Recent Articles  

Shop on ChicagoPride.com

Share

New York, NY — Just two weeks after the California Supreme Court ruled to legalize same-sex marriage, New York Governor David Patterson has given the state's agencies until the end of June to recognize marriages between gay and lesbian couples from out of state. Currently, same-sex marriage is only legal in Massachusetts. 

Currently, same-sex marriage is only legal in Massachusetts. The California decision will go into effect June 17. 

This move takes New York one step closer to legalizing same-sex marriage. Patterson's decision means the bureaucratic red tape experienced by many gay couples who travel has been lifted in at least one state. 

"This is a milestone in the fight for fairness in New York," said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, told Reuters. "Couples in New York who have never known true security for their families will be officially entitled to treatment by our state government that respects their rights."

Patterson has asked that each of New York's agencies report back to him on how existing state benefits and services for gay couples would need to be reformed. 

This decision would also benefit New Yorkers who opt to marry in Massachusetts or California. According to the Associated Press, New Yorkers would retain the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples upon returning to the state. 

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of California overturned a voter passed ban on gay marriage from 2000. The court determined the ban was unconstitutional. 

Written By Adam Higgins

Article provided in partnership with GayWebMonkey.com.

No one has commented on this article yet.
Be the first one to comment!