Same-sex marriage (SSM) Menu In New York state

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Background:

The path towards same-sex marriage (SSM) in New York state took over seven years. It started in early 2004 when same-sex couples unsuccessfully tried to obtain marriage licenses. Two years later, 44 couples petitioned New York Court of Appeals asking for the right to marry. The court ruled that they had no constitutional right to marry. However, the court also ruled that the legislature could create that right if it wished.

This was the beginning of many attempts to legalize SSM in the state. The first three failed to pass in the Senate. However, in 2008, the Court of Appeals ruled that same-sex couples who legally married outside of the state should have their marriages recognized when they returned to New York. This created specialist marriage businesses in Toronto, ON Canada which shares a long border with New York.

The tipping point arrived on election day in 2010-NOV with the election of Governor Andrew Cuomo (D). He had been a very strong supporter of SSM. He was helped by numerous public opinion polls which showed that most New York adults were in favor of SSM. A 2011-APR poll showed that 58% of New York state adults favored SSM while only 36% were opposed -- a margin of 22 percentage points. During 2011-JUN, a SSM bill passed the House. On JUN-24, with the help of three Republicans, the Senate passed the bill.

Governor Cuomo signed the bill into law on the evening of 2011-JUN-24. It came into effect on JUL-24. New York state joined with six other states and the District of Columbia to established marriage equality within their jurisdictions. Because of the large population and influence of New York State, approval of SSM in the state is expected to give a major boost to the drive for LGBT equality nationally.

During 2012-JUN, Senator David Storobin (R) introduced a bill to repeal the marriage equality law. It did not progress.

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Topics covered in this section:

• Introduction to SSM in New York State: Quotations, timeline, introduction & suggestions <<< We recommend reading this first
  
  
• 2004: Unsuccessful attempts to register same-sex marriages
  
  
• Same-sex marriage and civil union developments:
  
  
  • 2000 to 2007
    
    
  • 2008
    
    
  • 2009:
    • SSM bill introduced
      
      
    • SSM bill passes state Assembly
      
      
    • Catholic bishops oppose SSM. Chaotic Senate considers bill but takes no action
      
      
    • Senate reconsiders bill and rejects it; poll shows majority of public support SSM
      
      
  • 2010-OCT to 2011-MAR
    
    
  • 2011-APRIL and MAY
    
    
  • 2011-JUNE-01 to 14 Support and opposition to SSM bill
    
    
  • 2011-JUNE-14 & 15 State Assembly passed the bill!
    
    
  • Senate (in)activity in the week starting 2011-JUNE-12
    
    
  • David Tyree's anti-SSM stance. Personal views of Terry Angel Mason. Other videos on SSM
    
    
  • Senate activity during the week of 2011-JUNE-19. Delays and attempts to prevent a vote from ocurring.
    
    
  • Senate activity: the week of 2011-JUNE-19, Cont'd. Vote scheduled.
    
    
  • The bill's religious exemptions, and the strange case of Ethical Culture Societies
    
    
  • Vote scheduled in Senate. Bill approved
    
    
  • 2011-JUN-24: Bill signed into law by Governor Cuomo; two town clerks object
    
    
  • Positive and negative reactions to the passage of the Marriage Equality Act:
    
    
    • Part 1: Early reactions to the law's passage
       
    • Part 2: More reactions
      
      
    • Part 3: Still more reactions
      
      
    • Part 4: Even more reactions
      
      
    • Part 5: Reactions continue
      
      
    • Part 6: Some final reactions to the passage of the Marriage Equality law
      
      
    • Part 7: The day comes: same-sex couples get married. Another town clerk violates her oath of office.
      
      
    • Part 8 Comments by NY state politicians
      
      
    • Attempts by religious and social conservatives to restore marriage to one woman/one man via:
      
      
      • Financial attacks against senators; threats against judges. Poll shows support for SSM & for senators who voted for bill
        
        
      • Lawsuit launched against NY Senate:
        
        
        • An anti-SSM referendum and a lawsuit
          
          
        • Anti-SSM lawsuit (Cont'd). Lawsuit will proceed
          
          
        • Reactions to Justice Wiggins' decision to allow lawsuit to proceed
          
          
        • 2012-JUL to OCT: The State Appellate Division Court and the Court of Appeals both reject lawsuit
          
          
      • A Senate bill introduced to repeal the marriage equality law
        
        
  • The strange disagreeing polls: Just how many NY adults really support same-sex marriage?
    
    
  • 2012-JUN: The NY state Marriage Equality law, one year after passage:
    
    
    • Part 1: Governor's comments. Parade. Negative posting 
      
      
    • Part 2: Bible passages. Financial benefits. A look back over the year
      
      
    • Part 3: Retaliation against GOP Senators. SSM discrimination in commerce
      
      

1. Logo by Jason Logan, copied from a New York Times page at: http://www.nytimes.com/

Copyright © 2007 to 2011 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally written: 2007-APR-30
Latest update: 2012-OCT-22
Author: B.A. Robinson

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