New York's highest court ruled yesterday, November 20, 2009 that gay couples legally married outside the state are entitled to certain government benefits.
The ruling reignited stalled legislative efforts to legalize same-sex marriage.
The Court of Appeals rejected the challenges by the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group that argued that same-sex marriage was akin to incest and polygamy.
The court steered clear of addressing the larger issue of whether New York as a state should recognize same-six marriage. The 4-3 decision was on the narrow issue of benefits. The court did not address whether the state must recognize same-sex marriage but encouraged the Legislature to settle the issue.
Gay rights advocates praised the decision declaring it a significant step toward legalizing same-sex marriage. The decision helps strengthen the case for the state Senate to approve of a bill that recognizes same-sex marriage.
The Assembly passed a bill earlier this year to allow same-sex marriage, but it has not yet been brought to the Senate floor. The Senate has promised to vote on the measure, which appears only a couple votes short of passage, by the year's end.
 
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