New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is
telephoning for support of gay marriage in a new robo-call ad
released on Monday.
“There is a pressing issue of basic
fairness and civil rights in New York,” Cuomo says in the ad, “and
that is marriage equality.”
A transcript of the ad was released on
Monday by the New York State Democratic Committee. Calls are
expected to begin later this week.
The ad is another element of a
multi-pronged strategy to make New York the sixth state in the nation
to legalize the institution.
Supporters on Monday invaded the
Statehouse for Empire State Pride Agenda's eleventh annual Equality
and Justice Day.
“Without the ability to marry,
same-sex couples and their families are denied over one thousand
federal and state rights such as visiting a spouse in a hospital in
the event of illness,” Cuomo added in the message.
“It makes same-sex couples second
tier citizens who receive less protection and have fewer rights than
others. This is not a Democratic or Republican issue. It is a
question of New York going forward or backward.”
“It's hard to imagine today, but at
one time in this country it was illegal for blacks and whites to
marry each other. We have come a long way and now it is time to go
further – to achieve marriage equality for all New Yorkers.”
He finishes with: “I urge you to call
your state legislators and ask them to vote for equality – marriage
equality – for all New Yorkers.”