New York State’s historic embrace of marriage equality isn’t the end of all legal and bureaucratic problems for LGBT New Yorkers.
The federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), as well as the religious exemptions included in the New York marriage equality bill, create a number of obstacles and questions for same-sex couples, even if they’re married under New York law – including social security, health benefits, federal pension benefits, tax returns, interstate travel and relocation, and adoption.
Accordingly, local elected officials, including Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Borough President Marty Markowitz, State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblymember Joan Millman, Councilmembers Brad Lander and Stephen Levin, and the Senate sponsor of marriage equality State Senator Tom Duane, will host a public forum on the challenges that remain for married LGBT New Yorkers following this year’s historic passage of marriage equality. The forum, titled “After ‘I Do’: What’s Next for LGBT New Yorkers?” will be held on Tuesday, August 16th, 2011 at 6:30PM at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. More information is here.
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