BALCONY Endorses Marriage Equality in New York State

NEW YORK, NY (05/03/2011)(readMedia)-- BALCONY, the Business and Labor Coalition of New York today (Tuesday) endorsed the pending Marriage Equality Act for New York State, urging the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate to approve this legislation when introduced by Governor Cuomo.

BALCONY Business member Catherine Abate, President/CEO of Community Healthcare Network and former State Senator stated that " same-sex couples should have legal equality on the issue of marriage. Heterosexual married couples receive rights, privileges and benefits that unmarried partners have no access to, including healthcare, tax, immigration rights, social security, and transfer of property . Defining marriage as an opposite-sex institution encourages the larger public to discriminate against same sex couples by denying them the freedom to marry whomever they choose."

BALCONY Labor Co- Chair Alan Lubin added that " BALCONY strongly believes that "the equal treatment by New York State of same-sex couples is about civil rights and treating all people equally not as second class citizens. Same sex couples deserve all the protections and benefits which heterosexual couples currently receive".

The Marriage Equality Act will establish that in NYS:

• a marriage that is otherwise valid shall be valid regardless of whether the parties to the marriage are of the same or different sex;

• no government treatment or legal status which effect couples rights, benefits, privileges, protection or responsibility relating to marriage shall differ based on the parties to the marriage being or having been of the same sex rather than a different sex;

• all relevant gender-specific language set forth in or referenced by New York law shall be construed in a gender-neutral manner.

• no application for a marriage license shall be denied on the grounds that the parties are of the same, or a different, sex;

According to NY Business for Marriage "Fair treatment for same-sex couples and their children has been shown to benefit business and the economy in other ways, from recruitment and retention of talent to reduction of current domestic partner benefit paperwork and costs. While the projected $118 million in fiscal relief from these marriages (increased revenue plus reduced state expenditures) would also be a help to New York State's budget."

In 2009 the New York State Senate failed to pass the bill legalizing same-sex marriage. In February 2011, President Barack Obama, directed the United States Justice Department to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act while six other states Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and New Hampshire have legally mandated same-sex marriages.

Opinion polls show a growing majority of New Yorkers favor marriage equality. On April 11, 2011 Pride Agenda noted in an April 11, 2011 Siena Poll the highest-ever level of support for same sex marriage 58% and the lowest level of opposition 36% . These results echo other recent polls on same sex marriage including a recent Quinnipiac Poll showing 56% support, and a New York Times estimated projection showing 58% support.

BALCONY strongly supports full marriage equality and the enactment of the Same Sex Marriage Bill.

BALCONY, the Business and Labor Coalition of New York seeks common ground on New York State public policy issues between business and labor. BALCONY is a not for profit representing more than 1000 businesses, trade associations, labor unions, and non profits.

www.balconynewyork.com

For more information contact

Lou Gordon

Director BALCONY

4 West 43rd Street suite 405

New York, NY 10036

212 219 7777 loug@balconynewyork.com