Bloomberg: Same-sex marriages must be recognized
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has ordered city agencies to recognize same-sex marriages from other states or countries in a policy shift meant to deflect anger over his refusal to issue gay marriage licenses.
The implications of Bloomberg's new policy aren't entirely clear, but include rights not covered by the city's existing domestic partnership law, including empowering gay and lesbian spouses to make medical decisions in city hospitals, officials said.
It will also allow same-sex spouses to collect "good Samaritan" rewards if a spouse is killed and confers worker's compensation death benefits to partners.
"I am pleased to confirm for you that it is the policy of the City of New York to recognize equally all marriages and civil unions lawfully entered into by other jurisdictions," wrote City Hall counsel Anthony Crowell in an April 6 letter to the Empire State Pride Agenda.
Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and Canada all issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Bloomberg has said he personally backs such marriages but will oppose legalizing them in the city until the courts have ruled decisively.
"We have no problem if people decide to go to those places" for the purpose of having the marriages recognized in New York, a city official said on condition of anonymity.
The new policy decision was an attempt to reach a compromise on the issue while gay marriage cases wend their way through the courts, the official said.
Alan Van Cappelle, executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, said the mayor's decision was the result of his organization's pressure and puts the city in line with Buffalo, Rochester and several other cities that have adopted similar policies.
"We applaud the mayor for taking a step in the right direction," he said. "We've criticized him when he's done things we think are wrong and we're applauding him when he's done the right thing."
All four of Bloomberg's potential Democratic opponents support gay and lesbian marriages.
The implications of Bloomberg's new policy aren't entirely clear, but include rights not covered by the city's existing domestic partnership law, including empowering gay and lesbian spouses to make medical decisions in city hospitals, officials said.
It will also allow same-sex spouses to collect "good Samaritan" rewards if a spouse is killed and confers worker's compensation death benefits to partners.
"I am pleased to confirm for you that it is the policy of the City of New York to recognize equally all marriages and civil unions lawfully entered into by other jurisdictions," wrote City Hall counsel Anthony Crowell in an April 6 letter to the Empire State Pride Agenda.
Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and Canada all issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Bloomberg has said he personally backs such marriages but will oppose legalizing them in the city until the courts have ruled decisively.
"We have no problem if people decide to go to those places" for the purpose of having the marriages recognized in New York, a city official said on condition of anonymity.
The new policy decision was an attempt to reach a compromise on the issue while gay marriage cases wend their way through the courts, the official said.
Alan Van Cappelle, executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, said the mayor's decision was the result of his organization's pressure and puts the city in line with Buffalo, Rochester and several other cities that have adopted similar policies.
"We applaud the mayor for taking a step in the right direction," he said. "We've criticized him when he's done things we think are wrong and we're applauding him when he's done the right thing."
All four of Bloomberg's potential Democratic opponents support gay and lesbian marriages.
This entry was posted
on Friday, April 08, 2005 at 9:26 AM.
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