Milford A. Decker of Utica, the president of Pride Among the Mokawk, argues that marriage equality isn’t just fair and right, it is also good politics, in a letter to the Syracuse Post-Standard.

We pay taxes, are good neighbors, co-workers, parents, church members and voters. We want the same things other citizens strive for: to be productive; seek loving, committed relationships; and to be full members of a society that values all of its diverse members.

States that have experimented with civil unions have found them lacking, creating a “caste system” of sub-citizens who are not equal. These distinctions caused a nightmare of bureaucratic paperwork, unnecessary if all had equal access to civil marriage.

If you believe in limited government and personal freedoms–true, conservative values–then it makes sense to back marriage rights for all couples!

The New York State Bar Association refined its position on recognizing same-sex couples to support marriage as the only viable way to treat such couples equally.

Now, having seen how couples in other states have been denied equal rights under domestic partnerships and civil unions, the group’s House of Delegates voted overwhelmingly in a voice vote of about 150 delegates to back marriage as the only equitable solution, said association president Michael E. Getnick. The delegates represent members in the state’s 13 judicial districts.

While civil unions or domestic partnerships grant many of the rights of marriage, only marriage equality can fully treat all couples the same.

Forbes does the math and breaks down the economic stimulus that would come from making marriage equality the law of the land: and it is big!

As of September 2008, 52% of all same-sex couples living in Massachusetts were married; overall, the institute says, in the states that provide legal recognition, “more than 40%” of same-sex couples married, entered a civil union or otherwise have registered their relationships. On average, those couples spent 34% of what straight couples spent on their weddings. To estimate the financial impact of gay weddings were they legalized nationally, we multiplied the number of same-sex weddings by 34% of the amount straight couples would spend on such items as engagement rings, banquet halls, wedding dresses and honeymoons. Add it all up, and it comes to $9.5 billion.

Now, that money is going to states like Connecticut and Massachusetts, which have legalized gay and lesbian marriages–but it could come to New York.

Of course, the financial impacts of the wedding pales in comparison to the financial security that comes from marriage to benefit the couples–and in these economic times, no couple should be denied the financial security which comes from having their relationship recognized by the State.

In a New York Times opinion piece, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi underscores a distinction with a major difference in the debate over marriage equality: same-sex couples are asking for civil marriage, not holy matrimony, and they deserve the right.

Many civil marriages are not considered “holy matrimony” by religious institutions because they do not conform to the rules of the religious institution. Those marriages have not challenged religious liberty. We must see that civil marriage, which has always been separate from religious marriage, will remain so.

But most important, gays and lesbians have suffered too long from legal discrimination, social marginalization and even violence. They are entitled to clear recognition of their equal status as citizens of a country that is founded on the principle that we are all inherently worthy. By delivering a clear message that same-sex couples can no longer be treated as separate and unequal in New York, we will also reduce discrimination in everyday life. We will all be better for that.

While religious institutions may not believe theologically in marrying same-sex couples, their practice of religion would be in no way affected by expanding the civil right to marriage to gay and lesbian New Yorkers.

Former New York Republican Senate Majority Leader has come out for marriage equality. The retired legislator from Albany states, “It’s time. Now. For the government to back off, let people make their own life decisions, and about how they care about and who they don’t care about….”

Although CBS 6 of Albany’s reporter claims that is not a very “Republican” position, believing in limited government, personal responsibility and fundamental freedoms certainly is a conservative position!

Help make the conservative case for marriage equality by taking action now!