The coalition of five gay rights groups
formed last month to push for the legalization of gay marriage in New
York has launched its first video ad.
New
Yorkers United for Marriage bands together prominent gay rights
groups Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Empire State Pride Agenda,
Freedom to Marry, the Log Cabin Republicans and Marriage Equality New
York (MENY).
In its first effort, the coalition
brings a personal story of two women together for 29 years and unable
to marry in their home state.
“We've shared everything,” Jo-Ann
Shain says in the 30-second spot. “Our home. Our lives.”
“We get sick, we take care of each
other,” Mary Jo Kennedy says.
“The wedding vows are so important.
In sickness and in health. Till death do us part. We've been living
those vows for our entire relationship,” Shian ads. “At this
point we just want to say 'I do.'” (The video is embedded in the
right panel of this page.)
The push to make New York the sixth
state to legalize gay marriage comes after a similar 2009 effort fell
eight votes shy of passage in the Senate. This year's effort is
being coordinated from inside Governor Andrew Cuomo's office.
The Senate's most vocal opponent,
Democratic Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. of the Bronx, and the National
Organization for Marriage (NOM) plan to rally
against the yet-to-be-introduced legislation on May 15.