Legislation will be introduced next week in New York City council to make it easier for same-sex partners in abusive relationships to seek help.

The measure is sponsored by Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It would allow anyone who is living, or has lived, with their attacker the right to seek an order of protection.

Under current New York law, victims can only take civil action against someone they've been married to or have children with. It means that a partner in a same-sex relationship must file a criminal complaint with police. Unless the partner has been physically attacked there is little police can do.

"Domestic violence manifests itself in lesbian and gay relationships at the same rate it does in heterosexual relationships," Quinn in announcing the bill.

"Passing a bill like this will also send a message to people who may be in LGBT or other relationships that they now have a new avenue."

In 2006 Quinn became the first woman and the first out lesbian to serve as the speaker of New York City Council.

Quinn has served on council since 1999. Prior to that she worked as an advocate for affordable housing, and was executive director of the New York City Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence project.

Bloomberg has had an up and down relationship with the gay community.

In 2005 he appealed a decision by a Manhattan judge that it was illegal for the city to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The ultimately wound up in the state's highest court which ruled same-sex couples have no constitutional right to marriage and said it was up to the legislature to change the law.

The appeal was filed even though the mayor had said he supported gay marriage.

Bloomberg also successfully fought and won a case involving a bill passed by the city that would have required contractors that do more than $100,000 of business each year with NYC to offer benefits to the partners of gay and lesbian workers equal to those the companies give heterosexually married couples.

The veto was overridden by a second vote in Council but state's highest court ruled the legislation unconstitutional.

[FROM Gay News]
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