| Releases
& Statements
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 20, 2007
Contact: John Collins
(212) 669-4193; (917) 496-4587
Statement
by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum on the Passage of the Marriage
Equality Bill in the New York State Assembly
MANHATTAN
- Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum today released the following statement
on the passing of the marriage equality bill in the New York State
Assembly:
"Nay-sayers
said we'd never get this far - that the forces fighting against
the basic principles of equality and fairness were simply too
strong.
But
last night the State Assembly proved them all wrong. By passing
the marriage equality bill, the State Assembly brought us one
step closer to the day when all New Yorkers will be guaranteed
the same rights and benefits, including the right to medical decision-making
for a partner, custody and visitation rights, access to insurance,
inheritance protections, and death benefits.
I
congratulate Speaker Silver, Assemblymember Daniel O'Donnell and
theState Assembly for their historic vote and for their courage
to recognize that now is the time. I also want to thank Governor
Spitzer for leading on an issue where his predecessor failed.
As
New Yorkers come together this week to celebrate the rich history
and strength of our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community,
we are told that the forces against equality are still too strong,
that we'll never succeed. They were wrong then, and they are wrong
now.”
###
|
