New York City

 

"As a Jew, I am commanded to uphold the law that 'There shall be one law for you and the resident stranger...' (Numbers 15:15). For too long, gay men and lesbians have been made to be resident strangers in our society. They are due the same rights as straight people, and their committed relationships are due the same recognition. I am proud to officiate at the weddings of Jewish couples, both same-sex and heterosexual."

 

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"As a deacon in a sacramental Church in the Catholic tradition, I have joined in sacramental holy union both same -sex couples and different-sex couples. The depth of love and commitment are equal. There is no difference. So the State should honor both equally and afford the benefits and obligations to all."

 

 

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"One of my privilege as a priest is to use the gift of blessing that God gave as a way of reaffirming people's relationship. I always look in this blessing the values of commitment, love and respect. Similar to a heterosexual couple, if two men or two women can reveal these values I then go for the marriage blessing. This is my solemn vow." 

 

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"Since the beginning, Christians have tried to exclude other people from the Church based on their history, lifestyle, or ethnic group. The Holy Spirit has consistently demonstrated that this is wrong. In the Acts of the Apostles, for instance, we read of Cornelius, a Roman centurion and a Gentile, and of Peter's attempts to exclude him and others like him from the Church. The Holy Spirit intervened, and Peter saw the error of his ways (Acts 10).

Our modern-day rancor about same-gender marriage is really no different from this and other debates-about the full inclusion of women, those of different ethnic backgrounds, and other marginalized groups. And those who would seek to continue to discriminate against gay and lesbian people are no less wrong. As Simon Peter said, 'If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us …, who was I that I could hinder God?'"

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"I do not see how Church or State can define and then exclude people on the basis of sexual orientation alone - not if the law of love is more important than the laws of biology or precedents in civil or canon law. If we judge what is natural and appropriate according to the Law of Love, and if we can affirm that gays and lesbians can be as loving and responsible spouses and parents as straight people, then how is homosexual love and same-sex marriage contrary to human nature or societal customs? What makes heterosexual relationships and marriage any more special or worthy of support and legal sanction? Shouldn't a relationship be judged by its inner worth rather than just by its outward appearance? Isn't it in the interest of the Church and the State to support family stability? So then why should anyone deny support for overtly gay stable monogamous relationships and same-sex marriage? Having blessed same-sex marriages (as the former Rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Marblehead, Massachusetts), I look forward to the day I can do the same here in New York."

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"The Empire State Pride Agenda has my full and unqualified support for your position on the right of same-sex couples to marry in New York State. As a Rabbi it has been my privilege to stand under the chuppah, the marriage canopy, with same-sex couples, as I believe gender should not be a barrier to espressing a loving commitment to another human being in a recognized legal context. I do not think the State has a compelling or even reasonable justification to withhold this right."

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“Assemblymember Bing believes that economic rights are civil rights, and that they should be fairly extended to all members of our society. He is a proud co-sponsor of A. 7463, legislation that would amend the New York State Domestic Relations Law to formally recognize same-sex marriages. He feels that same-sex couples should have equal access to the legal and social protections, responsibilities, and benefits of civil marriage. To that end, Assemblymember Bing has also co-sponsored four pieces of legislation to recognize domestic partnerships to ensure that all New Yorkers, independent of sexual preference, have access to the same fair insurance-related and economic benefits as other spouses.”

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Barbara Bowen, President
Professional Staff Congress (PSC)/City University of NY
American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
New York, NY

"Unions have always been about rights, and the union movement is at its most powerful when we fight to expand the civil and economic rights of all-not just union members. Equal access to marriage-as a unique social institution of a civil society-is a fundamental civil right. Marriage bestows 1,138 federal protections and benefits, including the right to hospital visitation, to financial benefits, to numerous protections for children. No one should be denied these rights on the basis of sex, gender-identity, sexual orientation or affectional preference. An injury to one is an injury to all."

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"Metropolitan Community Church stands in the vanguard of the movement for marriage equality and filed the first suit in U.S. history seeking civil recognition for our relationships. While we support the right of religious communities to differ in theological perspectives, scriptural interpretation and the application of moral and ethical standards, we believe it is the state's responsibility to equally recognize and protect all its citizens. Therefore, we are committed to using our voice to maintain the separation of church mandate and state law, and to move the quest for marriage equality forward on behalf of all New Yorkers."

 

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Arthur Cheliotes, President
Local 1180, Communication Workers of America (CWA)
New York, NY

"Workers are workers, no matter their orientation or color. They need to have equal rights, equal opportunities, and the right to decent life."

 

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"As a long-time advocate for equal rights, tolerance, and privacy, I support the Freedom to Marry initiative. I believe that adults in a committed relationship should be able to enjoy the legal rights and benefits of marriage."

 

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"I support marriage for same-sex couples because marriage is a civil right. The 1,138 federal rights and hundreds of state rights and protections automatically granted to heterosexual couples upon marriage are systematically denied to gay men and lesbians. As a rabbi I believe strongly in the separation of religion and state in this country. Clergy of all faiths have the constitutional right to perform their religious faith according to their own dictates. People of all sexual orientations and gender identities should have equal access to equal rights in this country. Denying gay men and lesbians the right to legal marriage is to deny that they are fully equal human beings in the eyes of our laws and our society."

 

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"I firmly believe that Christians, religions and people as a whole need to assume the responsibility of addressing the issue of Heterosexism/Homophobia seriously. As a Christian Black-Latina woman who struggles against sexism and racism, I find that our common ground to unite and end all degrading actions towards human beings should be the love, respect and justice that we are to practice with ALL of God's creation. As part of the body of Christ we are to respect, love and celebrate healthy relationships despite who are the individuals in the relationship."

 

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“Equality is the principal that our founding fathers believed in when they created our great Nation. The ability to enjoy the civil rights of marriage isn’t a privlege for some, but an equal right for all. Attempts by some to politicize this issue, and thereby the lives of millions of Americans, is both blatantly and patently un-American. As a United States Congressman, the son of immigrants and a life long resident of New York City, I am proud to support the Pride Agenda in their campaign for marriage equality.”

 

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"The Reform Jewish Movement, inspired by Genesis's teaching that all human beings are created b'tselem Elohim (in the Divine image), has a long history of welcoming gay and lesbian Jews into our congregations and communal life. Our advocacy on behalf of the LGBT community includes legislative and judicial efforts to secure equal opportunity through same sex marriage. While I believe that same sex unions embody kedushah, holiness, just as more traditional marriages do, nonetheless, each faith community has the right to make its own decisions about which marriages to sanctify. However, when it comes to civil marriage, our laws must equally protect all Americans, no matter their sexual orientation, and all couples should receive the same legal benefits of marriage."

 

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Barbie Gatton, President
Committee of Interns & Residents*
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
*for identification only

"For years, union members have embraced all families, gay and straight. Gay families have become more visible in the workplace. People came to realize that equal pay for equal work includes the idea of health care benefits for gay families. While health care benefits are a step toward social justice, true equality cannot be achieved unless gay couples are entitled to civil marriage and all the rights that go with it."

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John Gillis, International Vice President & General Manager
New York Joint Board
UNITE HERE
Metro New York and New Jersey

"As a labor organization, we believe gay marriage is a human right. Anyone who claims to be for family values has to recognize the value of family."

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“New York should have welcomed loving, committed same-sex couples to the institution of marriage a long time ago. Allowing same-sex couples to marry is a simple matter of justice for all people that is long overdue. I firmly support the right of same-sex couples to marry.

 

 

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"I believe that marriage equality for same-sex couples follows clearly and directly not only from a human rights point of view, but from a spiritual point of view. As clergy, we affirm that the source of all real loving comes from our common Creator God, and that 'where love is, God is.' In the marriage ceremony, we hold up the rings and declare that they are the 'outward and visible sign of an inward, invisible grace....' How can we fail to bless where God as love appears in the commitment of one person to another?"

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Rev. Dr. Barbara Jones-Hagedorn
Consultant for Congregational Life and Mission
VITAL- Vision, Interpretation, Transformation, Action, Leadership.

"I support marriage between same sex couples because I believe the theology of my Reformed Tradition teaches us to honor commitments made by couples who are willing to live in faithfulness to their baptismal vows, united in a covenantal relationship that is based upon fidelity to God and to each other. That covenantal relationship provides a frame for the relationship of the couple who are called to model God's justice and mercy.

Standards of conduct and service required of all Christian couples and the laws created to protect their union, should apply to all couple regardless of gender."

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"I support the rights of Gay and Lesbian couples to marry legally because it is important to extend the same rights and priviledges to every member of our society. The law must be inclusive of every person and must be applied equally. The same protections, respect, and financial advantages must accrue to each of us. If God does not leave anyone out, who are we to make such distinctions?"

 

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William F. Henning, Jr., Second Vice President
Local 1180, Communication Workers of America (CWA)
New York, NY

"By bargaining domestic partner language in contracts we negotiate we have attempted to secure the same benefits for all our members, and it has worked well for some benefits--but not for others. Some government programs available to spouses are not available to domestic partners. That is why all workers must be entitled to full and equal rights of civil marriage."

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"I am proud that Reform Judaism represented by the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Union for Reform Judaism is on record as advocating full legal status for same gender marriage. Our movement welcomes gay and lesbian Jews and their families into our congregations and all aspects of communal life. I personally view committed relationships, whether same or opposite gender couples, as potentially holy and thereby meriting the Jewish blessings of Kiddushin (Sanctification) through formal acts of marriage. Therefore I wholeheartedly support the rights of same sex couples to marry in New York State."

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"The 14th Amendment to the Constitution clearly requires that all citizens of the states must have equal rights. Currently all the states confer a wide range of rights to legally married heterosexual couples. Therefore, I believe that the denial of any legal marriage option to same sex couples is clearly in violation of the !4th Amendment. The states and the federal governments could, of course, cease sanctioning "marriages" at all and simply have a "register of unions" available to all couples who desire to live together in a legal status. This would not affect religious organizations that wish to conduct marriage ceremonies or continue the divisive debate over gay marriage, but it would at least guarantee the same legal rights to all united couples that state and federal government allot now only to heterosexual couples. This would not be full justice, but at least it would be constitutional."

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"I support marriage equality for three reasons. One, the words of our nation's Constitution "with liberty and justice for all" must be our guide for ensuring the civil liberties and human rights of all of our nation's citizens. The Supreme Court has ruled that marriage is such a foundational civil and human right that even individuals who have been stripped of all of civil rights because of their own heinous actions are still given the rights under the laws to marry. Two, enabling the religious values of some Americans to promote the continued denial of any citizens' right to marry is provides opportunity for the disregard and erosion of other civil liberties in the name of God. Three, denying any citizens the civil rights extended to others sends a message that "those" citizens are inherently less deserving; this message of marginalization, in turn, becomes a preamble for victimization and violence against those who have been marginalized. Because of my passion for justice, as informed by my faith, I support marriage equality both as a citizen and as a Christian minister."

 

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"Being legally married to my partner would make a world of difference. It would acknoledge that we have made certain promises to one another, before God and in front of our friends and family. It would mean that we could make medical decisions on one another's behalf. It would ensure that I would not have to worry if she would receive benfits should I die. It would enable us to protect our children should we decide to have any. In short, it would allow our relationship real equality."

 

 

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Fred Kaplan, President
Retail Employees Union Local 340
UNITE HERE
New York, NY

"Local 340 for many years has had same-sex domestic partner benefits in our health insurance plan, but we believe that all the benefits of marriage should be extended to these families."

 

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"Marriage is not made stronger by excluding people from it. The attempt to deny gay and lesbian couples the right to marry is not a defense of marriage it is bigotry. It's an attack on the very dignity of GLBT people. The religious right has chosen marriage for same-sex couples as its current target, as a lens through which to focus hatred for gay people. We must fight for our right to marry as we fought and continue to fight against other forms of discrimination. They believe God would have us burn in hell. I believe God created GLBT people in the divine image along with the rest of human kind. Which God do you believe in? Rabbi Kleinbaum is spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah in New York, the world's largest lesbian and gay synagogue."

 

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Senator Liz Krueger:
New York State Senate, 26th District
Representing part of Manhattan

"It is simply un-American to argue that different citizens have differing sets of rights based on their sexual identities. Same-sex couples must have the same rights as heterosexual couples, rights that will guarantee the legal and social protections, as well as the benefits, of marriage.

 

 

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"I fully support the right of each and every New Yorker to marry whomever they wish. All who know that the qualities of love and family are greater than the fears of prejudice and hate ought to share in that belief. No citizen should be denied the rights guaranteed to his of or her sister or brother."

 

 

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Wilfredo Larancuent, International Vice President & Manager
Laundry, Drycleaning and Allied Workers Joint Board
UNITE HERE
Metro NY

"Marriage is an issue of people loving each other and wanting to spend their lives together. They can be black and white, man and woman, woman and woman or man and man. It's a civil rights issue."

 

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"Jesus Christ reached me--a straight man--through my relationships with committed, gay Christian couples. In my early 20s, I met several couples whose 'perfect love cast out all fear.' These women and men had, to the person, received into their lives an irrepressible, life-changing love from God that allowed them to love their partners fiercely and faithfully, no matter what their families, society, or the church said. To know that you are loved, and to turn and love another--no matter the cost: if that's not a holy Christian life, I don't know what is."

 

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"The right of consenting adults to marry their loved ones is inherent in the ideal of 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' upon which our great nation was founded. Anything less than full marriage equality for same-sex couples constitutes separate and unequal treatment."

 

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"In our community, everyone has an important role. Straight or gay, woman or man, rich or poor, young or old - it makes no difference.

Sadly, the commitment ceremonies we perform for gay and lesbian couples aren't matched by New York State legal recognition. Until that happens, we'll continue to work for full civil rights for all New Yorkers."

 

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"I support the legal right of gay and lesbian persons to marry in New York State. I believe that gay and lesbian persons can vow "to love each other, comfort each other, honor and keep each other, in sickness and in health, and forsaking every other, keep to each other, as long as they both shall live." Our congregation has decided to bless such vows, and I believe that the State of New York should legitimize and protect such vows with full marital recognition. I believe this course will strengthen marriage and add to the health and wholeness of society at large. "

 

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“The right to marry is just that: ‘a right’ which must be available to all of us, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

I stand with ESPA and every other organization dedicated to remedy the injustice caused when our families are barred from over 1,000 federal and 700 state rights and responsibilities because we are denied access to civil marriage.

Civil unions and domestic partnerships are a step in the right direction but until civil marriage is available to everyone, same-sex families' best hope is to live a second-class citizenship under a legal structure that is separate and unequal to civil marriage.

Achieving the right to same-sex civil marriage plays an integral role in implementing ESPA's stated goal of ‘winning equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender New Yorkers and our families.”

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"I am strongly in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. The ability to love is a gift of God; the willingness to make a life-long commitment is blessed by God. Who are we to judge or deny?"

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"As a happily married woman, I know that one of life's greatest blessings is the committed love that leads to marriage and a life together. It is a sacred opportunity that I believe is the birthright of every human being willing to make that commitment. As a liberal religious leader, I have the privilege of ministering to many same-sex couples. I have witnessed the joy of those couples who have found an enduring love, as well as the sorrow that results because our society refuses to acknowledge, support and legally protect the love and dedication of same-sex couples. This refusal is wrong, it is unfair, it imposes on all of us a single narrow definition of marriage that my religious tradition does not share, and-most of all-it mocks the precious gift we know love to be. For these reasons, I am a passionate supporter of marriage equality, and pledge my support for the day when any two people who love each other may freely step forward into the adventure of marriage."

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Senator Velmanette Montgomery:
New York State Senate, 18th District
Representing part of Brooklyn


"As a co-sponsor of the marriage equality bill in New York State, I proudly endorse the right of LGBT couples to enter into civil marriage and receive the same governmental entitlements and protections afforded heterosexual couples. Same-sex marriage is about equal protection under the law.

 

 

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“Equal treatment under the law for same-sex couples is a matter of basic justice and fairness. These couples should have the right to do what every opposite-sex couple takes for granted - the right to walk into any city hall in this country and have their loving commitment to each other supported and recognized by the State through civil marriage.”

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“The right to marry is a basic civil right. That is why my partner and I joined the lawsuit to strike down the New York State law barring same-sex marriage.”

 

 

 

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"When two people commit to care for one another, to dedicate their lives in a mutual effort toward spiritual and ethical good, it is a marvelous thing. How could anyone be excluded from this natural human aspiration? When we open our minds to include all beings, we enter the realm of goodness and completeness. May this struggle help all beings to realize the unconditional value of every human life."

 

 

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Rev. Dámaris E. Ortega
San Romero de Las Américas
New York, NY

"Same sex marriage extends full and equal legal rights and priviledge to same sex couples, just as heterosexual couples have enjoyed, but from a spiritual and holistic point of view, it is much more than that. It extends to the sacredness of a covenant made in love and committedment of couples that long for the recognition of their relationship, with the blessing and affirmation in full, as a matter of justice, pastoral care, and equality in our society and in their faith communities. I strongly believe that by us supporting same sex marriage we are showing the seriousness and committement in relationships that become holy relationships in the hearts of those entering the covenant and in the eyes of society."

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Sally Otos, Esq. , Founding Local Officer
Columbia University Clericals Local 2110 United Auto Workers (UAW)
Currently Counsel to Columbia Medical School SEIU Local 693
New York, NY

"As a Local Officer of the clerical workers union at Columbia University, I remember negotiating domestic partner Bereavement Leave during the AIDS epidemic. Lesbian and gay union families at Columbia University now have domestic partner health benefits as well. But as a labor, employment and civil rights attorney, I see the thousand civil disadvantages these families face all the time-from immigration to inheritance to child custody issues. Only the New York State Courts or the State Legislature can complete the work that I helped begin over 20 years ago to provide equal rights and economic justice for gay and lesbian families. As a lesbian whose partner died without access to my medical benefits, I feel the lack of those rights every day."

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"I support the right for same sex New Yorkers to marry because the right of two people to love and to make a public affirmation and commitment of that love to one another cannot or should not be legislated because of prejudice and fear. As people of faith, we have a divine call to affirm the dignity and worth of every human being. To deny a same-sex couple the 1,049 rights that a heterosexual couple immediately receives the moment they say 'I do' violates the biblical mandate to 'let justice to roll down like rivers and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.'(Amos 5:24) Same sex marriage is at its heart about love, equality, and justice."

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“I believe that marriage is a fundamental right that should be extended to all loving couples. Legislating discrimination is a dangerous road to travel down and I, for one, find myself worried when the government takes it upon itself to decide which two people should make a life together.

 

 

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Rev. David C. Parsons, pastor
St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel Lutheran Church
Brooklyn, NY

"I support the right for same-sex couples to marry - in New York State, and in every state. I speak as a Christian, as an ordained pastor, and as a human being who happens to have been created heterosexual. I base my conviction on holy scripture (here I especially commend Acts 5:38-39 - ...if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them-in that case you may even be found fighting against God!), tradition, and personal experience."

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Region 9A New York Metro Community Action Program (CAP) Council
United Auto Workers (UAW)
New York, NY

"For many years the UAW has worked hard to protect the rights of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members and their families against discrimination and bigotry. In fact as far back as 1982 he UAW pioneered domestic partner benefits for its members at the Village Voice. The UAW membership in N.Y. includes a wide range of white collar and blue collar workers - from university adjunct professors, university teaching and research assistants to legal aid lawyers, and from creative and technical writers to auto repair mechanics and various other industrial workers. But we are all agreed that same-sex couples should have the civil right to marriage and the approximately 1500 other legal benefits and protections that can't be won through collective bargaining, but can come through marriage equality."

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Maida Rosenstein, President
Technical, Office and Professional Local 2110
United Auto Workers (UAW)
New York, NY

"Our union has fought for years to establish domestic partner benefits in our contract negotiations with employers, because we believe in equal coverage for ALL of our members, straight or gay. Marriage equality is a matter of justice and fairness."

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Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal
New York State Assembly, 67th District
Representing part of Manhattan

 

 

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Senator John D. Sabini
New York State Senate, 13th District
Representing part of Queens

 

 

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"We wave the supreme flags of Civil Rights Equality and Love.
We are New York State.

and so :

If not us…who?
If not here… where?
If not now.....when?'

We must sanction same- sex marriages. Now."

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"Same-sex couples who wish to be married should be allowed, indeed encouraged, to do so and should be celebrated as examples of persons willing to undertake faithful, loving commitment to one another. For in marriage they are vowing to stay together, to support each other, to be faithful to one another, and, in some cases, to nurture children together.

Marriage equality is also essential to the free exercise of religion, to religious organizations' right to decide for themselves which couples can be blessed and married. A number of religious denominations endorse same-sex marriage, including Reconstructionist Judaism, The Unitarian/Universalist Association, The Metropolitan Community Church, and the United Church of Christ. The government's current definition of marriage endorses the free exercise of some Americans' religious beliefs while prohibiting the free exercise of other Americans' religious beliefs."

 

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"As I understand the Jewish Tradition, opposition to homosexuality in the past was based on an anachronistic and faulty understanding of human sexuality.
Therefore we can no longer be guided by those old views.
Today our source of guidance about homosexuality and gay relationships has to be grounded in core Jewish values---justice, love for all and the encouragement of intimate, loving human relationships. My support for gay marriage is derived from my commitment to these Jewish"

 

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"In looking at what is too often a tempestuous debate as same-sex marriage becomes a legal right across our nation in the years ahead, the twin foundations for religious support are clear: Love and Justice…

God's love knows no bounds, and each one of us is a child of a sacred creation, whose worth, dignity, and rights deserve honor.

Wherever a deep, committed love blesses a couple, no matter one's gender, we should rejoice for God is present in that Love.

Justice is the social incarnation of Love, and I look forward to that day when same-sex couples receive all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, especially that of marriage."

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"In Hebrew the word for holiness is kedusha. A form of this word is also used to refer to the wedding ceremony. When two people who love each other come together to commit to each other that is kedusha---holy. Such moments are too rare in our world, therefore any such moment is sacred and holy and should be celebrated by Judaism."

 

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“Marriage must be guaranteed to all people regardless of their sexual orientation. I sincerely hope that our courts will deliver long overdue justice by standing with the LGBT community on this issue. When a segment of our population is denied the basic benefits of a legal marriage, our society will remain unjust.”

 

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Lynn Taylor, President
Local 1930, District Council 37
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Manhattan and the Bronx

"Marriage is a basic civil right and should be extended to all, regardless of their sexual orientation."

 

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"Scripture's promise that "in the very place it was said to them, 'you are not my people', they shall be called children of the living God" (Rom. 9:26) is a call from all kinds of exile and exclusion to come home--perhaps to a place we have never been before. Every time the church celebrates covenant love in same-sex relationships, we remind ourselves of the saving truth that we all come to God's love by grace; from slaves to chosen people, from gentiles to adopted children, from outcast to fully and lovingly embraced."

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"As a Pastor and professional man of faith, I fully support the legalization of marriage unions for same sex couples. The key to building stronger communities is creating an atmosphere which encourages couples to make a lifetime commitment to spiritual partnership. Let's not confuse a conversation about bigotry with credible debates about theology and dogma."

 

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“Same-sex couples in committed relationships deserve the same rights and legal protections as heterosexual couples. I have been a staunch supporter of marriage for same-sex couples as a fundamental human rights issue. Our City, State and Nation must aspire to the principles of equality and inclusivity, not bigotry and divisiveness.”

 

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"Gay marriage will be one step towards bridging the gap between first class and second class citizenship. When we come to a decision to profess our love and care for each other, wanting that relationship to be blessed and affirmed by our community, we have access to the very support our religious communities profess to offer to its believers."

 

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Randi Weingarten, President
United Federation of Teachers (UFT)
American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
New York, NY

"All New Yorkers who want to marry should be allowed to do so. Period."

 

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"Marriage at its best is good for society. When marriage provides emotional stability and financial support for children and homemakers, when marriage helps sustain commitment even in the face of challenges, when marriage supports sanctuaries of safety and security not to mention love, in an insecure world, then marriage is good for society. Gay and lesbian couples, seeking legal recognition of our relationships, are defenders of marriage. Granting us the right to marry does not threaten marriage it underscores its value to us all."

 

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"I support the right for same-sex couples to marry in New York State mainly because it shows that we commit to one another as partners in life so we can share all the benefits hetero married life offers."

 

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Nancy Wohlforth, Secretary-Treasurer
Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)
NYC Metro Area

“Many labor unions, including OPEIU, have endorsed same-sex civil marriages and seek to expand workplace benefits for their gay and lesbian members.  All gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workers unequivocally deserve the same benefits as heterosexual workers.”

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