Governor Spitzer introduces bill to allow same-sex couples equal access to marriage
NYS Dept. of Civil Service also announces it will respect out-of-state marriages of gay state employees in area of spousal benefits.
Albany, New York, April 27, 2007 - Today Governor Eliot Spitzer became the first governor in the nation to introduce legislation providing marriage equality for same-sex couples. Additionally, the New York State Department of Civil Service stated that legally married same-sex spouses of state employees would be eligible for medical and other benefits administered through the NYS health plan.
Spitzer Bill Introduction,
"Today is a watershed moment in our community's struggle to win the freedom to marry in New York and have our relationships treated the same as any other relationship under the law," said Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle. "We are extremely proud to have a Governor who understands that all New York families need access to the protections and responsibilities that the state provides through marriage. We thank Governor Spitzer for keeping his promise to act on marriage equality and for his commitment to seeing that this bill becomes law."
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This is what can happen in CT if progressives, democrats, rational independents, and social libertarians rally behind a progressive candidate for governor.
Also today, the NYS Department of Civil Service (DCS) mandated that all state and local government entities that participate in the NYS health plan will make legally married same-sex spouses of government employees eligible for benefits. The announcement specifically mentioned Canada, Massachusetts, Spain, South Africa, The Netherlands and Belgium as jurisdictions were marriage is legal for same-sex couples. The NYS health plan covers state employees and 700-plus school districts and municipalities across the state...
..."Over the past several years, thousands of same-sex couples have traveled out-of-state to get legally married and have asked their employers to fully respect their marriage," continued Van Capelle. "The NYS Retirement System has done this. Localities such as Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, New York City and Westchester County have done this. So has CUNY, the Teamsters and a number of businesses. We are glad the NYS Dept. of Civil Service has now said, `Yes we'll follow the law. You're married as far as we're concerned.'"
Wow. Looks like NYS is showing us up when it comes to gay marriages.
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