From Raw Story:
A U.S. judge ruled Friday that a gay widower is entitled to federal death benefits in Arizona despite the western state’s ban on same-sex marriages.
Fred McQuire married his partner of 45 years, George Martinez, in neighboring California this summer, shortly before Martinez — like him, a Vietnam-era veteran — died in August.
However, because their home state of Arizona does not recognize gay marriages, McQuire was unable to describe Martinez as “married” on the death certificate and so to receive social security benefits due to spouses.
Judge John Sedwick ordered the state to “promptly prepare, issue and accept a death certificate for (Martinez) which records his marital status as ‘married’ and his surviving spouse as Fred McQuire.”
This will allow Fred to collect George's Social Security and veteran benefits, increasing his income by between $1300 and $4000 per month.
Sedwick also indicated that Arizona's constitutional ban on marriage would likely not survive.
Good news.