Tuesday, October 11, 2011 | 6 p.m.
On June, 24th, 2011, the State of New York passed legislation granting same-sex couples the right to marry. While many celebrated, some have warned that proclamation of victory is premature given that New York legislation does not supervene federal law and offers little or no help for binational couples where one partner faces immigration restrictions.
In honor of National Coming Out Day, this panel of lawyers and activists celebrates New York’s progress while offering a offer a frank assessment of the state of play in the gay marriage debate today. Topics include the history and background of the co-called Defense of Marriage Act, attempts at reform on the federal level and the Obama administration’s shifting stance toward gay marriage and deportation, and the affect of state reforms on the status and prospects of binational gay/lesbian couples. The panel will be augmented by personal testimony from gay/lesbian couples.
Scheduled speakers:
Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, staff attorney, Lambda Legal
Catherine Marino-Thomas, board president, Marriage Equality New York
Jackie Vimo, teaching fellow in Politics, The New School for Social Research
Camilo Godoy, organizer, Queerocracy
This is the second event in the 2011-21012 Coming Out in the Developing World, a lecture and discussion series dedicated to exploring various issues that arise for LGBT people in developing countries. Coordinated by the Global Studies Program at The New School for Public Engagement, the series provides a rare forum for discussing socio-cultural issues related to identity, activism and coming out in different countries around the world. Upcoming events will focus on the Palestinian lesbian and gay rights movement and machismo in Latin and South American societies.
Presented by Global Studies in partnership with Student Health Services and Queerocracy.