ACLU Criticizes Anti-Gay Comments by New York Governor George Pataki

Statement of Matt Coles, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Lesbian and Gay Rights Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“”Governor George Pataki was way out of line in his disparaging comments about same-sex marriage, as reported today by Associated Press. The governor may think it’s funny that he can’t marry Senator Bruno, but after he stops laughing he can go home to his wife. The joke isn’t so funny for people who get turned away when their partners are in emergency rooms, like Sylvia Samuels and Diane Gallagher, or people who pay for “”family”” insurance but can’t include the love of their lives, like Kathy Tuggle and Tonja Alvis or for all the same-sex couples whose relationships are disrespected every day. The Governor should let everybody in on the joke by taking a stand for marriage for same-sex couples.””

Samuels & Gallagher and Tuggle & Alvis are among the 13 couples represented by the ACLU in its lawsuit against the state of New York seeking marriage equality.

To learn more about the lawsuit, visit /node/9469

To learn more about all of the couples who are plaintiffs in this lawsuit and how their lives have been affected by not being able to marry, visit /node/22262