El Diario la Prensa Endorses Gay Marriage Bill In New York

Heralding in a new era in Latino-American social mores, Spanish-language journal El Diario La Prensa has released an official endorsement of New York Governor David Paterson’s right-to-marry bill for same-sex couples. El Diario is America’s oldest and largest Spanish-language newspaper and the Spanish-language newspaper of record in New York City. This is el huge-o.

In a PR e-mail blast that went out today which was written in English and titled, “Send the Right Message To Children,” El Diario’s argument for gay marriage goes straight to Latino religious values and hits them where they live. (On a Sunday, no less.)

At the founding of some of the North American colonies, as taught in elementary school here, was the need to create havens for religious freedom. The right to freedom of worship was born out of this history. It remains a core principle of the United States.

Yet, as New York State moves to end discrimination against same-sex couples by allowing them to marry—which would give them access to the benefits that heterosexuals are entitled to—some religious leaders are determined to stand in the way of that right.

New York should follow Vermont and Iowa, which both recently legalized same-sex marriage. Like those states, New York has a chance to demonstrate to children that it is unacceptable and unAmerican to deem some people worthy of tolerance and rights but shun others at the same time.

We urge Governor David Paterson—who re-introduced a right-to-marry bill for same-sex couples— and state legislators to remain courageous and secure passage of this legislation.

Shit is changing people.

Send the Right Message To Children [El Diario]