ALBANY, N.Y. — New York state taxpayers represented by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund filed two lawsuits over the last two days in state court to block the recognition of out-of-state same-sex “marriages” by state public officials.
“Marriage has become an extremely emotional issue because certain people are trying to reduce it to nothing more than a benefits system for loving couples. Marriage is about much more than economic benefits,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Brian Raum, who represents the taxpayers. “These officials are clearly defying the law since New York courts have consistently defined marriage in the state as one man and one woman. By granting benefits to unrecognized unions, they are allowing state coffers to be raided at the expense of New York taxpayers.”
Under New York law, taxpayers are allowed to legally challenge any illegal action by a state official that expends state funds. In July of this year, a New York judge ruled that a same-sex couple who had been “married” in Canada was not entitled to state insurance benefits under New York Civil Service Law.
The suit filed Thursday,
Godfrey v. Hevesi, charges that New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi acted illegally in his role as head of the New York State and Local Retirement System when he decided to recognize out-of-state same-sex “marriages” that involve members of the retirement system.
Another suit, filed today,
Godfrey v. Spano, alleges that Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano acted illegally when he ordered that the county must extend benefits reserved for legally married couples to out-of-state same-sex “marriages.”
A copy of the complaint in
Godfrey v. Hevesi can be read at
www.telladf.org/UserDocs/HevesiComplaint.pdf. The complaint in
Godfrey v. Spano can be read at
www.telladf.org/UserDocs/SpanoComplaint.pdf. For more information on the battle to protect marriage, visit
www.domawatch.org.
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
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