# Nyack NY Mayor to start SSM **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 3, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyack-ny-mayor-to-start-ssm/232350 "2004-03-03T17:55:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyack-ny-mayor-to-start-ssm/232350/1 "2004-03-03T17:55:30Z")
[Including his own](http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/03/030304nyakWed.htm) > [@](#): > > Nyack, New York Mayor John Shields announced Wednesday that he will begin officiating at the marriages of same-sex couples. > > Shields, who is gay, said he would start the process as soon as this week. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyack-ny-mayor-to-start-ssm/232350/2 "2004-03-03T20:07:31Z")
Nayack - Home of [Barz](http://www.mygayweb.com/bars/upgraded/?ID=2134). Not a bad place, but a $5 cover for a DJ who can’t even mix Kool-aid is unwarranted. > [@](#): > > …Shields faces charges if he performs gay weddings. New York state Attorney General Elliot Spitzer announced Wednesday that a review of state law has led him to conclude it is illegal to marry same-sex couples. “I personally would like to see the law changed, but must respect the law as it now stands,” Spitzer said in a statement. I personally think everyone should cool down. Lawlessness, no matter how worthy or just the cause, is still lawlessness. When an elected official in the executive branch of gov’t begins ignoring laws that they personally deem discriminatory, [anarchy could ensue.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=4597740&postcount=1) > [@](#): > > Spitzer also said that same-sex marriages in jurisdictions, such as Canada where they are legal, must be recognized in New York. While critical of Spitzer’s admonition in conduction weddings in New York, Lambda Legal praised the Attorney General for acknowledging those marriages conducted in other jurisdictions… I never realized we in NYS had such an agreement with Canada. I’ll check the clock and see how long it takes before someone asks: “_Does the Empire State have a similar agreement with any countries that allow polygamy_?” ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyack-ny-mayor-to-start-ssm/232350/3 "2004-03-04T00:27:38Z")
> [@](#): > > I never realized we in NYS had such an agreement with Canada. I’ll check the clock and see how long it takes before someone asks: “_Does the Empire State have a similar agreement with any countries that allow polygamy_?” I haven’t read the opinion Spitzer issued, but I don’t think he’s referring specifically to any agreement with Canada. I think he’s talking about comity. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyack-ny-mayor-to-start-ssm/232350/4 "2004-03-04T01:00:50Z")
A quick review of U.S.-Canada treaties has revealed nothing _obligating_ officials in one to observe the public acts of the other. I can’t find any NY/Canada treaties except a couple regarding Indian law. By custom, states generally accept marriages performed in other nations (as part of the general principle of comity), but are certainly not obligated to grant legal status to marriages which would not be legal had they been performed on their territory. I can’t find Spitzer’s statement either, but I can only assume that someone at 365gay was doing a little wishful thinking there. That said, whenever he decides to run for President (and he will), he’s got my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2004, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyack-ny-mayor-to-start-ssm/232350/5 "2004-03-04T13:22:51Z")
The opinion is at the bottom of [this](http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2004/mar/mar03a_04.html) page, in pdf. He’s saying the out of jurisdiction marriages would be recognized under the common law principle of recognition, and cites cases where such marriages which were illegal in NY were recognized when performed out of state.