New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today issued the following statement after Governor David Paterson introduced a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in New York State:

“I applaud Governor Paterson for his action today to move New York State toward marriage equality. I have long been a proponent of marriage of same-sex couples to ensure equality for all. Same-sex couples deserve the same legal protections as heterosexual couples in this State and in this country. Simply put, this is an issue of civil rights. Same-sex couples in committed relationships should benefit from the same rights and legal protections as heterosexual couples. I am hopeful that our State legislators will work with the Governor so that all New Yorkers can have the freedom to live and love as they wish.”

In 2007, Thompson issued a report, Love Counts: The Economic Benefits of Marriage Equality for New York, which concluded that the legalization of marriage for same-sex partners could yield $142 million in economic benefits to New York City. That revenue would largely be generated in the three years immediately following enactment of legislation, and would be derived from the spending of residents and visitors on their weddings, along with the spending of their out-of-town guests.

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