NEW YORK, NY October 10, 2008 —Connecticut now joins Massachusetts and California as the only states to allow same-sex couples to marry.

The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled today 4-3 that same-sex couples have the right to marry there, saying Connecticut's civil unions law does not provide those couples with the same rights as heterosexual couples, in violation of the state's constitution.

Justices overturned a lower court ruling and ordered that court to find in favor of the plaintiffs.

Katherine Marino Thomas, executive director of Gay Marriage New York, a pro-marriage equality grassroots organization, says she hopes the ruling will encourage New York's State Senate to vote on a stalled bill legalizing same-sex marriage.

THOMAS: It gives a good view to our state senate that marriage equality is definitely the way of the future, it puts some pressure on them to finally bring a marriage bill to the floor for a vote.

REPORTER: Governor Paterson has said he will sign a bill legalizing same-sex marriage if the legislature sends it to him. In May, he directed state agencies to recognize such marriages performed elsewhere.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says the high court's ruling goes into effect October 28th, and that it won't be appealed.