By STEPHEN BARTLETT
PLATTSBURGH — During the summer of 2007, three parents spoke with Janet Duprey about their dreams that their gay children would enjoy the same rights as the rest of society.
The assemblywoman listened to their heartfelt pleas, and as she departed for her own wedding anniversary, she knew it was wrong to deny others the very happiness she has enjoyed on the mere basis of sexual orientation.
Friday afternoon, she officially announced her support for the same-sex legislation recently introduced by Gov. David Paterson.
"I feel this is something I need to support," said Duprey, speaking at a press conference Friday in her Plattsburgh office.
The proposal is the same bill proposing the legalization of same-sex marriage that died in the Senate in 2007.
Duprey, who stated marriage is between a man and a woman when she ran for office in 2006, voted against the same-sex marriage bill at the time.
"There is no doubt that the issue of same-sex marriage is one that generates strong opinions from people who are passionate both in their opposition and support of this legislation," Duprey said.
She threw her support behind civil unions for same-sex couples and pledged to study the issue, meet with constituents and remain open as information landed on her desk.
Over the past couple years, Duprey responded to hundreds of phone calls, letters and e-mails from individuals on both sides of the issue. She met with dozens of people who are passionately for and against same-sex marriages and spent time with religious leaders, also reading books and position papers on both sides of the argument.
"In all of the discussions I have had with my constituents, the ones that moved me the most were the parents of homosexual children whom they love dearly," Duprey said. "To a person these parents expressed their desire to see their gay and/or lesbian children share the same benefits, protection and love with their partners as their heterosexual siblings do with their spouses."
Duprey further met with large numbers of homosexual individuals and couples, most in long-term relationships, some with children, and all asking for equal protection under the law.
"After hours of conversations, meetings and reading, I have come to the firm conclusion that all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, should be treated equally," Duprey said. "Civil unions simply do not provide that equality in more than 1,300 legal categories."
Duprey said even opponents of same-sex marriage know homosexual couples will eventually be granted the same rights as the rest of society. In fact, she said, one day people, possibly her grandchildren, will look back at this time and wonder what all the fuss was about.
She respects the opinions and stances of those for and against same-sex marriage, but said she had to take a stand.
"This is not a religious issue," she said. "It is a civil-rights issue.
"Our United States was founded on the principle of equal protection and rights for all, and I will cast my vote for the constitutional rights of same-sex couples."
E-mail Stephen Bartlett at: sbartlett@pressrepublican.com
