The Social Security Administration, in its zeal to deny recognizing gay couples, has rejected marriage documents issued for heterosexual couples in four communities that performed same-sex weddings earlier this year, reports the AP (citing a New York Times story).
The agency is rejecting all marriage certificates issued in New Paltz, N.Y., after Feb. 27, when the town's mayor began marrying gay couples. Certificates issued during the brief periods when Asbury Park, N.J., Multnomah County, Ore., and Sandoval County, N.M., recognized gay marriages are also being rejected.
According to the report:
Susie Kilpatrick, 30, of New Paltz, said the local Social Security office told her that no marriage documents issued after Feb. 27 could be used to establish identity because of the gay marriages that took place.... Kilpatrick said her marriage certificate was rejected when she went to get a new card earlier this month so she could take her husband's name.
"What concerns me is that the certificate is the only way to prove that we're married," [she complained]. "If something happens to us, or some other couple from New Paltz, we can't prove we're married. We would not be able to draw benefits."
Welcome to our world, Susie!
--Stephen H. Miller
Update: The Social Security Administration issues an apology - for confusing the Town of New Paltz with the Village of New Paltz!