Marriage Fairness

We believe that all New Yorkers deserve the freedom to marry. New Yorkers across the state and political spectrum agree, and so does the State Assembly and Governor Paterson. Sadly, at the end of 2009, the New York State Senate voted against marriage fairness.

Though the vote was a significant disappointment, the NYCLU knows it is just a matter of time before all New York families are provided the protection that marriage offers. The majority of New Yorkers support fair marriage laws that protect lesbian and gay families, and the day will come when we achieve that goal. But we need your help to make that happen.

Right now, our state denies LGBT New Yorkers the ability to marry their loved ones and the 1,324 rights and protections that accompany marriage. Thanks to the NYCLU’s landmark legal victory in Martinez v. County of Monroe, New York State already recognizes out-of-state marriages between lesbian and gay couples. Click here to learn more about that decision, and how it affects your rights.

But New Yorkers shouldn't have to leave the state to get married. Join the campaign to make New York the next victory for fairness.