Spitzer: Gay Marriage A Civil Right

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/10/100606spitzer.htm

The frontrunner in the race for New York State governor drew thunderous applause and a standing ovation Thursday night as he declared same-sex marriage a civil right.

Elliot Spitzer has been a longtime supporter of equal marriage and has voiced that support throughout the campaign, but in his speech to about 12,000 people at the Empire State Pride Agenda's annual dinner Thursday he went further suggesting he would author legislation and send it to the Legislature if he is elected in November.

"No New Yorker should be deprived of the right to marry the person of their choice, regardless of gender," the Democrat who is currently Attorney General said.

"This is not about forcing any religion to perform or recognize gay marriage. It's simply about permitting gay and lesbian couples the right to live in stable, long-term married relationships."

for Pres in a cycle or two.

nt

the military but they don't have any problem with gays paying taxes. I suggest gays start chucking tea into the harbor.

By saying on Thursday night that he will push to legalize gay marriage, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer put himself at the vanguard of the effort to recognize such unions, staking out a position that most prominent Democrats, including Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, have shied away from.

Mr. Spitzer, who is running for governor and holds a commanding lead in the polls, made his strongest declaration yet in support of gay marriage in his remarks to the Empire State Pride Agenda, the state’s leading gay lobbying group. He told the audience, “We will make it law in New York.”

If elected, Mr. Spitzer, a Democrat, would be the most prominent state official in the nation to call for the legalization of gay marriage, though Democratic candidates for governor in California and Massachusetts have also expressed support. Many prominent Democrats, including Senator Clinton, have supported gays on other issues but not on this one, which has led to friction in their relations with gay leaders. Among the few prominent politicians who support it are Senators Russell D. Feingold of Wisconsin and Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, both Democrats; and Lincoln Chafee, a Rhode Island Republican.

The nationwide effort to legalize gay marriage has sputtered since a Massachusetts court legalized such unions in that state in 2004. In July this year, the New York State Court of Appeals said the issue should be decided by the State Legislature, giving the issue new immediacy in the state.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/07/nyregion/07gays.html?ei=5094&en=3a183d9c83908c7d&hp=&ex=1160280000&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1160234865-lsIHq4SNH4dNTGkZTb2nUQ