The City Clerk's office began offering marriage-like ceremonies for couples entering into domestic partnerships on Thursday, but so far just two couples have taken advantage of the new service. Geared towards same-sex couples as an alternative to marriage, the ceremonies cost $25 more than the standard domestic partnership registration fee. However, just two same-sex couples have partaken in the wedding-like ceremonies. San Francisco circa 2008 it's not.
Cathy Marino-Thomas of the group Marriage Equality New York said the ceremony is a "masquerade," saying, "Domestic partners gain you 10 rights on a city level. As soon as you step out of the five boroughs, you no longer have any protection at all, not even those 10 rights. Marriage equality, on the other hand, on a federal level, offers you 1,138 rights." Only about 30% of registered domestic partnerships are between same-sex couples. Though some say it's not enough, Elizabeth Rivera and Gelixa Ortiz were in tears during their ceremony. Rivera said, "It was beautiful. Especially with all my family here. I'm just without words right now. I'm emotional."
President Obama recently ordered federal agencies to allow same-sex partners of federal employees the same rights as the spouses of federal employees, including child care and medical leave.
