New York, NY - March 5, 2014 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has joined 14 other state attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in an appeal of the successful challenges to laws prohibiting same-sex marriage in Utah and Oklahoma. The multi-state brief, led by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, counters arguments made by those states in defense of their restrictive marriage laws, and presents the experiences of states where same-sex marriage is legal or will soon be legal.
The brief presents arguments in support of the right of same-sex couples to marry and observes that the institution of marriage remains strong and thriving in states where marriage equality is the law. The brief was filed in connection with two cases: Kitchen v. Herbert and Bishop v. Smith. The filing is consistent with Attorney General Schneiderman’s long commitment to ensuring marriage equality. The filing also follows an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court last year in United States v. Windsor, in which Attorney General Schneiderman successfully argued that the Defense of Marriage Act violated the U.S. Constitution.
A copy of the brief can be found here.
The New York State Attorney General's Office remains committed to combating discrimination based on sexual orientation. To file a complaint, contact the Office's Civil Rights Bureau at 212-416-8250 or Civil.Rights@ag.ny.gov.