New York

Award winning actress - Cynthia Nixon - is helping a political group pass marriage equality in New York state. Initially, the group hopes to keep State Sen. Hiram Monserrate [Queens] - a "no" vote in the marriage equality debate - from winning back his seat.

Despite Governor Paterson’s support - the New York State Senate denied marriage equality with a vote of 24 to 38.

From Family Equality Council Blog:

Statement of Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director, Family Equality Council:

The NYC Gathering is sponsoring a workshop for parents and parents-to-be who are seeking the tools to talk with children about family origins.

Hear from professionals, parents and children who will bring to life the disclosure process and provide guidance on how to create meaningful family stories.

Participants will learn how to:

• Develop comfortable, age-appropriate language for the disclosure process
• Identify the different ages and stages children go through in understanding
  their genetics and family origins

NOLA.com reports that Louisiana's Department of Vital Statistics can't be forced to provide a birth certificate listing two men as the parents of a Louisiana-born boy adopted by a gay couple in New York, a lawyer from the state attorney general's office said Wednesday before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

According to uticaod.com, New York's highest-ranking upstate Democrat in the state Senate said he’s rethinking his stance on gay marriage.

Two months ago, Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida, told the Observer-Dispatch he opposed same-sex marriage in New York state, posing a challenge to a bill proposed by Gov. David Paterson.

Her goal was to help lesbian girls in foster care and provide a safe place to nurture them. In the past nine years, Mary Keane has helped 18 children and young adults (gay, lesbian and straight). Kids who were not doing well in foster homes, group homes or treatment centers have been offered a calm consistent home in Yonkers, New York.

Via Associated Press:

Adoption gives woman 'full and unassailable' parental rights, judge says

NEW YORK — A judge in New York City has granted the adoption petition of a woman whose egg was implanted in her domestic partner and resulted in the birth of a son.

Surrogate Court Judge Kristin Booth Glen says she is convinced that the woman, identified only as Mona A., is already the legal parent of the 15-month-old boy.

But in her ruling on Friday, April 10, the judge said the adoption will give Mona A. her “full and unassailable” parental rights.