| Releases
& Statements
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2007
Contact: Sarah Krauss
(212) 669-4193; (917) 541-0936
Release #: 055-2007
Gotbaum: Pension Ruling "Advances Rights" of Entire LGBT Community
MANHATTAN – This week, the New York State Supreme Court in Saratoga County ruled that New York State can continue to provide same-sex partners, who have been legally married in Canada, with New York State pension benefits in the same manner as any legally-married state employees. Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum today released the following statement regarding this ruling:
“This ruling is great news for gay and lesbian New Yorkers and their supporters. By acknowledging that New York State should recognize other jurisdiction's legal marriages, this ruling has advanced the rights of all in the LGBT community, and sets the stage for an expansion of these rights. The ruling speaks both to our basic common sense as profoundly as it speaks to our highest concepts of fairness and equality.
“As a Trustee of New York City Employees Retirement System (NYCERS), the $40 billion pension fund for municipal employees, I was proud to support an extension of New York City pension benefits to the beneficiaries of same-sex marriages.
“I want to thank State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli for his leadership on this issue. He has championed this cause in State Court, and now has laid the groundwork to expand the entitlements of beneficiaries beyond those married in Canada.
“More importantly, I want to thank the thousands and thousands of advocates – from the Empire State Pride Agenda to Lambda Legal to everyday, caring New Yorkers – who have invested their time and energy fighting for these basic rights. We still have a lot of work to do to bring equality to all corners of our government. Let us be emboldened by this new precedent and refocus our work. Know that I will be doing everything in my power to continue my fight for issues that matter the most to the LGBT community.”
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