A group of 24 prominent business
leaders has released a letter urging New York lawmakers to legalize
gay marriage in the Empire State, the
New
York Times
reported.
“[M]ajor employers know that the
single greatest asset New York has to offer is its ability to attract
the best talent from around the world,” the
letter reads. “To remain competitive, New York must continue
to contend with other world cities to attract top talent.”
“This is why it is so important that
New York State grant full rights to all of its citizens by passing
marriage equality.”
The letter arrives as supporters –
led by Governor Andrew Cuomo – mobilize a new effort to make New
York the sixth state to adopt marriage equality.
Executives signing onto the letter
include John J. Mack, the chairman of Morgan Stanley; Lloyd C.
Blankfein, the chief executive of Goldman Sachs; Jerry I. Speyer,
chairman of Tishman Speyer Properties; and Paul E. Singer, a
prominent hedge fund executive.
Mack told the Times that he
believed the issue is one of fairness: “It's that simple. I grew
up in North Carolina. I'm 66 years old. I grew up when there was
segregation. It makes an impression on you.”
According to the paper, several of the
signers are close to the Senate Republican caucus.
A gay marriage bill died in 2009 in the
New York Senate without any GOP support.