Governor Cuomo Announces Passage of Marriage Equality Act

June 24, 2011, Albany - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announces passage of the Marriage Equality Act, granting same-sex couples the freedom to marry under the law, as well as hundreds of rights, benefits, and protections that have been limited to married couples of the opposite sex.

" New York has finally torn down the barrier that has prevented same-sex couples from exercising the freedom to marry and from receiving the fundamental protections that so many couples and families take for granted," Governor Cuomo said. "With the world watching, the Legislature, by a bipartisan vote, has said that all New Yorkers are equal under the law. With this vote, marriage equality will become a reality in our state, delivering long overdue fairness and legal security to thousands of New Yorkers."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/governorandrewcuomo/sets/72157626919104231/

Beginning JULY 24^th when the bill goes into effect and for the following week city clerks will add 2 hours to every day to perform marriages and the 24 hour waiting period has been waived.

For more information go to nycgo.gov or cityclerk.nyc.gov

 

However, not all are ecstatic:

 

In a recent opinion article in the NYTimes it was suggested that domestic-partner couples might be losing some freedoms and rights by being forced into the marriage mold -

 

Marriage Is a Mixed Blessing

 

Domestic partnerships and civil unions aren’t a consolation prize made available to lesbian and gay couples because we are barred from legally marrying. Rather, they have offered us an opportunity to order our lives in

ways that have given us greater freedom than can be found in the one-size-

fits-all rules of marriage.

 

Domestic partners will be required by both public and private employers to marry their partners in order to keep those rights. In other words, “winning” the right to marry may mean “losing” the rights we have now as domestic partners, as we’ll be folded into the all-or-nothing world of marriage.

Once the marriage ban in New York State is lifted, domestic-partner couples, both gay and straight, will risk losing access to health care and other benefits if their employers treat marriage as the only ticket for entitlement to these benefits, which are increasingly expensive. While it is a major victory and we have worked hard to achieve it. Even people such as  our Mayor Bloomberg, who has been in a relationship for over 10 years without marrying, illustrate one can be an ardent supporter of marriage rights for same-sex couples while also recognizing that serious, committed relationships can be formed outside of marriage.  Conversely it will probably put some strain on relationships that have happily existed without legal commitment now that the option is there.

In response to the question “Are You Getting Married?” A quick random poll among Grovites offered the following:

 

“Not Me!!!”, “I’ll ask my accountant” Hoffas:  “On a strictly business basis it makes sense”. Arthur “Nice to know we can but its not really necessary”. One couple went to   Massachusetts 3 years ago for “health benefits”. Timothea “We went to Canada years ago to get married”. Cobra: “Why not? After 37 years?” Jack & Curtis “eventually, maybe something legal and then a full event a year later”, “Divorce attorneys will clean up in a year”(anon), Angela Merci “It’s amazing to have the choice but we’ve been together a long time without it” Charity: “You know my theme song – Living Alone and I Like It” (me, too)

 

I would welcome comments on this fascinating, brand new issue.

                                                    Editor@FireIslandSun.com