signed an order to recognize same sex marriage certificates from other states, the state assembly has passed a bill that would allow same sex couples to marry  (it stalled in the state senate), and voters seem on board.