NYC Council to Gays: You've Got Options

The New York City Council is poised to vote for a requirement that the city clerk inform same-sex couples seeking domestic partnerships about other jurisdictions where they can legally marry, provided they have the time and means to travel.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who is gay, pushed for the measure this summer following news that the clerk's office would begin to offer "wedding-like" ceremonies to same-sex couples when they register for domestic partnerships, which have been available in the city since 1993. The new domestic partnership ceremony costs $25, the same as a marriage, which remains unavailable to same-sex couples in New York.

The state recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, such as in nearby Connecticut and Massachusetts, which is why the speaker wants to help couples make the most informed decision. Many hope the prospect of local residents leaving New York to get married will push the state senate to pass the marriage equality bill, which failed by a wide margin last year.

The council is expected to vote on the measure Wednesday afternoon following a press conference.