Marriage Equality Act (2011) N.Y. A8354

The Marriage Equality Act amended New York’s Domestic Relations Law to make civil marriage equally available to couples regardless of gender. It states that a marriage is valid whether the spouses are of the same or different gender, and bars officials from denying a marriage license based on the applicants’ gender identity. The act requires gender-specific terms in New York statutes, such as husband, wife, bride, and groom, to be read in a gender-neutral manner so that all married couples hold the same rights and obligations, including those related to healthcare decision-making, inheritance, taxation, parental status, and spousal benefits. The law does contain a religious exemption; clergy and religious organizations are not required to solemnize or recognize marriages that conflict with their beliefs, and they are protected from civil claims arising from such refusals. Enacted as Chapter 95 of the Laws of 2011, the statute establishes full civil marriage equality in New York State, and ensures that couples of all genders receive identical legal treatment under state law.