Ruling allows WC to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages

A Supreme Court judge issued a ruling Monday affirming the legality of Westchester County Executive Andy Spano's executive order recognizing same-sex marriages performed out of state. "This is a simple

News 12 Staff

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Mar 13, 2007, 1:17 AM

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Updated 6,493 days ago

A Supreme Court judge issued a ruling Monday affirming the legality of Westchester County Executive Andy Spano's executive order recognizing same-sex marriages performed out of state.

"This is a simple matter of human rights," Spano said in response to the ruling. "People should be treated equally. We never had any doubt of the legality of the order."

However, others did have doubts after Spano issued the executive order last summer. Three Westchester residents contacted the Alliance Defense Fund, an Arizona-based Christian legal group, and sued.

The group plans to appeal, with attorney Brian Raum saying, "(the ruling) contradicts other New York cases and it contradicts itself."

Yonkers residents Robert Voorheis and Michael Sabatino, who married in Canada on October 4, 2003, were thrilled with the judge's decision.

"It reaffirms the validity of our marriage," Voorheis said. "We have been together for 29 years and that is just as valid and important as anyone else's."

Related Information: Westchester County to recognize same-sex marriages