On Monday, June 15th, the U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution in support of ending discrimination against same-sex couples in marriage.

“The mayors’ leadership reaffirms that the freedom to marry should not be partisan or political,” said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry. “But rather is part of the security and respect all couples…should have.”

In reference to the freedom to marry, the resolution said, “BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors supports marriage equality for same-sex couples, and the recognition and extension of full equal rights to such unions, including family and medical leave, tax equity, and insurance and retirement benefits, and opposes the enshrinement of discrimination in the federal or state constitutions.”

Entitled, “Equality and Civil Rights for Gay and Lesbian Americans,” the resolution included support for federal bills such as Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the Uniting American Families Act, and the Mathew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Wolfson called on the New York State Senate to be the next leader in enacting marriage equality at the state level. Recent political developments in the New York Senate have called the prospect of New York Governor David Paterson’s marriage bill into question.

New York’s Assembly passed the bill in May. Political leaders from across the state, including NYC’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg and U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, have been working to support the bill’s passage in the State Senate over the next few weeks. Next door in New Jersey, Governor John Corzine has promised to sign his state’s marriage bill once it reaches his desk.

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