Gay marriage new york

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This law prohibits any and ALL work-place discrimination.

New York, in late 2002, passed a discrimination protection for LGB people and was the first of its kind to include provisions for asexual people in defining sexual orientation as "heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or asexuality, whether actual or perceived.".

Full nationwide federal recognition for all same-sex marriages was ultimately established by the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Minors and adults have to get a gender diagnosis before being treated and or have been treated by a medical professional. This means that if you live together for a long time but don't get married or become domestic partners, you don't automatically get any special rights.

But if you move to New York from a state that does recognize common law marriage, New York will respect that.

These laws can be complicated.

It's not the same as marriage, but it gives you some rights.

To be domestic partners:

  • You must be 18 or older
  • You can't be married to someone else
  • You must live together for at least 6 months
  • You must agree to take care of each other

To prove you're domestic partners, you need to show:

  • That you live together (like with mail sent to both of you at the same address)
  • That you share money (like having a joint bank account)

To register a domestic partnership, go to your local city or town clerk's office.

SONDA, in combination with laws prohibiting discrimination based on marital status, together prohibit discrimination against same-sex couples in employment, housing, credit, education, and public accommodations.

With respect to transgender individuals, SONDA does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression.

This change established a framework for equal marital rights within the state. However, it does not outright ban such surgeries or require parental consent beforehand.

Serving openly in military in New York

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Serving openly in military in New York is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
On January 27th, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military.
On February 10th, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth filed in court a memo relating to President Trump’s executive order from the previous month.

From then until March 18th, 2025, The U.S.

military prohibited transgender individuals from enlisting and ceased providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
The Trump administration enacted a new policy barring individuals with a "condition" known as "gender dysphoria." from serving in the military.

Blood donations by MSMs in New York

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Blood donations by MSMs in New York is legal.

Current status
Banned (less than 6-month deferral) under federal United States law
The FDA announced changes to the blood donor eligibility policy in April 2020, reducing the MSM deferral period from 12 months to 3 months.

DOMA defined marriage for federal purposes as exclusively between one man and one woman, preventing same-sex spouses from receiving federal benefits. In New York City, you can go to any City Clerk's office.

As domestic partners, you get some rights like:

  • Being able to visit each other in the hospital
  • Taking family leave from work
  • Some housing rights in New York City

If you want to end a domestic partnership, you need to fill out a form.

gay marriage new york

It began with early activism in the 1970s, progressed through court battles in the 2000s, and culminated in the passage of the Marriage Equality Act in 2011. This ruling struck down Section 3 of DOMA, which had denied federal recognition to legally performed same-sex marriages. Following Windsor, marriages validly performed in New York were recognized by the federal government, allowing New York’s same-sex married couples to access over 1,000 federal rights and benefits.

The Act ensured that all rights, benefits, and responsibilities of marriage under New York law applied equally to same-sex couples.

Federal Recognition of New York Marriages

Marriages performed in New York under the Marriage Equality Act initially faced limitations regarding federal recognition due to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996.

The change came amid the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, where blood was needed urgently.

Banned (indefinite deferral) under federal United States law
Starting in 1983, the United States implemented a full ban on blood donations from gay men. However, SONDA does apply when a transgender person is discriminated against based upon his or her actual or perceived sexual orientation.

LGBT housing discrimination in New York

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LGBT housing discrimination in New York is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Sexual orientation and gender identity
The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, effective as of January 16, 2003, makes it unlawful for anyone in New York State to be discriminated against in employment, housing, credit, education and public accommodations because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation.

Additionally, a QR code located at the bottom of the exhibit's Introduction panel, at left, will take you to the resource page.

If you're in a same-sex relationship in New York, you have choices about how to legally recognize your partnership.

Same-sex marriage

In New York, same-sex couples can get married just like other couples.

Here's what you need to know:

  • You can get married in any town or city in New York.
  • You need to apply for a Marriage License.
  • You have to wait 24 hours after getting your license before you can get married.
  • You must be 18 or older
  • You can't be married to someone else
  • Once you're married, you have the same rights as any other married couple.

These rights include:

  • Getting Social Security benefits from your spouse
  • Leaving money to each other without paying extra taxes
  • Having the same rights as parents
  • Being protected by the same laws as other married couples

Domestic partnership

A domestic partnership is another way for couples to make their relationship official.

Hate crime protections in New York

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Hate crime protections in New York is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Sexual orientation and gender identity
New York law protects individuals from hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

LGBT employment discrimination in New York

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LGBT employment discrimination in New York is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Sexual orientation and gender identity
The NY State Senate passed a bill called The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, it was signed in Jan 2019 but did not take effect until February 2019.

The first marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples were performed shortly after midnight.

The Marriage Equality Act

The New York State Legislature passed the Marriage Equality Act on June 24, 2011. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states. If you have questions about your relationship rights, it's a good idea to talk to a lawyer who knows about family law.

 

When Was Gay Marriage Legalized in New York?

Marriage equality in New York extended the right to marry to same-sex couples.