The legislature passed a bill in 2000, signed by Gov. Bill Owens, that prohibits same-sex couples from marrying. A proposed ballot initiative this year could add such language to the state constitution.

In 1998, President Clinton signed an executive order that prohibits discrimination against federal employees based on sexual orientation, but it does not give workers the right to sue. Federal civil rights, hate crimes and employment laws do not give gays protections.

This is cache, read story here