Submitted by Anonymous, Aug 8, 2008 21:57

It looks like Judge Billings got it wrong. The purpose of New York's marriage recognition rule is to promote family stability by recognizing the marriages of couples who move here from other states and whose marriages are legal in their home states, but would not have been legal here in New York (e.g. if the couple married at a younger age than is permissible in New York). The intention of the rule was not to allow New Yorkers who may not marry under New York law to circumvent New York law by simply driving to another state, marrying there, returning to New York, and expecting New York employers and agencies to recognize their marriage. Yet that is exactly what our governor is encouraging. Also, the intention of the marriage recognition rule was not to allow a redefinition of the institution of marriage to include same-sex couples. Contrary to Judge Billings' remarks, same-sex marriage is against New York's current public policy, which is that marriage is the union of one woman and one man. No declaration by Governor Paterson can change that public policy. Only the Legislature can. Thankfully, thus far, it has not.

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