UUA President Decries Court Ruling in NY Marriage Case

The Rev. William G. Sinkford

A statement from the Rev. William G. Sinkford

I am deeply saddened by today's ruling by the New York Court of Appeals denying full legal status to marriages of same-sex couples in that state. The Unitarian Universalist Association has a long-standing and deeply held religious commitment to support full civil equality for all loving couples. Today's ruling further delays the time when the legal protections enjoyed by heterosexual couples in New York will be made available to same-sex couples.

The court's decision reinforces the commitment of Unitarian Universalists everywhere to combat homophobia and to end legal discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons. While we are encouraged by the tremendous strides being made toward full marriage equality in many parts of the country, we must also acknowledge that our society is still a long way from honoring every person's inherent worth and dignity. Our hearts go out to the thousands of same-sex couples in New York who have been denied an opportunity to secure legal protection for their families, and we pray that the citizens and legislature will act quickly to end discrimination in the state's legal code.

See more information on the UUA's "Standing on the Side of Love 2006" campaign and latest news and advocacy resources.

Freedom to Marry, for All People

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