NY A.G. Voices Marriage Equality Support

May 23, 2005

ROCHESTER — The man considered the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for New York governor has reaffirmed his support for same-sex marriage. But, Eliot Spitzer would not say if elected if he would make it a first term priority.

Instead, Spitzer told a Rochester LGBT audience that the gay community must take the lead in fighting for marriage equality.

Politicians move very slowly, he told the annual spring dinner of Empire State Pride Agenda, New York's biggest LGBT civil rights organization. Only when you lead and block for us do we move in behind you.

The brief speech was greeted with raucous applause and cheers.

Last year, when the mayor of New Paltz performed nearly 30 same-sex weddings even though the couples did not have marriage licenses, Spitzer in a legal opinion said that even though New York does not permit same-sex marriage he believed the legislation would be struck down in court.

Three separate challenges are working their way through the state court system and will eventually wind up in the Court of Appeals, New York's highest court.

Polls show that Spitzer is well ahead of incumbent Republican Gov. George Pataki, although Pataki has not said if he will seek a fourth term.