In a decision that reverses a two-year-old ruling, the New York State Labor Department has decided to support paying unemployment benefits to gay couples when one quits their job to move with a partner who has found out of state work. Gay Advocacy groups have been putting pressure on Gov. George E. Pataki to reconsider the previous ruling, which barred such benefits. This policy will only apply to couples in long-term committed relationships.
See "Labor Department Now Backs Jobless Pay for Gay Partners", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, February 10, 2004