League of Women Voters Joins N.Y. Marriage Coalition

The New Yorkers United for Marriage coalition continues to expand, with the League of Women Voters of New York State becoming the latest group to announce their participation in the effort to pass marriage equality this spring.

The addition of the League, which encourages informed civic participation on issues such as education, governmental reform and the judicial system, puts a nonpartisan seal of approval on the campaign overseen by Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo. The coalition launched last Wednesday with four LGBT groups including the Human Rights Campaign, Freedom To Marry, Empire State Pride Agenda, and Marriage Equality New York. The following day, the Log Cabin Republicans of New York announced their participation in the effort, which needs to secure support from at least a handful of GOP state senators in order to pass the bill. No Republicans voted for the measure in 2009 when it failed the state senate by a vote of 38 to 24.

"The time to allow loving and committed couples to marry is long overdue, and we are thrilled to lend our support to this effort," said Betsey Swan, president of the League of Women Voters of New York State, in a statement. "The League has always advocated for fundamental fairness and equal protection under the law. It hurts all New Yorkers when some families are denied the respect, protections and responsibilities of marriage. We are very pleased that the majority of New Yorkers now agree."

A recent poll showed that 58% of New York voters, a record percentage, support the right to marry. Advocates plan a lobby day in Albany on May 9.