LAMBDA LEGAL ARCHIVE SITETHIS SITE IS NO LONGER MAINTAINED. TO SEE OUR MOST RECENT CASES AND NEWS, VISITNEW LAMBDALEGAL.ORG

NY gay-marriage talks hinge on religious rights

Find Your State

Know the laws in your state that protect LGBT people and people living with HIV.
June 23, 2011

"Will the Knights of Columbus be required to open their halls for gay weddings if New York lawmakers legalize same-sex marriage? Will Catholic adoption agencies be forced to choose between placing children with gay married couples or leaving the business?

"As New York moves closer to a vote on legislation that would make it the sixth and largest state where same-sex marriage is allowed, some Republicans are demanding stronger legal protections for religious organizations that object to the practice.

"'What's going on here is an effort to make a mountain out of a mole hill,' said Susan Sommer, director of constitutional litigation for Lambda Legal, a New York-based gay rights organization. 'There has been a notable absence of conflict anywhere in the country pitting marriage rights or civil union rights against religious objections.'"

Read more on boston.com

Share