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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
18 Trinity Place
Contact: Jim Ver Steeg, Exec. Dir.
Buffalo, New York 14201
(716) 852-PRIDE (7743)
(cell)
info
News Release
MARRIAGE IN MASSACHUSETTS
LIKELY TO HAVE IMMEDIATE EFFECT
IN WESTERN NEW YORK
Buffalo, NY, May 17, 2004 - - To some, the realization of equal marriage
rights for same-sex couples may seem contained to just Massachusetts.
However, gay rights groups across New York State are celebrating the
very real opportunity to have a legal marriage from a neighboring state
recognized right here at home.
In a May 14th letter to Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, New York
State’s Attorney General, Elliot Spitzer reiterated his opinion that
marriages of same-sex couples lawfully performed elsewhere should be
recognized by New York State.
“This could be a landmark day for all of us in Western New York who
strive to have our partnerships and unions recognized,” said the Pride
Center of Western New York’s Executive Director, James Ver Steeg. “The
Massachusetts decision, combined with Mr. Spitzer’s enlightened and
inclusive opinion, could make for an important step in our realization
of equal rights.”
The Attorney General’s actions were prompted by a letter from Governor
Romney to every governor and attorney general in the nation saying that
Massachusetts will not marry same-sex couples from another state unless
provided with an authoritative statement affirming that marriage between
same-sex couples are NOT VOID in the couple’s home state.
Threatening New York State’s recognition of legal marriages from
Massachusetts is the ill-conceived and discriminatory Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA) co-sponsored in the New York Sate Senate by Senators
George Maziarz (R) and Dale Volker (R), both from Western New York.
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