Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward make an impassioned plea in 2007 for marriage equality when the issue was first brought to the Assembly in Albany two years ago.

“My son didn’t want to be different.  Lord knows he wanted to change,” said Sayward during the floor debate.  “It is not a life choice. My God loves my son. And as sure as I’m standing here tonight, this is certainly not for me, nor should it be for any of us, anything other than a civil rights issue.”

Assemblywoman Sayward is one of those Republicans who understand that in the case of marriage equality, conservative values like limited government and personal responsibility mean that marriage is a right that should be granted to ALL New Yorkers.