ALBANY, N.Y. -- Gay couples who were hoping New York would let them get married are upset, to say the least, with Thursday's ruling by the state's highest court.

Kathy Burke called the ruling a "sad day for New York families" now that the Court of Appeals has decided same-sex marriages are not allowed under state law. In a 4-2 decision, the judges ruled the state's law clearly limits marriage to a man and a woman.

But Burke, who was among the plaintiffs, says she and her partner deserve the same protections as any other couple.

Another plaintiff, hoping to marry her partner of 36 years, said she's "devastated." But Regina Cicchetti vowed the fight isn't over.

Both the N.Y. State Health Department and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's office both maintain that New York law prohibits gay marriage. Spitzer is currently running for governor.