NEW YORK - Gov. David Paterson has told New York state agencies that they should begin recognizing gay marriages performed in states and countries where they're legal.

Paterson spokeswoman Erin Duggan says the governor's legal counsel sent a memo to all the state's agencies telling them they could be violating state human rights law if they don't start recognizing the unions.

Duggan says the move is in response to a state appeals court ruling in February in the case of a woman whose partner was denied health benefits by her employer even though she had been legally married in Canada.

The move is one of the strongest steps the state can take short of action by the Legislature.