New York's Same-Sex Marriage Policy Back In Court

Oral arguments were held today in the Second Dept op the Apellate Court. We are optimistic that we will prevail.



wcbstv.com - New York's Same-Sex Marriage Policy Back In Court New York's Same-Sex Marriage Policy Back In Court Reporting Kristine Johnson NEW YORK (CBS) ― The issue of same-sex marriage in New York was back in court on Monday. A panel of judges heard arguments on whether the state must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries. The case is putting Governor Paterson's policy to honor those unions to the test. Michael Sabatino and Robert Voorhies were legally married in Toronto in 2003, and now the couple live in Yonkers, where according to Paterson they should have the same rights and respect as any other couple who married out of state, regardless of their same-sex status. "We are a family and we deserve to be honored and recognized as such," said Voorhies, adding, "it also affects our tax liability, and our inheritance rights and all of those things that are so important." But a lawyer for an Arizona based Christian legal group challenging gay marriage recognition across the country argued against the governor's proposal in a Brooklyn courthouse on Monday. "The marriage recognition rule that started over 100 years ago never contemplated a marriage between anyone other than a man and a woman. So to just apply it wholesale as in this situation is not legitimate," said lawyer Brian Raum of Alliance Defense Fund. Lambda Legal says if out of state "straight" marriages are recognized by New York State, so should those of same-sex couples married in Massachusetts, California and Canada. "All the county executive is doing is following state law. The rulings of lots of courts now all of which consistently hold out of state marriages of same-sex couples are subject to respect," said Susan Sommer of Lambda Legal. For Michael Sabatino and Robert Voorhies, they're still pondering one question: "I have not gotten a person to answer the question how our marriage affects anybody elses marriage negatively. Nobody can answer that question," said Sabatino. Regardless of the ruling, the case is expected to be appealed to the state's highest court. (© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)