A step closer to US-wide rights
Marriage between homosexual men and women remains banned in the majority of American states.
But with New York becoming the sixth state to allow same-sex marriages, the number of gay Americans now able to marry has doubled. It has led to a renewed push for equal rights at both state and federal level.
New York follows Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire, as well as the District of Columbia, in granting gay marriages.
With a population of close to 19 million people, it is by far the largest state to give its consent to same-sex unions.
Federal acceptance of gay unions is currently barred under the 15-year-old Defence of Marriage Act. As a result, tax benefits at that level remain outside the grasp of New York's gay newlyweds.
Additionally, gay couples will not be eligible for social security pay-outs should their spouse die.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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