Statement by Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle
October 10, 2008

“We are thrilled that Connecticut has done the right thing and ended discrimination against tens of thousands of same-sex couples and their families by allowing them access to the literally hundreds of protections that come with marriage. Connecticut has joined Massachusetts and California in declaring that nothing short of full marriage equality will put an end to the hardships that many loving, committed same-sex couples and their families experience on a daily basis.

We thank the eight couples in Connecticut who allowed their private lives to be examined under the public microscope while the court considered their claim and we congratulate Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders and Love Makes A Family for the tremendous job they did in winning this important decision.

Now New Yorkers can drive across the border to a second state, get a marriage license that will be recognized as legal and valid here at home and have access to the vast majority of the 1,324 rights and responsibilities New York provides with it. While we realize that some families will do this because they need the protections right now that come with a marriage license, we believe that our families should not have to leave our home state to get married.

We look forward to a day in the near future when New York stops discriminating against our families and issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The State Assembly, Governor Paterson and a majority of New Yorkers agree it is time to do this. The State Senate needs to get the message and act now.”