Leading Women Activists Cite Record of Achievement on Women’s Rights

NEW YORK, NY – March 15, 2018 – Today, the National Organization for Women-New York (NOW-NY) announced their endorsement of Andrew Cuomo for Governor and Kathy Hochul for Lieutenant Governor of New York State. As the first major women’s endorsement, Sonia Ossorio, president of NOW-NY commended the Governor for his strong record of making women’s rights a top priority of his agenda.

“This was an easy decision for our NOW chapter leaders across the state. Year in and year out Governor Cuomo has put women’s rights front and center,” Ossorio said. “At a time when our rights are under attack at the federal level, we have in Governor Cuomo a leader who works tirelessly to drive forward progress here in New York.”

Governor Cuomo is building a legacy of real change for the women and girls of New York: raising the minimum wage of which women make up two-thirds of earners; enacting paid family leave; making it harder to discriminate against pregnant workers; and paving a path for young New Yorkers to earn tuition-free four-year degrees.

“Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul has traversed the state to meet New Yorkers and understand their lives and struggles and has a fundamental understanding of the issues women face. We’re proud to support her,” Ossorio said.

Using a humans rights lens, Governor Cuomo expanded marriage rights for same-sex couples and closed loopholes that end child marriage. He launched the Enough is Enough initiative which became the most aggressive policy in the nation to reduce sexual assault on campus.

In the weeks and months ahead, Governor Cuomo will be working to push through an ambitious women’s agenda to secure abortion rights, combat workplace sexual harassment, and keep firearms out of the hands of abusers.

“Governor Cuomo is making changes that have a real impact. Consistently he has worked to end gender-based discrimination and improve the economic outlook for women and their families,” Ossorio said.

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The National Organization for Women – New York (NOW-NY) advocates for the women and girls of New York, by defending reproductive rights, fighting economic inequality and aiming to end discrimination and violence against women and girls.