New York's State of Mind

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

November 10 2009 4:15 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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As lawmakers in Albany debate a same-sex marriage bill for the Empire State, officials in Suffolk County are moving to extend spousal benefits to the same-sex partners of county workers.

Steve Levy (pictured), a government official in the Long Island county of Suffolk, confirmed to Newsday that his county is all but certain to extend leave time for family illness, bereavement, and child care to county workers should their same-sex partners get sick, pass away, or have children. The measure should affect about 180 county employees. Unions representing the county employees will need to sign off on the benefit change to finalize it and are expected to do so.

The extension of benefits comes as New York governor David Paterson is urging his legislators to pass a same-sex marriage bill. Meanwhile, a gay state legislator from Suffolk County -- Democrat Jon Cooper -- is working on legislation that would extend spousal benefits to gay couples married in other states.

Read the full story here.