New York City clerk's offices will soon conduct civil ceremonies for gay couples
New York City clerk's offices will soon conduct civil ceremonies for gay couples
Monday, May 17th 2010, 4:00 AM
Tyson/Bergen Record
Civil ceremonies for same-sex couples will be available in New York City starting June 3.The city is about to take a ceremonial step down the aisle for gay couples, the Daily News has learned.
After 17 years of registering domestic partners, the city will soon offer marriage-like ceremonies when they run off to City Hall to get hitched, just like straight couples have had for generations.
"We thought it was a good idea," City Clerk Michael McSweeney said of providing a more memorable ceremony for domestic partners.
The civil ceremonies will be available starting June 3.
They will be offered at the city clerk's five borough offices - including the recently revamped $12 million Manhattan marriage office at 141 Worth St., just north of City Hall.
The city began registering domestic partners, most of whom are not gay, at the city clerk's offices in 1993. Up until now, the nearly 50,000 domestic partners who signed up received nothing more than a piece of paper.
"Sounds like a small step in the right direction," said Joseph Hagelmann, president of the Stonewall Democratic Club in Manhattan. "But we're not going to be happy until we have full marriage equality."
Registering as a same-sex domestic partner is not the same as gay marriage - which the state Senate nixed last year - but it does convey some legal benefits, especially if one partner is a city employee.
Registered partners of municipal workers are generally entitled, for instance, to the same city health and other benefits as given to married spouses. Domestic partners also qualify for tenancy rights at city developments.
Most of the city's registered domestic partnerships are not gay. Of the 5,534 partners who registered last year, 70% were straight.
With last year's rejection of a gay marriage law by the state Senate, a domestic partnership ceremony "is a good gesture," agreed Councilman James Van Bramer (D-Queens).
"Not everyone is going to want a ceremony, but if they do they should be able to have it," Van Bramer said.
The idea of providing a ceremony was suggested by a group of Fordham Law School students who spent time last year working with the City Council's legal division.
Unlike married spouses, domestic partners don't usually receive inheritances. They also don't have marital-type confidentiality privileges.
At least now, they can have a party.
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