From The Village Voice:
Today, a New York trial judge handed down an unprecedented ruling that says the state must grant gay and lesbian couples the right to marriage. The court's decision, stemming from a case filed by Lambda Legal, a national LGBT civil rights organization, on behalf of five plaintiff couples, says that the state's constitution guarantees gay men and lesbians the same basic freedoms available to straight couples.
Here is the historic and beautifully written decision. Here is the Lambda Legal Defense news release.
It's a State Supreme Court decision, which in New York is the lowest court, so it's bound to be appealed. But a significant victory nonetheless. My friends in New York are happy and proud.
UPDATE 2/6/05: The city is appelaing the ruling. In doing so
[Republican Mayor Michael] Bloomberg said he personally favored gay marriage. It was the first time, according to his aides, that he has so clearly stated his position in public. He went further last night at a dinner held by the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group, where he told the guests at the Waldorf-Astoria that he would "work with you to change the law" in Albany if the lower court ruling - which he called "something to celebrate" - was struck down... Lawyers said the ruling on Friday, combined with the mayor's decision to appeal it, virtually guaranteed that the state's highest court, the seven-member Court of Appeals, would make a definitive ruling on gay marriage for the state.
