New York Supreme Court Judge Rules Same-Sex Marriage Permitted

According to news reports, a New York Supreme Court judge (the trial court level in New York) has ruled that according to state law, New York must accept and honor same-sex marriages.

UPDATE:
ABC News story, though it doesn't include more information.

UPDATE 12:16 PM EST:
Lamda Legal, a gay and lesbian rights group, had called for a fast-track of the underlying case back in July 2004.

New York Court Rules Gays Must Be Allowed To Marry

State Supreme Court Justice Doris Ling-Cohan said that the New York State Constitution guarantees basic freedoms to lesbian and gay people, and that those rights are violated when same-sex couples are not allowed to marry.

The ruling said the state Constitution requires same-sex couples to have equal access to marriage, and that the couples represented by Lambda Legal must be given marriage licenses.

"This is a historic ruling that delivers the state Constitution's promise of equality to all New Yorkers," said Susan Sommer, Supervising Attorney at Lambda Legal and the lead attorney on the case.

"The court recognized that unless gay people can marry, they are not being treated equally under the law. Same-sex couples need the protections and security marriage provides, and this ruling says they're entitled to get them the same way straight couples do."

Lambda filed the suit last March in Manhattan on behalf of Daniel Hernandez, 46, and Nevin Cohen, 42, a gay couple who have been together for over six years. (story)