No, not exactly, but the Empire State is one step closer to being as cool as California.
New New York Governor David Patterson has told state agencies to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries where it is legal.
The governor's legal counsel told state agencies in a May 14 memo to revise policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in California and Massachusetts as well as Canada and other countries that allow gays and lesbians to marry, said Erin Duggan, the governor's spokeswoman.
The memo informed state agencies that failing to recognize gay marriages would violate the New York's human rights law, Duggan said.
The directive follows a February ruling from a New York state appeals court. That decision says that legal same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions are entitled to recognition in New York.
While this isn't the best possible news for gay New Yorkers, it's pretty great news. And while Paterson isn't the hero of gay rights, at least he's not the bad guy, right? Smooth move, DP.
[CNN: New York to recognize gay marriages]