New York to recognize gay marriages

[madinmaryland]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/29/nygay.marriage/index.html

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Gov. David Paterson of New York has told state agencies to recognize same-sex marriages performed in states and countries where they are legal, his spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The governor's legal counsel told state agencies in a May 14 memo to revise policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in California and Massachusetts as well as Canada and other countries that allow gays and lesbians to marry, said Erin Duggan, the governor's spokeswoman.

The memo informed state agencies that failing to recognize gay marriages would violate the New York's human rights law, Duggan said.

The directive follows a February ruling from a New York state appeals court. That decision says that legal same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions are entitled to recognition in New York.

"This was in direct response to a court ruling," Duggan told CNN. "Just to make sure all the state agencies are on the same page."

.snip

Edit to add: This seems to be flying under the radar, under the McClennan book.

[MountainLaurel]

1. Brilliant news

Does this mean, for instance, that if a couple moves from CA to NY, they can file their state taxes as a married couple?

I hope other states begin to follow this precedent!

[madinmaryland]

4. I would assume so, as it was sent to all "state agencies"

I don't really know.

[MountainLaurel]

5. You're probably right

:party:

[RedCappedBandit]

2. Now let's legalize same-sex marriages here!

Step in the right direction, though. Yay new york.

[Juche]

3. Good

1/5 of the population lives in CA & NY. So that is good to hear.

[Indenturedebtor]

6. Great News! n/t

[YOY]

7. Good news but I can't help the suspicion that the Pugs are trying to rally their fundie base

n/t

[madinmaryland]

8. Kicked.

[Lex]

9. This is where the battle will be joined in the various states.

I think the battle will be joined in other states on this precise issue: if you are legally married in one state, then all other states recognize your marriage as legal & give you the same benefits / require the same obligations. That's Full Faith & Credit Clause of the US Constitution at work.

It applies to legal marriages. It is not based on same-sex or opposite-sex, but legal marriage.

Watch the states freak out.

Oh, and clearly marriage is not just a religious rite if "1,300 statutes and regulations" are involved in the union in New York state, as in others too.