The first unintended consequence of New York’s legalization of gay marriage appeared in a press release from the University of Rochester earlier this summer: “Effective July 24, 2011, University of Rochester employees are no longer able to enroll same-sex domestic partners (or children of domestic partners) in the University’s benefit plans.” That’s right—the university is cutting off benefits to same-sex couples who were registered as “domestic partners” and telling them to marry or get lost. How fast does the university want them to tie the knot? They have a grace period to continue receiving benefits until June 30, 2012.

On the one hand, it’s unsettling to see a university pushing gay marriage on its employees. But on the other hand, how could they not? If they didn’t cut domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples after gay marriage was legalized, then they’d have to begin offering them to unmarried hetero couples, too. Should be a fat year for wedding planners in Rochester.