As New York state lawmakers returned to Albany this week, the Human Rights Campaign released a statement by President Bill Clinton supporting marriage equality legislation. Supporters of marriage equality are pushing for a vote this legislative session, which ends in June.
Mr. Clinton’s statement — secured last week by HRC — reads in full:
Our nation’s permanent mission is to form a ‘more perfect union’ – deepening the meaning of freedom, broadening the reach of opportunity, strengthening the bonds of community. That mission has inspired and empowered us to extend rights to people previously denied them. Every time we have done that, it has strengthened our nation. Now we should do it again, in New York, with marriage equality. For more than a century, our Statue of Liberty has welcomed all kinds of people from all over the world yearning to be free. In the 21st century, I believe New York’s welcome must include marriage equality.
Mr. Clinton’s endorsement comes as a record 58 percent of New Yorkers support committed gay and lesbian couples getting married. This unprecedented level of support comes from every region of the state, every age group, and is clearly bipartisan. Prominent New York business leaders recently wrote a letter making the case that marriage equality is good for business.
For the full statement, click here