Former Big Apple Mayors Edward I. Koch and David N. Dinkins Join HRC's New Yorkers for Marriage

by HRC Staff

Iconic New York Politicians Raise Profile of Timely Fight for Equal Marriage

WASHINGTON - Former New York City Mayors Edward I. Koch and David N. Dinkins join the Human Rights Campaign - the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization - in two new videos in the "New Yorkers for Marriage Equality" campaign. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, also a supporter of marriage equality, appeared in an earlier campaign video. The campaign, which raises the public profile of marriage equality in the Empire State, can be viewed online at www.hrc.org/NY4marriage.

"We are honored to have Mayors Koch and Dinkins lend their voices to the 'New Yorkers for Marriage Equality' campaign," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "These two respected New York leaders join the vast majority of New Yorkers in supporting marriage equality. Elected leaders across the state are getting the message - giving full equality under the law to all New Yorkers is the right thing to do."

Edward I. Koch served three terms as Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989. Today he is a partner in the law firm of Bryan Cave LLP, hosts a weekly call-in radio program, is a weekly guest on NY1 television, writes a weekly column for the New York Press, and publishes movies reviews in two New York newspapers. David Norman Dinkins was elected in 1989 as New York City's first African American Mayor. Currently he teaches public affairs at Columbia University and hosts a weekly radio show.

Two recent New York polls show a strong majority of New Yorkers support marriage equality. A Siena Research Institute Poll found 57 percent of New Yorkers support marriage for same-sex couples and another recent poll by Quinnipiac University had support at 56 percent.

The New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign is centered on video testimonials from New Yorkers who support the right of same-sex couples to marry. To date, HRC has released videos from Former Mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins, Ethan and Ryan Hawke, Russell Simmons, Mark and Sunrise Ruffalo, John Slattery, Joan Rivers, Barbara Bush, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon, Fran Drescher, Moby, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Julianne Moore and Kenneth Cole.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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