New York City is moving with the times, according to the NY Daily News, which proudly reports the city is about to allow gay ceremonies at the city clerks offices.
Yes, the Big Apple, is about to take a ceremonial step down the aisle for gay couples, the Daily News has learned. After 17 years of registering domestic partners, the city will soon offer marriage-like ceremonies when they run off to City Hall to get hitched, just like straight couples have had for generations.
"We thought it was a good idea," City Clerk Michael McSweeney said of providing a more memorable ceremony for domestic partners.
The civil ceremonies will be available starting June 3. The city began registering domestic partners, most of whom are not gay, at the city clerk's offices in 1993. Up until now, the nearly 50,000 domestic partners who signed up received nothing more than a piece of paper.Registering as a same-sex domestic partner is not the same as gay marriage - which the state Senate nixed last year - but it does convey some legal benefits, especially if one partner is a city employee.
Registered partners of municipal workers are generally entitled, for instance, to the same city health and other benefits as given to married spouses. Domestic partners also qualify for tenancy rights at city developments.
Most of the city's registered domestic partnerships are not gay. Of the 5,534 partners who registered last year, 70% were straight.
Jason Shaw
© 2010 Copyright Jason Shaw
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