Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in New York

Re: Gay Marriage

After Vermont enacted legislation permitting same sex unions, 35 states enacted so-called Defense of Marriage Acts ("DOMA"), which specifically prohibits same sex marriages and states that the State need not give full faith & credit to Vermont's statute or other jurisdictions with statutes similar to Vermont's.

New York has not enacted a DOMA. Moreover, in many circumstances (employment benefits, for example), NY law gives rights to a same-sex partner.

-- Kenneth J. Ashman; www.AshmanLawOffices.com; [email protected]

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