NEW YORK TO RECOGNIZE HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE

NEW YORK, August 14, 2002 (LSN.ca) – The Big Apple is preparing to become the first U.S. jurisdiction to extend the word “marriage” to same-sex unions. A bill before City Council this week would grant recognition to “members of a marriage that is not recognized by the state of New York, domestic partnership, or civil union, lawfully entered into in another jurisdiction.”  Christine Quinn, one of the bill’s sponsors, said: “The use of the word ‘marriage’ is done deliberately to make it clear that New York City is going as far as it can possibly go legislatively to recognize lesbian and gay relationships. It sends a message that the city of New York thinks all relationships are equal.”  But David Zweibel of Agudath Israel, an Orthodox Jewish group, said: “This will be used as exhibit A in making the case that society is willing to recognize gay marriage.” In a memo to the council, Agudath called it “morally offensive” and “dangerous” because it would weaken the institution of marriage and ignore longstanding religious prohibitions on homosexual unions.  To read coverage, including information about other U.S. jurisdictions, from the new conservative broadsheet, The New York Sun see:  https://www.nysun.com/sunarticle.asp?artID=124