May 29 2008
New York To Recognized Same Sex Marriages
The governor of New York, David Paterson has put in motion a alteration to the policy’s about gay marriages. Since you can get married in Spain, Canada, and Massachusetts and as of June 17, California, he said that gay couples need to have their marriages recognized.
A woman being denied health benefits after being legally married to her same sex partner sparked this necessity. This is a step in the right direction for gay couples who want to marry out of state. They will benefit during tax time or if a partner dies. The pension and insurance benefits will be awarded to the living spouse no matter what sex.
This could open the way to legalizing gay marriages in New York down the road. If you are going to recognize the union, they might as well perform the union. This is a huge step forward for gay partners living in New York. Now if other states would realize this and join in, it would be a successful step.
Watch for other states to see the need to revise their policies on marriages and same sex marriages in the future. Since you can go out of state and marry, you have to recognize that union. It will be a violation of the same sex marriage human rights to be denied the same benefits as a heterosexual couple.
It’s about time! This issue is one that is too long to get momentum in the US. I hope the mayor’s proposal is accepted and that people are allowed to be married to the person they love rather than a person of a gender stipulated to be “correct”.
This is a first step, which Paterson should be appauded for. Now at least, if you are married to a same sex partner, you can have the same benefits as everyone else. I think all states should have to do this.