CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
The New Yorkers United for Marriage coalition released its first statewide mailer Friday, which will be sent to more than 200,000 households, urging recipients to contact state lawmakers to pass a marriage equality bill in the next five weeks.
According to a news release from the coalition, the mailer includes a reply card that will allow voters to let lawmakers know about their support for marriage equality. The mailer features a Nassau County couple, Paul and Iris Blumenthal, who want to see their son Jonathan marry.
"We'd love to invite you to our son's wedding," reads the mailer. "Sadly, he's not allowed to get married."
Nassau County on Long Island is the home of Dean Skelos, the Republican majority leader of the state senate, who has promised not to block a vote on the marriage equality bill, although he personally opposes the measure. Nassau and nearby Suffolk County are represented entirely by Republican senators, none of whom publicly support the bill, although their support is essential for the success of the measure, which died in the senate in 2009. Two consecutive polls in the past month also show majority support for marriage equality legislation among voters in the New York City suburbs, including Long Island.
As of Friday, no marriage equality bill had been introduced in the senate, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo indicating this week that he wants to secure the 32 votes required for passage in the chamber before holding a vote. Assemblymember Daniel O'Donnell introduced a bill in his chamber this week, indicating an unwillingness to wait for the governor and advocates.
The new mailer follows a statewide TV ad launched last week by New Yorkers United for Marriage, the coalition of five LGBT groups working with Cuomo to pass the bill before the legislative session ends in late June. Advocates say they plan to raise at least $1 million on the TV and mailing campaign to amplify the message of majority support for marriage in the state.
Meanwhile, the National Organization for Marriage announced this week that it would spend $500,000 on TV ads and lobbying in New York, in addition to $1 million the organization pledged to defeat any lawmaker who votes for marriage equality, a repeat of its recent promise in Maryland. The TV ad, which is recycled from a 2009 spot, falsely claims that the bill would force schoolchildren to learn about same-sex marriages in the classroom.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Kentucky couldn't pass a single anti-LGBTQ+ bill this session — and it's not alone
April 16 2024 2:35 PM
West Virginia can’t ban transgender athletes says federal court
April 16 2024 2:32 PM
Sean Cody model and gay adult film actor sentenced for murdering Alaskan surgeon
April 16 2024 10:46 AM
Hillary Clinton and Kelly Clarkson condemn Arizona ruling upholding 1864 abortion ban
April 16 2024 10:33 AM
A Republican mom and her transgender son open up about unconditional love and acceptance
April 16 2024 6:00 AM