g********d
发帖数: 4174 | 1 Posted on Advocate.com May 05, 2011 09:45:00 AM ET
Bill Clinton Endorses N.Y. Marriage
By Julie Bolcer
BILL CLINTON X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM
President Bill Clinton endorsed marriage equality legislation in New York as
it appears increasingly likely that lawmakers will vote on the measure by
June.
Clinton, a popular figure in the Democratic Party, announced his support in
a statement released by the Human Rights Campaign on Thursday, saying that
the goal of achieving a “more perfect union” includes marriage equality.
“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,” said Clinton, a New York State
resident. “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.”
The statement from Clinton arrives one day after Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who
enjoys high approval ratings, announced he would tour the state over the
coming days to promote his agenda for the rest of the legislative session,
which includes the three priorities of a property tax cap, ethics reform and
marriage equality. A record 58% of New York voters support marriage
equality, according to a recent poll. Labor unions, business leaders, and
religious leaders also have expressed their support to state lawmakers in
recent days.
In addition, New Yorkers United for Marriage, the coalition of five major
LGBT advocacy organizations working with Cuomo to pass the bill, yesterday
unveiled its first TV ad, which begins airing statewide today. The ad is
part of a reported $1 million media campaign in the lead up to the
anticipated marriage vote.
The coalition announced Thursday that Chelsea Clinton, who also supports
marriage equality, would join the kickoff event this evening for its
biweekly phone banking efforts to be held at the Manhattan headquarters of
1199 SEIU, one of the state's most powerful unions. Volunteers will call
voters in swing districts across the state, urging them to ask their
lawmakers to support the marriage equality bill.
The marriage equality bill failed in the New York State senate in 2009, but
Cuomo has said he feels “optimistic” the legislation can pass this year.
He plans a major fund-raiser for gay donors in New York City for June 14. | g********d
发帖数: 4174 | 2 Time flys.
Name: Paul
Date posted: 5/5/2011 4:12:45 PM
Hometown: New York
Comment:
Well, better late than never, but I'll never forget that after signing DOMA
into law, Clinton went on Christian radio to BRAG to all the Christian
homophobes about signing it into law. He may have felt he had no choice to
sign it into law back then, but to go on the radio and score political
points on it (didn't matter to the crazy conservatives because they hated
him no matter what), truly was unbelievable. Clinton always "felt our pain"
but never to the degree where it mattered - in changing laws. |
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