[UPDATE BELOW] The state Department of Correctional Services has recently changed its regulations to allow conjugal visits for homosexual inmates who have entered into a same-sex marriage or a civil union. The regulation is a formalization of a policy initiated in 2008 by Governor Paterson, which required New York State agencies to recognize same-sex marriages and civil unions performed out of state. Peter Cutler, spokesman for the Department of Correctional Services, told the Daily News, "If they seek a furlough based on the partner, it's likely it would be granted." Please save all "drop the soap" jokes for the end of the post.
So, just how many prisoners were saying goodbye to their same-sex husbands and wives before heading up the river? Cutler said he was unaware of any inmate who was in a same-sex relationship, but gay marriage advocates welcomed the move anyway. We've contacted the Department of Correctional Services to see if inmates could get civil unions while in prison, but Ross Levi, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, said, "The more the state is consistent with that status of law the better off we are."
[UPDATE] A spokeswoman at the Department of Correctional Services tells us that "if same-sex marriage were legal in new york state there would be no discrimination" regarding inmates getting married while in prison. For more information on the DOC's "Family Reunion" and marriage policies, check out their Directives website.
