Bill and Chelsea Clinton Want Marriage Equality for New York

by Brandon Miller · 2011-05-06 10:31:00 UTC
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It's a case of "like father, like daughter" for the Clinton clans. It seems that Chelsea Clinton has some fantastic things in common with her ex-President father -- a sense of compassion, a belief in social justice, a will for equality for all Americans. Etcetera.

Both Bill and Chelsea spoke out this week in support of marriage equality - more specifically, of marriage equality in New York State. Though Hillary Rodham Clinton has not jumped onboard the same-sex marriage boat, it is nice to know that Bill's views have evolved over time. In 1996, he signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) into law. Now, after 15 long years, Bill has made it public where he stands today. Better late than never, right?

"Our nation’s permanent mission is to form a ‘more perfect union’ – deepening the meaning of freedom, broadening the reach of opportunity, strengthening the bonds of community. That mission has inspired and empowered us to extend rights to people previously denied them. Every time we have done that, it has strengthened our nation," Bill wrote in statement released by the Human Rights Campaign on Thursday. "Now we should do it again, in New York, with marriage equality."

As we have discussed on Change.org in the last couple of weeks, marriage equality in New York is a hot topic. The majority of New Yorkers -- fifty-eight percent -- support marriage for same-sex couples. And Governor Andrew Cuomo has vowed to bring this issue to the forefront in 2011.

"For more than a century, our Statue of Liberty has welcomed all kinds of people from all over the world yearning to be free," wrote Clinton. "In the 21st century, I believe New York’s welcome must include marriage equality."

President Clinton's statement comes only days after his daughter Chelsea attended a pro-marriage equality event in New York City. Sponsored by FriendFactor.org, a website for allies of gay rights, the event took place Tuesday night in Manhattan. And Chelsea not only attended, but she spoke to the crowd and made it well-known where she stands on equal rights for gays and lesbians.

“I am proud to be here to support [FriendFactor]. I certainly believe that all of my friends, as Marc and I did, should have the right to marry their best friends," she said. “I certainly believe that those of us who are straight cannot expect our gay friends to do this on their own. And I certainly expect our straight friends to help us achieve that for all New Yorkers, for all Americans, and for all the children that at least Marc and I hope to have someday.”

One more Clinton and we'll have a trifecta!

To pledge your support for marriage equality in New York State, and to send a message to legislators, sign our petition.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Brandon Miller is a freelance writer and editor from Toronto, Ontario.

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