NYC holding lottery for gay marriage
Source: Agencies |
July 21, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
OVERWHELMED by marriage applications from gay and lesbian couples who can wed under a new law starting on Sunday, New York City is conducting a lottery to decide who will be allowed to marry that day.
City officials said on Tuesday that 764 couples were expected to be married on Sunday, more than the city's previous single-day high of 621 on Valentine's Day in 2003 and 610 marriages on August 8, 2008.
"We've done our homework and it's clear that the number of couples who want to marry on Sunday is more than the City Clerk's offices could possibly handle," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference in explaining the lottery.
Couples can register in the lottery between noon on Tuesday and noon today if they want to marry at any of the five city clerk's offices on Sunday. Winners will be selected randomly.
"The fairest way to determine who gets the chance to wed on Sunday and ensure everyone can properly plan for their own big day is through an even-handed lottery system," Bloomberg said.
He urged those who do not win the lottery to consider going on Monday or another day. Bloomberg and other city officials said that 2,661 online applications had been made since July 5, of which 1,728 were same-sex couples benefiting from New York State's Marriage Equality Act, which was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo on June 24.
The law made the state the sixth and most populous in the United States to allow same-sex marriage.
City officials said on Tuesday that 764 couples were expected to be married on Sunday, more than the city's previous single-day high of 621 on Valentine's Day in 2003 and 610 marriages on August 8, 2008.
"We've done our homework and it's clear that the number of couples who want to marry on Sunday is more than the City Clerk's offices could possibly handle," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference in explaining the lottery.
Couples can register in the lottery between noon on Tuesday and noon today if they want to marry at any of the five city clerk's offices on Sunday. Winners will be selected randomly.
"The fairest way to determine who gets the chance to wed on Sunday and ensure everyone can properly plan for their own big day is through an even-handed lottery system," Bloomberg said.
He urged those who do not win the lottery to consider going on Monday or another day. Bloomberg and other city officials said that 2,661 online applications had been made since July 5, of which 1,728 were same-sex couples benefiting from New York State's Marriage Equality Act, which was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo on June 24.
The law made the state the sixth and most populous in the United States to allow same-sex marriage.
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