In 1999 she said she supported the adoption of children by gay couples, although she did not go so far as to advocate a change in the law.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Profile: Elizabeth Butler-Sloss

Mr. Cuomo signed the measure late Friday, and the law will go into effect in 30 days, meaning that same-sex couples could begin marrying in New York by midsummer.

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The ruling takes effect in 30 days, at which point gay couples can go to city halls across the state and get married.

NPR: Calif. High Court Clears Way for Same-Sex Marriage

In the evenings on each trip they would go to the beach with four or five other couples for bonfires, Hood Canal-style games and a tradition they called the sing-down, where each team is given a word and has to come up with songs that feature it.

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Some in the government argue that the law should go even further by offering state funding for artificial insemination for gay couples.

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