Same-Sex Marriage is the Only Path Toward Equality

categories: Gay Marriage, LGBT Rights and Politics, Marriage Equality, State LGBT News

Published June 24, 2009 @ 06:44AM PT

NY Gay Marriage

As the state of New York prepares to debate marriage equality this week, with Gov. David Paterson calling a special session in the NY State Senate, the New York Bar Association has come out with a powerful statement that says, what I imagine, a lot of us feel when it comes to the subject of marriage: Marriage equality is the only possible path to equality.

This is a change of pace for the Bar Association, who just four years ago suggested that civil unions or domestic partnerships might equal marriage rights. Not so anymore. And that's good news, because the more organizations like this see that domestic partnerships and civil unions are "separate and unequal," the more marriage equality becomes the focal point.

Here's a blurb from the Bar Association's new resolution, endorsing marriage equality:

Resolved that the Association hereby endorses and supports the introduction and enactment of legislation that amends the Domestic Relations Law to allow same-sex couples to marry and to recognize marriages if contracted elsewhere, as the Association believes only marriage can grant full equality to same-sex couples and families...

The rest of their statement can be viewed here (PDF).

Share this Post

Comments (9)

It's good that the New York Bar Association did the correct thing by endorsing the necessary LGBT right of same-sex marriage. In addition, their argument for same-sex marriage is correct because the defense of that right is based on equality. Same-sex civil unions are not equality but rather an inequality that is sometimes masked as equality. Good thing David Paterson is supporting same-sex marriage, and I hope that the special session succeeds for it.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 06/24/2009 @ 06:51PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Edwin
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Seperate but equal will never be equal.

Kudos to them for joining the rest of us in the 21st century.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 06/25/2009 @ 03:46PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Thomas
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
For my husband and me, it is MARRIAGE or nothing. We married in Canada, the closest country which managed to put hatred and discrimination aside to allow ANY adult couple to marry. Civil unions, as noted above, is nothing more than a cover for "separate but equal". LGBTQ people should never settle for less than full equality and human dignity.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 06/26/2009 @ 11:26AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Ioan
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
the gay parade

proud and gay they march along
growing in numbers, weak but strong
following the footsteps of another race
creating their own, demanding their place

prophecy foretold of these times
of men depraved, with reprobate minds
still on they go against the wind
blindly led, sick within

they wear their suffering on their sleeve
and call it gay, but who believes
they want so much to be a part
closet fugitives, with jealous hearts

they impose perversion, that we contend
making it law, protecting sin
but when we preach against their state
they loudly resist, and call it hate

of God's first institution, they mockingly err
they wrongly define, they wrongly pair
unholy unions with conscience aloof
they live by feelings, devoid of truth

the legacy of sin is always shame
and by their choice, will not be saved
for they used a vice to vent their sorrow
lived only for today, and not for tomorrow

http://www.gayreality.org

Posted by Derem Miegara on 06/26/2009 @ 05:43PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
Spew your hatred all you like, Derem. It is YOU who arebehind the times and so wrapped up in hatred that you can see nothing but ill in the GLBTQ community. Your opinion in this country is becoming more and more and more irrelevant. Wallow in your hate--my husband and I are happy and monogamous which is more than can be said for many in the Religious RIght.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 06/26/2009 @ 08:27PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Derem
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I have conservative religious values (please don't confuse that with the Pat Robertson set). That being said, even with my belief system, I still believe that the Gay community deserves the same Civil Rights as I have.

To me, my marriage license was never anything more than a civil union. I don't care what the state calls it. I have one for leagal rights and protections only. My view of the sanctity of my marriage are largely shaped by my religious views.

I don't need the government to "defend" my beliefs with a stupid law like DOMA. The government does not validate my marriage in my mind. There ONLY use to me in this respect is to guard my wife and I's rights and responsibilities with respect to property etc...

The only defense of my belief system that I require from the government is the guarantee (and enforcement of said guarantee) that I can have and practice my beliefs provided that I do not deprive others of these same rights.

There is a Gay couple my wife and I do regular business with that want to be married. I wouldn't be offended in the least if the state granted them the same marriage license that I have. I don't need semantics of Civil Unions vs. marriage from the state.

I am running into more and more people who hold my same beliefs (religiously speaking) who feel the same way about the whole gay marriage issue (as a matter of public policy) as I do. More and more of us are tired of politicians and religious leaders ( many very hypocritical) using this as a wedge issue and as a means to draw voting blocks (and the ensuing financial support) after themselves.

Freedom really means that all of have the same opportunities for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We don't have to agree on the best way to do that, but we need to allow everyone to do so providing they do not keep someone else from doing the same. Seperate but equal just doesn't cut it.

We need to get these same rights for everyone.

Posted by William Brown on 07/02/2009 @ 11:26PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
Thank you, William...those are values I can live with. I for one do NOT expect religions which do not approve of GLBTQ people or marriage equality to marry us. What I want is the same property rights, right to visit a sick spouse, and so on--the 1100-plus rights bestowed by civil marriage. Thanks for reaffirming respect for at least a small section of the conservative world.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 07/05/2009 @ 03:03AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- 1 person likes this comment. Like
"least a small section of the conservative world."

I think we all might be surprised that this isn't such a small section. The media and politicians have a tendency to give voice to the more extreme elements with in any given group (pick a cause, they all have them). These "exremists" gain an undue power in society because of this and often hold those with more moderate views "hostage" so to speak.

On this issue, or on any other, let us collectively combat the perceptions and extremism promoted by media and so many self serving people. Most of us are capable of being mature enough to "agree to disagree" if we can take a step back from an issue and really think about it.

Posted by William Brown on 07/09/2009 @ 09:04AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by William
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Oops..meant to say: "Thanks for reaffirming my respect for a small segment of the conservative community".

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 07/05/2009 @ 03:04AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Ioan
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.