Michael B.

Kaplowitz
Legislator, 4th District
Chairman, Committee on Environment & Energy Tara L. Martin, Director of Communications Phone: (914) 995-2016 Email: TaraM@westchesterlegislators.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 16, 2011

Contact: Tom Staudter | ThomasS@westchesterlegislators.com | 914-995-2819 (office) | 914- 815-4462 (cell)

An Open Letter to State Senator Greg Ball on the Marriage Equality Law
I write to you today as a fellow elected official, as a constituent and as a New Yorker -- concerned with the political gamesmanship you are practicing in regard to Governor Cuomos marriage equality bill. You have been presented with a simple choice: Recognize marriage as a civil right that extends to all New Yorkers, or prove yourself to be part of a small group of right-wing extremists intent on demagoguery and fear-mongering. Unfortunately, you are choosing the path of the right-wing conservative extremists. I implore you to choose the path to equality instead. The defense you offer of your extreme position, with all of the exemptions and exceptions you want to tack on to the bill, is not only misguided, its simply wrong as a matter of law. Adoption agencies in New York, including those run by the Catholic Church, are already prohibited from discriminating against gay and lesbian prospective adoptive parents, whether those parents are married or not, and whether they are same-sex or different-sex. The marriage equality legislation will not have an impact on these existing adoption and human rights laws. You miss the point by suggesting that such language should be in the bill, which simply seeks to extend the civil rights the State offers. You are proposing, instead, that the bill should force New York backwards by taking away some of those rights. This rightwing extremism has no place in the great state of New York, a leader in equality. You like to tell reporters that you didnt come to Albany to be distracted by social issues. For public servants, however, protecting civil rights should not be viewed as a distraction. They are a fundamental necessity in a country that is defined by freedom and equality. If you think voting to extend these basic civil rights to each and every New Yorker isnt the most vital work of a public servant, you have no business being anywhere near public service. Senator Ball, the time has come for you to stop worrying about your political future and start thinking about the welfare and well-being of New Yorkers. You like referring to yourself as a young leader; for once, act like one. Declare your support for Gov. Cuomos bill and show the world how great the State of New York can truly be. Respectfully, Westchester County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz
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