N E W S R E L E A S E For Immediate Release: July 6, 2006
New York Court of Appeals Denies Equality for Same-Gender Couples and Families Decision Disappoints Metropolitan Community Church of New York
NEW YORK CITY, July 6, 2006 -- The New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, has failed to ensure same-gender couples can enjoy full lega l recognition. In today's 4-2 decision, the Court of Appeals ruled New York c an deny civil marriage licenses to same-gender couples.
Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of New York (MCCNY) and Chair of MCC's Global Justice Team, questioned the decisio n's rationale, which denies the constitutionally-protected equality and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and families.
"While the Church will continue to honor the sacred nature of all relationships by celebrating weddings of both opposite-gender and same-gend er couples, the state has shirked its responsibility to equally protect and privilege a ll citizens. The confusion of sacred rites with equal rights is a deeply disturbing trend in the United States, as reflected in the rhetoric of thos e who oppose equality," said Rev. Bumgardner.
Judge Robert S. Smith concluded the right of same-gender couples to marry i s not "deeply rooted" in history and tradition and, therefore, does not qualify as a fundamental right worthy of state constitutional protection. T he opinion relied heavily on quasi-religious language such as "intuition," "un iversal understanding," "natural tendency," "common-sense premise" and "accepted truth."
"While no community of faith should be forced to perform any marriage, neither should any marriage be denied in the civil arena because of the dic tates of particular and partisan religious communities," said Rev. Bumgardner. Sh e also noted, "The language of the court punishes same-gender couples for providing stable homes for children of choice. While the court has ruled it is â untenable' to read the Domestic Relations Law as permitting equality in marriage, Metropolitan Community Churches continue to hold that it is unten able to read history as excluding our relationships, untenable to purport a †˜universal understanding' that discriminates against those relationships, and untenabl e to suggest that fear, hatred and prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual a nd transgender people pales in comparison to other social evils."
In her dissent, Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye characterized the majority's decision as an "unfortunate misstep."
In addition to the 44 couples involved in the cases, thousands of couples across New York, including Rev. Bumgardner and her spouse, must now look to the state legislature for the rights, responsibilities, and benefits of marriage.
MCCNY and its partner organizations are actively involved in the movement for marriage equality in New York State. Metropolitan Community Churches h ave led the fight for marriage equality since 1970, when Rev. Dr. Troy Perry, MCC's founder and moderator emeritus, filed one of the first marriage equal ity lawsuits in the United States.
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About Metropolitan Community Church of New York MCCNY provides a spiritual home for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities and for all who choose to join us through the practi cing of the gospel of Jesus Christ in worship, prayer, social action, education, fellowship, and generosity so that all people might experience God's liberat ing love, wholeness, and justice; come to live in right relationship with God an d all creation; and have the courage to change the world.
For more information, visit _www.mccny.org_ (aoldb://mail/write/www.mccny.org) .
For specific information on marriage equality, visit _www.mccchurch.org/marriage_ (aoldb://mail/write/www.mccchurch.org/marriage) .
For Additional Information, Contact:
Bradley Curry Metropolitan Community Church of New York Phone: (212) 629.7440 x13 Email: BradleyCurry@MCCchurch.net
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James N. Birkitt MCC Communications Director
Metropolitan Community Churches P. O. Box 691728 West Hollywood, CA 90069
Tel. (310) 625-4177 E-Mail: JimBirkitt@MCCchurch.net Web: _www.MCCchurch.org_ (http://www.mccchurch.org/)