Over 10,000 Couples Were Given Licenses in the First Year of Marriage Equality

More than 10,000 gay and lesbian couples were issued marriage licenses in New York State in the year since marriage equality was legalized.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Tuesday that at least 7,184 same-sex couples had been issued licenses in New York City since July 24, 2011, when the state’s Marriage Equality Act took effect. In the rest of the state, as of July 16, at least 3,424 same-sex couples had received licenses, according to the State Health Department.

The actual numbers, though, are probably higher, since people are not required to report their sex on marriage license applications.

Mr. Bloomberg noted the anniversary of the Marriage Equality Act at a news conference outside the city clerk’s office in Lower Manhattan, where he was joined by several gay lawmakers: the City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, whose wedding in May was attended by the mayor and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo; Assemblyman Daniel J. O’Donnell of Manhattan, who married in New York City in January; and City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer of Queens, who plans to marry on Saturday.