File #: Res 0171-2004    Version: * Name: Opposing state interference with same-sex couples who choose to marry.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on General Welfare
On agenda: 2/26/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution opposing state interference with same-sex couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities and commitment of civil marriage and calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass the New York Right to Marry Bill (currently A.7392 and S.3816).
Sponsors: Christine C. Quinn, David Yassky, Gifford Miller, Margarita Lopez, Philip Reed, Letitia James, John C. Liu, Eva S. Moskowitz, G. Oliver Koppell, Annabel Palma, Bill Perkins, Robert Jackson, Bill De Blasio, Alan J. Gerson, Gale A. Brewer, Betsy Gotbaum
Council Member Sponsors: 16
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2005*Christine C. Quinn City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
2/26/2004*Christine C. Quinn City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
2/26/2004*Christine C. Quinn City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Res. No. 171

 

Resolution opposing state interference with same-sex couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities and commitment of civil marriage and calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass the New York Right to Marry Bill (currently A.7392 and S.3816).

 

By Council Members Quinn, Yassky, The Speaker (Council Member Miller), Lopez, Reed, James, Liu, Moskowitz, Koppell, Palma, Perkins, Jackson, DeBlasio, Gerson, Brewer and The Public Advocate (Ms. Gotbaum)

 

                     Whereas, The city of New York consistently has sought to protect the rights and welfare of all individuals, including persons who have made a serious commitment in a same-sex relationship; and

                     Whereas, New York City's Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination on the basis of marital status and sexual orientation in the contexts of employment, public accommodation and housing; and

                     Whereas, The administrative code of the city of New York protects the rights of same-sex couples who live together in committed relationships by enabling them to register as domestic partners; and

                     Whereas, The administrative code of the city of New York extends employee benefit coverage as well as health and dental benefits to domestic partners of city employees in recognition of such relationships; and

                     Whereas, New York State has legally recognized the basic equality of lesbian and gay people through the recent passage of the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act; and

                     Whereas, Civil marriage would confer critical legal protections, rights and responsibilities upon couples, which same sex couples in committed relationships cannot currently enjoy in New York State and would not compel any religious institution to perform marriages that contravene essential tenets of their beliefs; and

Whereas, States like Vermont, California and Hawaii, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia have passed comprehensive measures giving rights and responsibilities to same sex couples and families up to and including civil marriage; and

                     Whereas, New Yorkers should have the right to get married in their own state, in the presence of their own friends and families, without having to travel to neighboring states and provinces, and

                     Whereas, The United States Supreme Court recently affirmed that love, family and intimacy have deep constitutional protection and that gay people, like all Americans, are entitled to make life-defining choices in these vital personal spheres for themselves; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the council of the city of New York opposes state interference with same-sex couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities and commitment of civil marriage; and be it further

                     Resolved, That the council of the city of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass the New York Right to Marry Bill (currently A.7392 and S.3816).