Religious and human rights groups defend New York gay marriage

In 14 friend-of-the-court briefs, (lawsuits filed on behalf of someone else) filed with the New York Court of Appeals, national and state-wide religious and civil rights leaders and organisations have urged the court to put an end to state laws that deny same-sex couples the protections of marriage.

The court is hearing oral arguments in lawsuits brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and others on behalf of same-sex couples on May 31, 2006. “It's wrong for New York to continue to deny same-sex couples and their children equal protections for their families,” said Victor Bolden, general counsel of the NAACP Legal Defence & Educational Fund, “The constitution protects the right of individuals to marry whomever they love regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.”

The brief filed by the NAACP Legal Defence & Educational Fund explains laws that bar same-sex couples from marriage are similar to laws banning inter-racial marriage that were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. A brief by the New York County Lawyers Association and the National Black Justice Coalition makes similar arguments. See Religious and human rights groups defend New York gay marriage