From Stonewall to Niagara Falls

Kitty Lambert and Cheryle Rudd were married at Niagara Falls at midnight on July 24 – the first legal same-sex marriage in New York State.

Following its intense lobbying efforts to push the marriage fairness bill through the Legislature, Western Regional Office celebrated the historic victory, appropriately enough, at a wedding. In fact, it was among the first same-sex marriages performed in the state, taking place at Niagara Falls at midnight on July 24 – the first day the Marriage Equality Act went into effect.

Buffalo resident Kitty Lambert and Cheryle Rudd were married at the honeymoon capital of the world, first in a multidenominational religious ceremony, and then by Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, as rainbow lights glowed on the American Falls. It was an inspiring and touching occasion.

Our staff worked tirelessly fighting to secure the votes necessary to push the marriage bill through the State Senate. We focused our lobbying on Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-60th District, who was one of four Republicans to vote for the bill. We worked closely with our allies New Yorkers United for Marriage, Marriage Equality New York, and the Stonewall Democrats of Western New York.

On June 19, we held a Marriage Roundtable at our office to address the misinformation that was clouding the debate around marriage fairness and to put a human face on the issue in New York State. On hand to share their stories with media from the Buffalo News and WGRZ-TV 2, were Julie Macpherson and Valerie Cary, Kitty Lambert, Cheryle Rudd, Mark Flanders, Peter Bisuito, Tom Gleed, Mark Ball, and Terry Purdue. All these folks took time away from their families to share their struggles and stories as gay and lesbian New Yorkers who were denied the privileges, benefits, protections and responsibilities that accompany civil marriage.

Following the successful roundtable, our coalition organized a Rally for Marriage on June 22 at Buffalo's Lafayette Square.

When the Buffalo City Clerk's Office opened at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 24 to begin issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples, Western Regional Organizer Mario Ezekiel Hernandez was there gathering signatures in support of the Respect for Marriage Act (HR 1116), legislation that will repeal the discriminatory and unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.

NYCLU organizer Mario Ezekiel Hernandez at the City Clerk’s Office advocating against the Defense of Marriage Act.