Assemblymember Harry Bronson joined local leaders and activists at ROC Rainbow Seniors on June 24 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of New York State’s Marriage Equality Act. New York became the largest state at the time to legalize same-sex marriage when the law passed in 2011.
Bronson highlighted how the act helped to secure the rights, recognition and visibility of LGBTQ+ couples.
“[The Marriage Equality Act] continues to be among the most transformative, impactful and significant wins of our LGBTQ+ community,” Bronson said. “Giving us the legal right to marry and recognize by the state the right for us to marry the person that we love was instrumental in moving the state forward and recognizing the human rights of our gay community.”
New York State’s Marriage Equality Act was signed into law on June 24, 2011, and took effect on July 24 of that same year. The act grants same-sex couples the freedom to marry in New York.
This act amended the state’s domestic relations law to state that ” a marriage that is otherwise valid shall be valid regardless of whether the parties to the marriage are of the same or different sex.”
Trillium Health CEO Jason Barnecut-Kearns described how their organization has been at the forefront of caring for communities that often face barriers to care such as the LGBTQ+ community.
Barnecut-Kearns said the organizations work is grounded in the belief that every patient deserves compassionate and judgement-free care.
“Marriage equality and health equity goes hand in hand. When we recognize people fully in law, in healthcare and in our communities, we create a system that’s better for everyone,” Barnecut-Kearns said.
Rochester activists and married couple Anne Tischer and Bess Watts attended the anniversary celebration. Not only did the couple fight for the right to legally marry, but they were among the first couples to marry under the law.
“As long time activists, Bess and I can say this did not come easily. Thousands of people worked for years to make marriage equality happen in New York,” Tischer said. “Marriage is an institution that is foundational to our American way of life with its protections, benefits, sanctity and respect.”
Watts also recognized the work behind the passing of this act, but stressed how LGBTQ+ rights are currently facing an attack across the nation.
“It is a time when some of our political leadership stokes this divisiveness to divert the corrupt, self-serving things they are doing,” Watts said. “We will not be forced into silence, our families are an integral part of every community, being able to live freely and comfortably is the American way of life.”
— Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester marks 15 years of New York marriage equality law
Reporting by Kerria Weaver, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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By Kerria Weaver, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
