eden ([info]edenette) wrote in [info]newyorkers,
2005-02-04 15:58:00

New York state court rules in favour of same-sex marriage
1 hour, 59 minutes ago


NEW YORK (AFP) - A New York state court ruled same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, a decision hailed by gay rights groups as a major victory.

Justice Doris Ling-Cohan said preventing gay and lesbian couples from receiving marriage licenses violated basic freedoms guaranteed in the state constitution.

Ling-Cohan was ruling on a lawsuit filed by the gay advocacy group Lambda Legal on behalf of five same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses in New York state.

"That prejudice against gay people may still prevail elsewhere cannot be a legitimate justification for maintaining it in the marriage laws of this state," Ling-Cohan said in her written decision.

While recognising that the ruling may cause "pain" to those whose religious convictions forbid recognition of same-sex marriage, the judge argued that granting same-sex couples the right to marry should not impact on those married under the tenets of their individual faith.

"Moreover, such religious considerations cannot legally be the basis upon which to curtail the constitutional rights of plaintiffs," she added.

Ling-Cohan's order was stayed by 30 days, pending appeal by the New York City authorities, the defendants in the case.

"We are reviewing the decision thoroughly and considering our options," said city attorney Michael Cardozo.

"This is a historic ruling that delivers the state constitution's promise of equality to all New Yorkers," said Susan Sommer, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs.

"The court recognised that unless gay people can marry, they are not being treated equally under the law," Sommer said. "Same-sex couples need the protections and security marriage provides, and this ruling says they're entitled to get them the same way straight couples do."

Massachusetts is currently the only US state to recognise gay marriages.

Conservative groups have backed moves to pass both state and federal constitutional amendments effectively banning gay marriage, although a federal amendment failed to pass muster in the US Congress earlier this year.
Tags: life in new york, news

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  • 27 comments

[info]remix_sakura

February 4 2005, 20:58:10 UTC 7 years ago

w00t w00t!! *throws confetti*

[info]nyisles

February 4 2005, 20:59:37 UTC 7 years ago

Sweet.


I mean uhh... DAMN LIBERAL HIPPIE ACTIVIST JUDGES! </right-wing dumbass>

[info]dkatzism

February 4 2005, 21:02:57 UTC 7 years ago

Mmmmm, cake.

[info]nyisles

February 4 2005, 21:05:56 UTC 7 years ago

Without pie, there is only chaos.

[info]dkatzism

February 4 2005, 21:08:07 UTC 7 years ago

I just wanted to post my Rangers logo and see what kind of reaction I'd get. I like pie, too, though. Gay marriage, good... no hockey, bad.

Nice Cloutier pic.

[info]nyisles

7 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]dkatzism

7 years ago

  • Loading...

[info]espressoshot

February 5 2005, 05:28:58 UTC 7 years ago

Mmmmm, cake. And Ben and Jerry's :)

[info]bsquad

February 4 2005, 21:32:40 UTC 7 years ago

Woot!

I knew living in a blue state was good for something.

Now, brace for the obvious amendment push.

[info]dirtylittlekiss

February 4 2005, 21:43:53 UTC 7 years ago

that's good news

[info]edenette

February 4 2005, 21:52:32 UTC 7 years ago

yeah, and i'm not even gay :)

[info]pomoloco

February 4 2005, 21:50:52 UTC 7 years ago

Wow, thanx for the update!

[info]stuckon1111

February 4 2005, 21:52:56 UTC 7 years ago

Red states...kiss my ass!

[info]oshidori

February 4 2005, 21:56:34 UTC 7 years ago

W00000t!!

Finally someone in the government that DOESN'T have their head up their ass! (Not to mention actually understands the seperation between church and state thing)

::dances::

[info]kibbles

February 4 2005, 22:11:38 UTC 7 years ago

And if you think about it, it kinda goes both ways, now churches/temples/circles/etc. that DO unite same sex couples can do that with the same legal implications as when they do hetrosexual ceremonies.

Hope this keeps moving FORWARD.

[info]music_l0ver

February 9 2005, 12:22:19 UTC 7 years ago

I agree, I was wondering when someone would finally realize the whole separation of church and state, and we've finally found one.

[info]theaceofspades

February 4 2005, 21:59:24 UTC 7 years ago

*cheers* I love my hometown.

[info]sharonc258

February 4 2005, 22:11:31 UTC 7 years ago

yay!

[info]alternakiddy

February 4 2005, 22:14:44 UTC 7 years ago

Where did you find this article? Like what news source?

[info]edenette

February 5 2005, 18:56:06 UTC 7 years ago

i think it was yahoo news, but i cant be sure cause i was at work so i cant check my history or anything. i'm pretty sure its true, cause when i spoke to my father i mentioned it and he was like, yeah i heard about that... he's a good source of news imho :-)

[info]accidental_muse

February 4 2005, 22:31:13 UTC 7 years ago

Huzzah!!! Go blue states!

[info]trishalynn

February 4 2005, 23:04:51 UTC 7 years ago

HOORAY FOR US!!!!

[info]__madison

February 4 2005, 23:15:25 UTC 7 years ago

thats awesome.

[info]alee_chan

February 4 2005, 23:19:33 UTC 7 years ago

YAYYYY!!! Now my friends don't have to go to other states to get legal, and then come home to a place where all of a sudden, they aren't.

[info]adrilyst

February 6 2005, 20:18:50 UTC 7 years ago

OMG, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! THAT'S IS SO FREAKING GREAT!!!! YAYAYAYAY!! 8DOES A DANCE* WOOOHOOO!!!

[info]heartlesssleeve

February 9 2005, 21:03:27 UTC 7 years ago

YAY!!

[info]darkwool

February 10 2005, 06:13:16 UTC 7 years ago

*cheers* *does many a jig*
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