New York Begins to Alter Policy on Gay Marriage

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 9:17pm

"ANY — Gov. David A. Paterson has directed all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, like Massachusetts, California and Canada.

In a directive issued on May 14, the governor’s legal counsel, David Nocenti, instructed the agencies that gay couples married elsewhere “should be afforded the same recognition as any other legally performed union.”

The revisions are most likely to involve as many as 1,300 statutes and regulations in New York governing everything from joint filing of income tax returns to transferring fishing licenses between spouses."
New York Begins to Alter Policy on Gay Marriage

[Liverpool]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 9:26pm

well, that's a half step, but a half step in the absolute right direction

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 9:28pm

This would be such good news!!

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 9:38pm

'tis the season....


I can't imagine how complicated this would be. I think if we learned anything from California it's best to wait this out. Anyone like myself involved with a foreign national, it's probably best to see how this pans out.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 9:40pm

Can you elaborate, mejust? I'm not sure I understand. I would think that New York could put this in motion and it just continues the ball rolling forward.

I should look for a timeline of the interracial marriage issue.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 9:45pm

I wish INS will also include this, bec. its NOT ENOUGH... Gay American citizens should be able to petition their love ones (partner) from another country.

Its still NOT ENOUGH, but were going to the RIGHT DIRECTION! ...were behind when it comes to immigration. Look at Canada & UK..

This June 19 will be our 4 year marriage anniversary and June 17 will be the 1st day that couples from California can finally tie the knot. I am happy...but not completely!

J*

Updated On: 5/28/08 at 09:45 PM

[scott68]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 9:49pm

Yes! I've always wanted to transfer my fishing license to my spouse!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 9:53pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-miscegenation_laws

Ok, so the interracial marriage issue spanned 1780 (Penn was first state) to 1967 (Supreme Court). We do have a long way to go if it goes down as slowly as that. But hopefully it will not.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 9:53pm

Me & Chris has been filing joint income tax on state level, but not federal..

We still need to make the federal government to recognize Gay Marriage! The Fight is not over yet!

J*
Updated On: 5/28/08 at 09:53 PM

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 9:53pm

Well for me this would be seemingly great news. I have a boyfriend who is on a restrictive student visa. It limits us in many many ways. In any case, let's say we got married in Canada and came back here. Would we still be married? Immigration is a federal issue and I don't think state acceptance of it validates anything. Also does this protection void if he leaves the state? I also worry about the measures being turned over at any point and the licenses being nullified.

The problem with outing yourself as a gay couple when you are marrying a foreign national is that you limit your options for staying in this country. People are denied visas all the time for various reasons and homosexuals are often discriminated against. If my boyfriend has to return home because of an expired visa, there is not telling if he will be able to return or even stay here again. It's part of the reason you don't see more federal lawsuits from mixed couples fighting this. LAMDA legal basically suggests we lay low.
Updated On: 5/28/08 at 09:53 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 9:54pm

Oh, it's most certainly a Federal issue!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 9:56pm

Well, it certainly is a touchy issue for those who will be fighting on the Federal level--such as your case. But, in general, it has to be a state by state advance to turn the tide and then finally get to the Supreme Court to make it Federal--to oversimplify.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 10:00pm

These small steps are important but sometimes they actually stymie the cause. Had George Bush pushed his ban to a constitutional level, we would have actually be in better shape to fight this on a federal level. At this point the candidates will only talk about state.


This governor though has my full attention. He seems quite radical.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 10:05pm

You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

There will always be backlash. There was backlash when interracial marriage made its journey.

Vermont (and others states) have at least civil unions. Check.
Mass happened. Check.
Cali will happen. Check.
New York could be next.

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 10:06pm

"We still need to make the federal government to recognize Gay Marriage!"

If Obama wins, he'll stack the Supreme Court with enough Democrats that anything is possible.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 10:16pm

Ding!

Trekkie just hit the nail on its head. We NEED a Democrat in the White House.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 10:24pm

Unfortunately in the political climate of today, the best we'll get are moderates. All the screaming coming from the right about activist judges is right, and that's because they know that's exactly what we need and why they'll never allow it. Without activist judges, it will take ups 180 years to be recognized.

[Luscious]

Posted: 5/28/08 at 10:33pm

"I wish INS will also include this, bec. its NOT ENOUGH... Gay American citizens should be able to petition their love ones (partner) from another country."

"I have a boyfriend who is on a restrictive student visa. It limits us in many many ways. Immigration is a federal issue and I don't think state acceptance of it validates anything."

I hear ya, jaysatrr and mejust. We appear to be in the same boat. I’ve been in a loving, committed relationship for 8 + years with a wonderful man who came to this country on a student visa nearly 10 years ago. He’s worked harder than anyone I know, putting himself through school, mastering the English language, and going on to earn Masters Degrees in two majors. And there isn't a damn thing I can do for him in regard to helping him get a work permit or green card, let alone qualifying for citizenship. If I were a woman, he’d be a citizen by now. So, whenever I hear that "gay people have the same basic rights as everyone else" and that state recognized legal unions afford us virtually all of the same rights as "married" heterosexual couples, I want to scream at the top of my lungs... NO! IT’S NOT THE SAME! And until gay marriage is recognized on a national level, it never will be! Until then, as far as I’m concerned, I’m still a second-class citizen. Are we moving in the right direction? I suppose. But far too slowly, and sadly, I’m beginning to believe that I’ll probably never see it happen in my lifetime.