A court in the case of New York v Onofre found New York's sodomy ban to be unconstitutional. Two decades later, the state legislature formally repealed the ban.

Marriage Equality Act was signed into law by Former Governor Cuomo on June 24, 2011, allowing same-sex couples to marry legally in New York for the first time.

The New York City Clerk started issuing Marriage Licenses and performing civil marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples on July 24, 2011.

The USA also followed later in 2015 with the Marriage Equality Act (2015)

In the state of New York, there are currently no active censorship measures.

The 2021 Gender Recognition Act allows for LGBTQ people to change their gender on their driver's licenses or permits. Anyone 17 and over can do so without a parent, while those 16 and younger need parental approval. The Gender Recognition Act repealed clauses which require an applicant for a driver's license to submit proof of fitness.

Currently, there are no known laws specifically on gender affirming care. Under the Family Care Act, families in retaliation for the minor's gender affirming care will have to be subject to court, where the child may be removed from the home due to retaliation. Some cities (specifically NYC) have safe haven ordinances allowing anyone administering or receiving gender affirming care in a state where it is illegal and punishable will not face punishment. Minors and adults have to get a gender diagnosis before being treated and or have been treated by a medical professional.

Although introduced in 2004, Assembly Bill A5465D, the Gender Recognition Act, did not pass until June of 2021. It was then signed into law by Governor Hochul, allowing non-binary genders to be used in legal documents.

The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA) was passed in early 2003, making it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees. This also includes Transgender people.

The NY State Senate passed a bill called The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, it was signed in Jan 2019 but did not take effect until February 2019. This law prohibits any and ALL work-place discrimination.

The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, effective as of January 16, 2003, makes it unlawful for anyone in New York State to be discriminated against in employment, housing, credit, education and public accommodations because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation. SONDA, in combination with laws prohibiting discrimination based on marital status, together prohibit discrimination against same-sex couples in employment, housing, credit, education, and public accommodations.

With respect to transgender individuals, SONDA does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression. However, SONDA does apply when a transgender person is discriminated against based upon his or her actual or perceived sexual orientation. Furthermore, courts have also held that transgender people are protected under provisions of the New York State Human Rights Law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex and/or disability. And in 2009, then-Governor David Paterson issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination in state employment on the basis of gender identity.

After same-sex marriage was legalized in the state of New York in 2011. Same-sex adoption began in question, around 2013 same-sex married couples could start adopting.

New York does not ban “normalization” surgeries performed on intersex infants.

In 2023, Senate Bill S5399 was passed by the New York State Legislature and was then signed into law by Gov. Hochul. The bill requires the Department of Health to implement a public information and outreach campaign regarding medically unnecessary surgeries performed on intersex infants. However, it does not outright ban such surgeries or require parental consent beforehand.

Midday on May 6th, 2025, the Supreme Court issued an order allowing the Trump administration to enforce its ban on transgender service members while the court reviews their case.

The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.

New York has passed a law regarding conversion therapy for minors under the age of 18. Over the age of 18, people can be subjected to conversion therapy.

The age of consent in New York is 17 for heterosexual and homosexual sex.