New York Gov. David Patterson, who has been recently hospitalized in a Manhattan clinic with symptoms of a migraine headache, called on state agencies to recognize gay marriages previously performed in states or countries which legalized the practice.

Erin Duggan, Gov. Patterson’s spokeswoman said Wednesday that a communication issued on May 14 to all state agencies which ordered them to adjust the policy and regulations so the same-sex marriages performed in states like California and Massachusetts or in countries such as Canada can be recognized.

The May 14 memo also explained that not recognizing the same-sex marriages would breach New York's Human Rights law.

A ruling from the New York Court of Appeals in February also said that the subjects of legal same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions have the right to be recognized in New York.

Another Paterson spokeswoman, Risa Heller, said the memo was “a response to the court decision."

"The governor has been an unequivocal supporter of marriage equality and once the [gay marriage] bill passes both houses he won't hesitate to sign," Heller added.

In 2007, a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York was adopted by the Democratic-controlled Assembly, but couldn’t make it past the Republican-controlled Senate.

Paterson’s move was described as “another step toward achieving marriage equality” by gay Sen. Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan).

The only states which made the same-sex marriage legal are Massachusetts and California, while New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey and Connecticut allowed same-sex civil unions.

The state of New York is the only one that recognizes same-sex marriages or unions but hasn’t made the practice legal.

California has recently ruled for legalizing gay marriages. Court officials may issue marriage licenses to gay couples on June 17, Californian officials said.