Here is the text of the letter from HRC President Chad Griffin:

October 8, 2014

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY  12224

RE: Court of Appeals Appointment

Dear Governor Cuomo: 

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) 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.  On behalf of our over one and a half million members and supporters nationwide, including nearly 150,000 in New York, I respectfully urge you not to reappoint Victoria A. Graffeo to the Court of Appeals.

In 2006, Judge Graffeo joined the majority opinion against marriage equality for New York's gay and lesbian couples. While many Americans have evolved on LGBT rights, in 2010 Judge Graffeo declined to recognize a lesbian mom as a full parent despite her legal relationship to the biological mother. Consistently she has shown a lack of respect for constitutional rights afforded to all Americans and instead defers to the legislature on issues that are appropriate subject matter for the courts.

We urge you not to reappoint Judge Graffeo and instead select someone who would treat all New York families equally under the law. 

Sincerely,

Chad Griffin
President and CEO

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.

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