Bill Clinton Supports Gay Marriage in New York

By Charlie Joughin
                                     As we read this post having Mr. Clinton make his statement of support of equal marriage rights, I  can't  but think  'I wish he would have felt like this when he had the power of the presidency.'  May be he did, but he hurt us more than he helped us during his two term presidency.    adamfoxie*

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.

HRC is leading New Yorkers for Marriage Equality, a campaign centered on video testimonials from New Yorkers who support marriage equality. HRC is also a member of New Yorkers United for Marriage, the new coalition dedicated to seeing marriage become a reality in the Empire State.  Governor Andrew Cuomo, a longtime LGBT advocate, has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to marriage equality.