Court Upholds Benefits For Same-Sex Couples
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The state's highest court yesterday upheld policies granting some government benefits to same-sex couples legally married out of state.
The 4-3 ruling was based on technical grounds, and did not address the question of whether gay marriage should be legal in New York, as the court left that issue for the state Legislature to decide.
One of the cases before the Court of Appeals concerned an order from the state Department of Civil Service to extend health insurance benefits to the partners of state and local workers who are married in other states or countries.
The other case concerned a Westchester County policy requiring county officials to recognize same-sex unions performed elsewhere.