<h3><img width=125 height=79 align=right alt= src=/dignityu/sites/default/files/images/dignityny-small.gif />Local and national DignityUSA groups call on New York City officials to let ruling stand and begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples</h3> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Leaders of DignityUSA the gay lesbian bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Catholic group applauded the February 4 New York State court decision which declared that denying same-sex couples the right to civil marriage violates the state Constitution.&nbsp; They also called on New York City officials including Mayor Michael Bloomberg not to appeal the ruling and to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in thirty days as directed in the decision.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Jeff Stone a spokesman for Dignity/New York said: &ldquo;This is a tremendous step forward toward the goal of full equality for gay lesbian bisexual and transgender people in New York City and New York State.&nbsp; In her decision Justice Doris Ling-Cohan has eloquently expressed what the right to marry is all about for same-sex couples.&nbsp; It is certainly not about destroying heterosexual marriage as so many of our political and religious leaders have inaccurately claimed.&nbsp; Justice Ling-Cohan has correctly recognized that the current marriage laws in our city and state perpetuate a two-class society with gay people being deemed to be less equal than others.&rdquo;</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >In her decision Justice Ling-Cohan wrote &quot;Similar to opposite-sex couples same-sex couples are entitled to the same fundamental right to follow their hearts and publicly commit to a lifetime partnership with the person of their choosing.&quot;&nbsp; She concluded that &quot;marriage is viewed by society as the utmost expression of a couple's commitment and love; plaintiffs may now seek this ultimate expression through a civil marriage.&quot;</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Stone noted that Dignity/New York supports same-sex couples through its weekly masses and other activities and refers them to Catholic clergy willing to witness same-sex unions.&nbsp; &ldquo;We will continue to do this&rdquo; Stone said &ldquo;and in fact we have recently decided to increase our support and make it more widely known.&rdquo;&nbsp; The weddings of two Dignity/New York couples were the subjects of a feature film an Irish television documentary and widespread media attention.&nbsp;</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Sam Sinnett president of the national organization DignityUSA also praised the ruling.&nbsp; He stated:&nbsp; &ldquo;We have been working for many years in DignityUSA and our local Dignity chapters for the right to civil marriage.&nbsp; We believe that as Americans who fulfill our obligations in every way as citizens we are entitled to the fundamental human right to marry a partner of our choosing.&nbsp; This wonderful court decision in New York State will help to advance the cause of full equality for gay lesbian bisexual and transgender people across the nation.&rdquo;</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Sinnett continued:&nbsp; &ldquo;As Catholics we also believe that our love has a divine source that it is sacramental in nature and that it should be celebrated as such by our Church.&nbsp; Along with many others we are working to spread the news that there are millions of GLBT people of faith who believe that their sexuality and their relationships are a gift from God.&nbsp; But we also believe in the separation of church and state and that religious views must not be used to deny gay people their fundamental civil rights as American citizens.&rdquo;</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; >Sinnett noted that DignityUSA also provides support to same-sex couples through its registry of Holy Unions (the only such national registry for same-sex Catholic couples) by providing union and wedding rituals to couples and chapters through public advocacy and by advancing theological reflection on same-sex marriage.&nbsp;</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; ><em>DignityUSA is the nation's foremost organization of gay lesbian bisexual and transgender Catholics their families friends and supporters. Founded in 1969 it is an independent nonprofit organization with members and chapters across the country.</em>&nbsp;<em>DignityUSA works for full inclusion of gay lesbian bisexual and transgender people in the life of the Church and Society.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51 0 102); text-decoration: underline; href=http://www.dignityusa.org/>www.dignityusa.org</a></em></p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; ><em>Dignity/New York has served GLBT Catholics and their supporters in the New York City metropolitan area since 1972.&nbsp; It sponsors a weekly liturgy and social open to all every Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. at St. John's in the Village Episcopal Church 218 West 11 Street in Manhattan.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target=_blank style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51 0 102); text-decoration: underline; href=http://www.dignityny.org/>www.dignityny.org</a></em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>