LGBT: The Road to Equality

The Document Based Question/essay prompt  LGBT: The Road to Equality was prepared in 2015 and the resources have not been updated since that time. For more information about recent legal developments, consult national and state newspapers, legal databases, and your librarian.

The New York courts and State Legislature have frequently been at the center of the debate over the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. In this role they have taken many actions to consider the rights of this community, in particular in the areas of: Family, Employment and Criminal Law. How the courts and legislature have addressed these rights and what the impact of these actions have been?

This activity meets the following guidelines of New York State’s Common Core Social Studies Framework (2017):

  • Social and Economic Change/Domestic Issues: 11.10b
  • Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: 12.G2d
Below is a list of the 2015 resources in a searchable table. Search by theme of resource: criminal law, educational law, employment law, or family law.

People v. Uplinger

58 N.Y.2d 936 (1983) The New York Court of Appeals held unconstitutional the criminal prohibition on loitering "in a public ...

People v. Rice

41 N.Y.2d 1018 (1977) Though the issue was non-reviewable, attorney E. Carrington Boggan raised "novel and difficult constitutional questions ...

Lawrence v. Texas

539 U.S. 558 (2003) The U.S. Supreme Court overturned its 1986's Bowers v. Hardwick decision and ruled that "[t]he state ...

People v. Onofre

51 N.Y.2d 476 (1980) The Court of Appeals struck down New York's consensual sodomy statute as unconstitutional. Read More ...

Matter of Doe v. Rosa

159 Misc.2d 694 (1993) Read More ...

Levin v. Yeshiva University

96 N.Y.2d 484 (2001) The Court of Appeals held that same-sex couples may not be excluded from married student housing ...

Marriage Equality Act (2011)

A08354 - New York State Assembly Read More ...

Hernandez v. Robles

7 N.Y.3d 338 (2006) The Court of Appeals held that the New York Constitution did not "compel recognition of marriages ...

Matter of Jacob

86 N.Y.2d 651 (1995) The Court of Appeals held that the same-sex partner of a legal parent may adopt that ...

Braschi v. Stahl Assocs. Co.

74 N.Y.2d 201 (N.Y. 1989) The Court of Appeals construed the term "family" to include same-sex life partners for purposes ...

Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013

S.815 -- 113th Congress Read More ...

Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (2003)

New York State Office of the Attorney General Read More ...

Matter of Kimball

33 NY2d 586 (1973) Harris L. Kimball passed the New York State Bar exam, and the Committee on Character and ...

When Same-Sex Marriages End

The New York Times Read More ...

Civil Rights for Transgender People

The New York Times Read More ...

At the Cutting Edge of Gay Family Law

The New York Times Read More ...

Youth in Schools

Lambda Legal Read More ...

The New York State Dignity for All Students Act

New York State Education Department Read More ...
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