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PRESS RELEASE:
September 17, 2007
CONTACTS:
Cathy Marino-Thomas , MENY, Executive Director
Phone: (516) 302-5198
E-mail: cathy@marriageequalityny.org
Ron Zacchi, MENY, Deputy Executive Director
Phone: (646) 660-1906
E-mail: ron@marriageequalityny.org
IN SUPPORT OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY,
Hundreds of pairs of shoes are sent to Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno
“Walk a Mile in Our Shoes”
NEW YORK, September 17, 2007 – Marriage Equality NY (MENY), working in conjunction with Soul Force and Metropolitan Manhattan Church of New York, gathered hundreds of pairs of shoes and sent them off to Senate majority leader Joe Bruno to say have you “walked a mile in our shoes”. Each pair of shoes had a letter attached to them explaining the many reasons why the LGBT community should have the Senate vote on Marriage Bill S5994.
The Marriage Bill, presented by Governor Elliot Spitzer, passed in the NYS Assembly in the summer session and is sitting in the Senate waiting for Majority Leader Joe Bruno to bring it to the floor. This marriage bill would recognize gender-neutral marriage in New York State and would make the current law all-inclusive. The shoes, which signify the many different people effected by this inequity, is a campaign started by Soul force and will continue until the Senate looks at the bill that is being carried by Senator Tom Duane.
Cathy Marino-Thomas, MENY’s Executive Director, believes that “We must raise our collective voices and Say ‘I DO’ to Marriage Equality because for the first time, in New York State, Marriage Equality is within our reach! We must use the democratic process to provide equal benefits and protections for all New Yorkers.”
This year marks the coming of Marriage Equality NY’s 10 year anniversary in 2008 and we will continue to educate, build awareness, and reach out to the public about the need for gender-neutral marriage laws.
Founded in 1998, MENY is the oldest organization in the state of New York to advocate for full equal marriage for same-sex couples. A grassroots, 501( C) (3) not-for-profit organization, MENY and its dedicated volunteers are devoted to ending discrimination in civil marriage through education, awareness and media campaigns, political actions, and coalition building.
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With the passage of a marriage equality bill in the New York State Assembly, the fight now moves to the State Senate. While Marriage Equality New York and our partner organizations have been working with several Senators, we still need your help. Besides voting on Election Day, contact from constituents is the most powerful way to influence legislation. Every phone call, email, letter, and visit has a real impact. The following State Senators would particularly benefit from hearing from you. Let them know that you are disappointed they are not yet publicly supportive. Let them know why marriage equality is important to you. Finally, ask them to commit to supporting equality for all families in the district and throughout New York.
For more information, including district maps, visit: http://www.senate.state.ny.us
LONG ISLAND
Kenneth LaValle: Eastern Suffolk County
(631) 696-6900
lavalle@senate.state.ny.usJohn Flanagan: Dix Hills, Smithtown
(631) 361-2154
flanagan@senate.state.ny.usCaesar Trunzo: Brentwood, Bellport, Fire Island
(631) 360-3236
trunzo@senate.state.ny.usOwen Johnson: Babylon, Bay Shore
(631) 669-9200
ojohnson@senate.state.ny.usCarl Marcellino: Oyster Bay, Huntington
(516) 922-1811
marcelli@senate.state.ny.usKemp Hannon: Garden City, Hempstead, Farmingdale
(516) 739-1700
hannon@senate.state.ny.usCharles Fuschillo: Freeport, Amityville
(516) 546-4100
fuschill@senate.state.ny.usDean Skelos: Rockville Centre
(516) 766-8383
skelos@senate.state.ny.us
NEW YORK CITY
Shirley Huntley: Kew Gardens, Jamaica
(718) 322-2537
shuntley@senate.state.ny.usFrank Padavan: NE Queens
(718) 343-0255
padavan@senate.state.ny.usGeorge Onorato: Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside
(718) 545-9706
onorato@senate.state.ny.usSerphin Maltese: Maspeth, Glendale, Howard Beach
(718) 497-1800
maltese@senate.state.ny.usJohn Sampson: Brownsville, East New York, Canarsie
(718) 649-7653
sampson@senate.state.ny.usMartin Golden: Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst
(718) 238-6044
golden@senate.state.ny.usAndrew Lanza: Staten Island, except North Shore
(718) 984-4073
lanza@senate.state.ny.usCarl Kruger: Midwood, Brighton Beach
(718) 743-8610
kruger@senate.state.ny.usEfrain Gonzalez, Jr.: NW Bronx, except Riverdale
(718) 299-7905
gonzalez@senate.state.ny.usJeff Klein, NE Bronx and part of Westchester
(718) 822-2049
jdklein@senate.state.ny.usRuth Hassell-Thompson: part of Bronx and Westchester
(718) 547-8854
hassellt@senate.state.ny.us