As a Queens native, I am proud to see fellow "Queens gal," Lucy Liu, come out in support of the freedom to marry in New York.  

 

While Ms. Liu's support is exciting, I can't say it is a surprise.  Nothing says family like marriage, and Queens is all about family.  

I grew up in Rego Park surrounded by families from around the world.  While we were different in many ways – we ate different foods, wore different style clothes, and celebrated different holidays – we shared a common value for the love and support family brings.  No matter where your family was from, there was a member of that family walking you to school in the morning and picking you up in the afternoon.

Unsurprisingly, Queens is the most diverse county in the nation, a title earned by the hundreds of thousands of immigrants who came together there in search of freedom – freedom from religious persecution, freedom from tyrannical governments, the freedom to build a better future for the next generation.  And while they have found these freedoms, many Queens residents are still waiting for the freedom to marry the person they love.

Fortunately, that may change very soon.  The New York state legislature is expected to vote on the freedom to marry in the coming months, and it will be up to state legislators like Queens State Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. to stand up for Queens families – and families across the state – and support a marriage bill.  Freedom to Marry is proud to be working with a coalition of organizations including Empire State Pride Agenda and Human Rights Campaign to win marriage in New York.

 

You can email your New York senator to urge them to vote for a marriage bill here.