Fact Sheet: Marriage Fairness In New York State (2008)

Update, July 6, 2011: The current version of this FAQ can be found at Fair Marriage Laws in New York: Frequently Asked Questions (2011).  
Marriage fairness is a civil rights issue. Denying same-sex couples the right to marry creates a second class citizenry just as laws banning interracial marriage did. Among the rights denied same-sex couples are: the authority to make medical decisions, the ability to visit a hospitalized partner, access to inheritance and the protection of Family Court in domestic violence cases or child custody disputes.