Exhibit & Artifacts: 
New York Pride: The Fight for Marriage Equality Exhibit | Opthalmolic Chair, Wedding Garments belonging to Albert T. Martino, Jr. and Harold Lohner III, Wedding Garments belonging to Joyce Darlene (Jaye) Holly and Judy Elaine Yeckley, Activism Objects

Where to Find Them: 
New York Metropolis Hall, Fifth Avenue
 

New York played a pivotal role in the fight for marriage equality, beginning with early activism in the 1970s and culminating in the historic passage of the Marriage Equality Act in 2011. The struggle for same-sex marriage rights was fueled by the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis, which highlighted the legal and personal challenges faced by same-sex couples. Through grassroots activism, court battles, and political lobbying, New York’s success laid the groundwork for the Supreme Court's landmark 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized marriage equality nationwide.

Visit the New York Pride: Fight for Marriage Equality exhibit page to learn more.