The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”) supports A.7732 (O’Donnell) / S.4401 (Duane) which would amend the Domestic Relations Law to formally recognize marriages without regard to whether the parties are of the same or different sex.

WBASNY believes that any two mutually consenting adults should have the right to enter into a legal civil marriage.  Legal marriage carries a multitude of rights and duties spanning every area of law.  If a person is denied the right to legally marry, he or she is denied the associated rights afforded only to a legal spouse.  These may include employment benefits, contract rights, property ownership, tax benefits, and inheritance rights.  The denial of marriage rights also impacts the children and extended families of the couple.