Three term New York governor Mario Cuomo has passed away at the age of 82, family sources have confirmed to news outlets.

NY1 reports:

This comes just hours after Andrew Cuomo was publicly inaugurated for his second term as the 56th governor of New York.

Governor Cuomo said in his speech at One World Trade Center that his father was unable to attend because he was too ill. He also said he and his family had spent New Year’s eve with the senior Cuomo.

Cuomo, who served as governor from 1983-1994 and as keynote speaker at the 1984 Democratic National Convention, was known as an eloquent spokesman for progressive causes. 

One of Cuomo’s more notable spats during his three decades in politics was with former New York City mayor Ed Koch, who challenged Cuomo for the Democratic Party’s nomination in the 1977 NYC mayoral race. During the campaign, signs appeared on city streets saying “Vote for Cuomo, not the homo” in reference to Koch’s rumored sexuality. Cuomo categorically denied responsibility for the signs, but Koch maintained a grudge against Cuomo and his son Andrew.

Cuomo had been hospitalized last month for a heart condition. 

In a New Years Day ruling, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle has said all clerks in the state are bound by the U.S. Constitution to issue marriage license to same-sex couples starting January 6.

Confusion over the scope of Hinkle’s August ruling striking down Florida’s same-sex marriage ban had previously led many county clerks to announce they would not be issuing licenses to gay couples next week. 

The Miami Herald reports:

The preliminary injunction now in effect thus does not require the Clerk to issue licenses to other applicants,” Hinkle wrote in an order released Thursday afternoon. “But as set out in the order that announced issuance of the preliminary injunction, the Constitution requires the Clerk to issue such licenses.”

Said Howard Simon, executive direction of the ACLU of Florida: “This is a New Years Day present from federal Judge Robert Hinkle – he has given Florida the roadmap to an orderly transition to being a state that treats all its people equally.”

Developing…

Here’s Hinkle’s ruling via Equality Case Files:

In related news, three bigoted Florida county clerks have decided to end all courthouse wedding ceremonies in their respective counties rather than share space with gay couples tying the knot. 

Happy New Year and best wishes for happiness and health from the team here at Towleroad!

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