Clintons back marriage bill

Staff Writers
May 6, 2011

Former US president Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea have both endorsed New York’s proposed marriage equality legislation.

in New York as it appears increasingly likely that lawmakers will vote on the measure by June.

Clinton announced his support in a statement via the Human Rights Campaign yesterday, stating the goal of achieving a “more perfect union” includes marriage equality.

The Advocate reports the bill seems likely to got to the vote next month.

“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,” Clinton said in the statement.

“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. Now we should do it again, in New York, with marriage equality. For more than a century, our Statue of Liberty has welcomed all kinds of people from all over the world yearning to be free. In the 21st century, I believe New York’s welcome must include marriage equality.”

According to a recent poll, almost 60 percent of New York voters support marriage equality. Labor unions, business leaders, and religious leaders also have expressed their support to state lawmakers.

Meanwhile, Chelsea Clinton has also come out in support of marriage equality.

At a New York City benefit for the new charity Friendfactor, which aims to bring about change via social networking,the younger Clinton urged straight people to get involved in helping to bring about legislation which guarantees rights for homosexuals.

Clinton, who attended the event with husband Marc Mezvinsky, said: “I certainly believe that all of my friends, as Marc and I did, should have the right to marry their best friends.

“I certainly believe that those of us who are straight cannot expect our gay friends to do this on our 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.”