It is official - and in the New York Times:

        "Gay Couples Ruled To Be `Family Members'"
Albany, Dec 21 (AP) - New York State's highest court today upheld a
state housing agency's authority to extend the definition of "family
members" to include gay couples in matters concerning rent-regulated
apartments.

The Court of Appeals, in a 6-to-0 ruling, said the Division of Housing
and Community Renewal acted within its authority when it ammended rent
stabilization regulations to protect the rights of the surviving "life
partner" of a deceased tenent.


In 1989 the Court of Appeals determined that "family member," when
used in rent-control issues, included the roommate of a deceased tenent,
provided there existed a long-term emotional and financial commitment,
regardless of the sexes of those involved.

That ruling was hailed as a victory for the New York City's gay community,
which has been devasted by the AIDS epidemic.  Many homosexuals
whose partners had died of the disease were being evicted from rent-
controlled apartments because existing laws didn't allow for them to
inherit the property.

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