The New York Daily News reports that on June 3rd, New York City, after 17 years of registering domestic partners, will open its doors to marriage-like ceremonies, akin to the services offered to straight couples.

The city began registering domestic partners, most of whom are not gay, at the city clerk’s offices in 1993. Up until now, the nearly 50,000 domestic partners who signed up received nothing more than a piece of paper.

Registering as a same-sex domestic partner is not the same as gay marriage – which the state Senate nixed last year – but it does convey some legal benefits, especially if one partner is a city employee.

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With last year’s rejection of a gay marriage law by the state Senate, a domestic partnership ceremony “is a good gesture,” agreed Councilman James Van Bramer (D-Queens). “Not everyone is going to want a ceremony, but if they do they should be able to have it,” Van Bramer said.

The idea of providing a ceremony was suggested by a group of Fordham Law School students who spent time last year working with the City Council’s legal division.

Unlike married spouses, domestic partners don’t usually receive inheritances. They also don’t have marital-type confidentiality privileges.

At least now, they can have a party.