- 5/13/09: The New York State Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday with a vote of 82 to 52 in favor of same-sex marriage. The vote is one of two needed to legalize gay marriage in the state. The bill must pass the Senate, which has a slim Democratic majority.
- 4/23/09: Gov. David Paterson (D-NY) reversed his decision to push a same-sex marriage bill through the state legislature, bowing to political pressure from Sen. Malcolm Smith of Queens who supports the bill, but urges the governor to wait until he secures more votes in the narrowly led state senate.
- 4/16/09: New York Governor David Paterson introduced legislation that will allow all same-sex couples to marry in the state. The same bill passed the Democrat-controlled House, but failed to clear the Republican Senate in 2007.
- 5/29/08: Gov. David Paterson mandated state agencies (including insurance and health care departments) to immediately recognize same-sex marriages legally performed elsewhere. Legally wed gay couples that are now New Yorkers can take advantage of the same benefits as heterosexual married couples in the state, including state tax breaks, inheritance rights, etc.
- Which states allow gay marriage? Explore same-sex marriage laws by region.
Same-Sex Marriage In New York A Summary of Gay Marriage in New York
By Ramon Johnson, About.com
Governor David Paterson attends a press conference on same-sex marriage.
© Chris Hondros/Getty Images
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