Recent media reports indicate that at an October 18 panel hosted by the New York Times New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was asked what arguments from authentic marriage advocates he found persuasive. At the same event, Cuomo was quoted as saying: "There is no answer from the opposition. There really isn't. Ultimately, it's, 'I want to discriminate.' And that's anti-New York. It's anti-American."

TAKE ACTION:  Tell Governor Cuomo It's Not "Anti-American" to be Pro-Family.

Rev. Jason J. McGuire, Executive Director, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, reacted to the news by saying, "It is one thing to disagree on an issue of public policy, but it is quite another to question the patriotism of 150 million (or more) Americans."

A May 2011 Gallup poll indicated that America is virtually split on the issue of same-sex "marriage". In fact, a Public Opinion Strategies poll shows that 62% of Americans still believe that marriage should be defined as a union between a man and a woman. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently acknowledged that his support of gay "marriage" would have cost him dearly in a national election. Potential candidates for any national contest must recognize that marriage matters to tens of millions of Americans.

In an open letter to the Governor, McGuire argues, "It is not a bigoted statement to say that children need a mother and a father. I contend that many of the issues our state is struggling with can be traced back to absentee fathers, a general lack of parental involvement and the breakdown of the family: low graduation rates, out-of-wedlock births, runaway welfare and Medicaid costs, even the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases.

McGuire says Cuomo's remarks should lead to an apology from the State's Chief Executive.

"To the Governor I say, you were elected to represent all New Yorkers, but your recent comments attack half of the state you lead and the nation you call home. Retract your comments and apologize to millions of New Yorkers and other proud Americans you have offended," McGuire concludes.

TAKE ACTION:  Tell Governor Cuomo It's Not "Anti-American" to be Pro-Family.