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Challengers and Incumbents Key to Securing Marriage Equality
WASHINGTON – Today the HRC New York PAC – affiliated with the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – announced the endorsement of nine candidates for the New York State Senate in its first round of endorsements. These challengers and incumbents are all supporters of marriage equality and their election will put New York on a path to fairness and equality for same-sex couples in the state.

"Equal marriage is within our grasp in New York and these candidates are the key to that victory," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "Fair-minded New Yorkers were crushed at the marriage defeat last year and now is the time to put that anger into action and elect these courageous leaders."

Candidates endorsed today by the HRC New York PAC are:

Challengers in a primary election:
Charlie Ramos: SD-32
Tim Kennedy: SD-58

Challengers in the general election:
Regina Calcaterra: SD-1
David Mejias: SD-6
Tony Avella: SD-11
Incumbents:
State Senator Brian Foley: SD-3
State Senator Craig Johnson: SD-7
State Senator Tom Duane: SD-29
State Senator David Valesky: SD-49

Earlier this month, the Human Rights Campaign launched the HRC Campaign for New York Marriage with the message to anti-marriage state senators: "we're coming to get you." The campaign is working closely with allies and key campaigns to deliver the help they need such as fundraising, campaign workers, door to door canvassing and phone banks. In addition, the Campaign for New York Marriage is strengthening and building coalitions of community, business and faith leaders and mobilizing HRC's 70,000 New York members, supporters and donors.

To get involved in these critical races, go to: www.hrc.org/NYmarriage.

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. [7/23/10]