LGBTQ rights in New York

LGBTQ rights in New York State
New York (US)
StatusLegal since 1980
(New York v. Onofre)
Legislative repeal in 2000
Gender identitySex reassignment surgery not a requirement for changing birth certificates
Discrimination protectionsSexual orientation and gender identity or expression protections (see below)
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsSame-sex marriage since 2011
AdoptionYes

The U.S. state of New York has generally been seen as socially liberal in regard to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) rights.[1] LGBT travel guide Queer in the World states, "The fabulosity of Gay New York is unrivaled on Earth, and queer culture seeps into every corner of its five boroughs".[2] The advocacy movement for LGBT rights in the state has been dated as far back as 1969 during the Stonewall riots in New York City. Same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults has been legal since the New York v. Onofre case in 1980. Same-sex marriage has been legal statewide since 2011, with some cities recognizing domestic partnerships between same-sex couples since 1998. Discrimination protections in credit, housing, employment, education, and public accommodation have explicitly included sexual orientation since 2003 and gender identity or expression since 2019. Transgender people in the state legally do not have to undergo sex reassignment surgery to change their sex or gender on official documents since 2014.[3] In addition, both conversion therapy on minors and the gay and trans panic defense have been banned since 2019. Since 2021, commercial surrogacy has been legally available within New York State.[4][5][6][7] In 2024, the Constitution of New York was amended to explicitly ban discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.[8]

The 2011 edition of the NYC Pride March
Participants at the 2018 NYC Pride March

On June 28, 1969, LGBT people rioted following a police raid on the Stonewall Inn. The Stonewall riots and further protests over the following nights were a watershed moment in the history of LGBT rights, and the beginning of the modern LGBT rights movement. New York City is now regarded as one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in the world. At Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019, tens of thousands of people marched in the NYC Pride March, with about 5 million people in attendance, constituting the world's largest LGBT event in history. In April 2022 following the enactment of the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a digital billboard campaign to attract Floridians to a significantly more supportive environment for LGBT residents in New York City.[9]

  1. ^ Theil, Michele (February 2, 2024). "Groundbreaking map shows which US states are the least safe for LGBTQ+ people". PinkNews. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  2. ^ Kenworthy, Jack (January 6, 2019). "Gay New York City The Essential LGBT Travel Guide!". Queer In The World. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  3. ^ Flegenheimer, Matt (October 8, 2014). "Easing the Law for New Yorkers Shifting Gender". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Crary, David (February 14, 2021). "No longer an outlier: New York ends commercial surrogacy ban". ABC News. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021.
  5. ^ Tracy, Matt (April 2, 2020). "New York State Legalizes Gestational Surrogacy". Gay City News.
  6. ^ Cook, Michael (April 5, 2020). "BioEdge: New York legalises commercial surrogacy". BioEdge.
  7. ^ Brinlee, Morgan (April 6, 2020). "After 28 Years, New York Has Lifted Its Ban On Paid Gestational Surrogacy". Romper.
  8. ^ "New York voters pass constitution change that supporters say will protect abortion and trans rights". AP News. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  9. ^ David Meyer, Maggie Hicks, and Sam Raskin (April 4, 2022). "Mayor Adams promotes LGBTQ NY in opposition to Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' law". New York Post. Retrieved April 5, 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)