The majority of New Yorkers support marriage equality and we are now seeing a new generation of Democrats emerge in the Empire State whose leadership will help turn that support into law," said Jo Wyrick, NSD Interim Executive Director. "Although Republican Governor George Pataki strongly opposes marriage recognition for same-sex couples, LGBT Democrats throughout New York will soon help elect a Governor who has vowed to lead his fellow Democrats in enacting legislation granting full marriage equality to same-sex couples."

The New York State Democratic Party overwhelmingly passed a resolution in 2003 that calls for marriage recognition for same sex couples in the state. Additionally, the majority of New Yorkers support marriage equality according to a recent poll released in April. Gubernatorial nominee and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is one of a number of leading Democrats in New York who has pledged to work with the state legislature to pass legislation granting marriage equality to same-sex couples.

The New York Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state of New York, ruled today in four separate cases brought by 44 same-sex couples seeking the right to legal recognition for their unions. One case involved a lower court ruling in 2005 that found that New York City was required by the state constitution to grant marriage recognition to same-sex couples. Leading Democrats encouraged Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the time to adhere to the court ruling and allow immediate recognition for same-sex couples. However, Bloomberg chose to fight the ruling by appealing the decision which was overturned by a mid-level court and again ruled against today

Republican New York Governor George Pataki, who has appointed the majority of justices of the New York Court of Appeals, told reporters yesterday that same-sex couples should be prevented from entering into civil marriages. "Marriage is between a man and a woman; that's what it's been in America, in New York, since the founding of this state," said Governor Pataki, who is currently considering a bid for the Republican nomination for President in 2008.

Currently, the platforms of the state Democratic parties of California, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York and Washington State call for full marriage equality for same-sex couples. Numerous county and local Democratic parties have also called for marriage equality, as have Democratic organizations like the College Democrats of America and the Young Democrats of America. For the first time, 2006 will also see Democratic gubernatorial nominees champion full marriage equality in California, Massachusetts, New York and Oregon.

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National Stonewall Democrats is the only national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats, with more than 90 local chapters across the nation. NSD is committed to working through the Democratic Party to advance the rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

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