Shoulders to Stand On

The History of Marriage Equality in New York State

by Evelyn Bailey

For many of us our overwhelming consumption with working for Marriage Equality in New York, has not left much time to look at the history of this movement in New York State which actually began with the women's rights movement in the United States at a convention in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton presented the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, calling for legal equality for women.  The document asserted that "all men and women are created equal" and deserve equal rights, including the franchise and equality within marriage.  The Fight for Marriage Rights has continued in New York for the past 163 years.

38 DAYS AGO ON JUNE 24, 2011 THE FIGHT FOR MARRIAGE ENDED IN VICTORY.  Marriage Equality is now a reality for the Rochester  and  New York  LGBT community.  The complete dated history of this struggle can be found on line.  Shoulders To Stand On would like to look at the preceding months leading up to the passage of this historic legislation.

History Corner: August 2011

by Evelyn Bailey

This month the History Corner will print the countdown hour by hour of the passage of the Marriage Equality Bill on June 24, 2011.

Prior to 4:58pm:  New York Times reports that Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Senate leaders reached an agreement on the religious exemption language that has kept the bill stalled in negotiations all week. Though this means the negotiations over the measure have cleared one hurdle, there is no news on when or if the bill will be brought to the Senate floor for a vote.

4:58 p.m - NYS Senate confirmed The Times report by releasing the updated bill.

History Corner: Highlights of 2010 LGBTIQ Community Successes

February - The United States Tax Court ruled in O’Donnabhain v. Commissioner that taxpayers may deduct the medical costs associated with treating gender identity disorder from their federal income taxes.

March – Marriage licenses become available to same-sex couples in the District of Columbia and marriages begin on March 9.