NY will recognize other states’ same-sex unions
May 30th, 2008 by Holly Fox
New York Governor David Paterson’s spokeswoman Erin Duggan said today that same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries legally must be recognized in New York.
State agencies, including those governing insurance and health care, must immediately change policies and regulations to make sure “spouse,” “husband” and “wife” are clearly understood to include gay couples, according to a memo sent earlier this month from the governor’s counsel.
Despite the fact that same-sex marriage is not legal in the state, an appellate court has found, similar to the California ruling, that not extending benefits to gay couples is a violation of human rights laws. The state legislature could still choose to legalize same-sex marriage, or to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
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