NYS insurers ordered to recognize same-sex marriages

By 365gay Newscenter Staff

(New York City) The New York State overseerer of insurance companies has told companies they must treat legally married same-sex couples the same as they treat opposite-sex married pairs.

Although state law does not permit gay marriage within New York State, a Rochester court ruled that valid out-of-state marriages of lesbian and gay couples must be recognized. The state’s highest court upheld the ruling.

In addition, Gov. David Paterson in June issued a directive instructing state agencies governing insurance and health care - to immediately change policies and regulations to recognize gay marriages performed in areas where they are legal.

Nevertheless, some private insurers have declined to recognize same-sex marriages.

In his directive to insurance companies operating in the state, Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo said legally married same-sex couples cannot be treated differently than other married couples...

New York lawsuit against gay marriage thrown out

by Associated Press
Tuesday September 02, 2008

A Bronx judge has thrown out the first direct legal challenge to Gov. David Paterson's move to recognize out-of-state gay marriages.

In a ruling today, state Supreme Court Judge Lucy Billings said the policy is a "permissible, if not mandated, step toward the objective of equality" for gays. Her finding comes as thousands of gay New Yorkers are expected to take advantage of a new Massachusetts law letting them wed there.

Source

How Governor Set His Stance on Gay Rights

When David A. Paterson was growing up and his parents would go out of town, he and his little brother would stay in Harlem with family friends they called Uncle Stanley and Uncle Ronald.

Todd Heisler/The New York Times

By JEREMY W. PETERS and DANNY HAKIM
Published: May 30, 2008

Uncle Stanley and Uncle Ronald, he said, were a gay couple, though in the 1960s few people described them that way. They helped young David with his spelling, and read to him and played cards with him.

“Apparently, my parents never thought we were in any danger,” the governor recalled on Thursday in an interview. “I was raised in a culture that understood the different ways that people conduct their lives. And I feel very proud of it.” [source]

New York to Back Same-Sex Unions From Elsewhere

By JEREMY W. PETERS
The New York Times
Published: May 29, 2008

ALBANY — 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... [source]

ALSO: Gay rights advocates score wins in NY, Calif.
By MICHAEL GORMLEY – 6 hours ago from The AP (click here)

Thoughts?

N.Y. Governor David Paterson addresses the LGBT community

April 08, 2008



N.Y. Governor David Paterson addresses the LGBT community at The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's 2008 New York Leadership Awards.