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Rangers’ Sean Avery Heads To New York State Capitol To Lobby For Gay Marriage

Give the New York Rangers’ Sean Avery credit: it doesn’t appear his same-sex marriage advocacy is just for show. He’s gone on record supporting the cause in the past, including the linked PSA, but now he’s taking that support to a new level – heading to New York’s capital, Albany, to actively lobby on behalf of the legalization of gay marriage in the state.

Avery joined actress Cynthia Nixon of Sex and the City fame yesterday to speak out, and the timing was no coincidence – a bill proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo that would legalize gay marriage in New York currently stands just one vote away from passing.

Avery called it “a special day” in his remarks, and the track he and Nixon are taking seemed to us to be a smart one – they’re not out to harangue, but to gently coax and talk it out with those who have misgivings. Avery even that “if you’re on the fence…it’s fine” – and in a nod to his many past issues, said he would lobby “as kindly and gently as possible.” Oh, and speaking of nods to past issues, Avery began his remarks with:

“I usually get extremely nervous about walking into buildings that look like courthouses.”

Well played. He got a laugh for that one – will the charm work on legislators? That remains to be seen, but it’s hard to dispute at this point that Avery is legitimately dedicated to this, and that commitment deserves some praise – though given the number of people he’s pissed off over the years, we’re not sure how easy such praise will be to come by. Video below – Avery’s comments begin at the 3:55 mark. (Nice shades, also.)