New York.USA

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A New York state appeals court on Friday ruled against a challenge to the state’s marriage equality law, and ruled that the statute was legally enacted.

The New York state Senate “did not violate the Open Meetings Law” and “marriages performed thereunder are not invalid,” the court ruled, reported the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms had sued New York state last year, alleging that the Senate had violated the Open Meetings Law when it held marathon, closed-door conferences discussing the bill in the days leading up to its passage in June 2011.

The state Appellate Court in Rochester sided against a lower court in Livingston County, declaring that the conferences were held in accordance with the law and deciding in favor of the state’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

“The court’s decision affirms that in our state, there is marriage equality for all, and with this decision New York continues to stand as a progressive leader for the nation,” say Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in a statement following the ruling.

New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms is a lobbying group founded in 1982 to promote religious liberties and moral values, according to its website.

It sued the state Senate the month after the bill was signed into law.

Tags: Marriage Equality, New York, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms

Filed under: New York