Thousands united Nov. 12 in front of a Mormon temple in Midtown and marched to Columbus Circle to protest Proposition Hate, er…Proposition 8.
A new generation of activists unites via the Internet. Log on and Join the Impact.
A multimedia SAGE campaign makes LGBT elders more visible—even on New York’s subways and buses.
How will his departure affect LGBT issues in Albany?
Industry leaders powwow to raise questions about the persecution of clubland.
Anti-gay hate crimes are on the rise across the U.S.—homophobic incidents have even surfaced at a local production of play “Judy and Me.”
Spurred by a gay marriage ban in California, simultaneous protests were
held Nov. 14 across the nation. In Manhattan, 4,000 rallied at City Hall.
Next up: A Dec. 10 event called A Day Without a Gay.
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By Joelle L. Quartini
Friday, October 03, 2008
The Stonewall Democrats of New York City (SDNYC) met this week to rethink its political endorsements. Activists and statewide advocacy group Empire State Pride Agenda had criticized the club for backing candidates who haven’t supported the LGBT community.
Stonewall Dems stood behind some of the previously disputed endorsements, but revoked three that had been approved before the primaries. They are:
• Assembly member Karim Camara, District 43, who was absent for the vote on same-sex marriage equality when it was on the floor last summer, and who voted no on the Gender Expression Non-discrimination Act (GENDA) this summer.
• Assembly member William Colton, District 47, who voted no on marriage but yes on GENDA
• Assembly member Barbara Clark, District 33, who voted yes on GENDA but stood up during the marriage equality vote and denounced gay marriage.
“There was a much more informed vote this time,” said Stonewall Dems’ president Matthew Carlin.
The club’s Sept. 24 ballot listed whether the club had previously endorsed the candidate, the candidate’s vote on GENDA and marriage equality and recommendations from the Stonewall Dem’s board.
Club members sustained endorsement for Nettie Mayersohn, District 27, who voted yes on GENDA and marriage equality but has been criticized for controversial HIV/AIDS bills, and Steven Cymbrowitz and Ruben Diaz Jr., who both voted no one marriage but yes on GENDA.
Margaret Markey, District 30, who voted yes on GENDA, and is believed to be moving toward Marriage, is now being endorsed, although she was not endorsed in the original vote.
Carlin said the club decided not to reject candidates simply based on their marriage equality vote.
“Their vote on GENDA can be used as an indication that they do believe in civil rights in our community, and we want to work with them in the future on marriage,” Carlin said.
Helen Weinstein, District 41, voted yes on GENDA and marriage equality, and is now being endorsed, as well as Aurelia Greene, District 77, and Carl Heastie, District 83.
Carlin said the organization will take steps before the next election, when more than 100 City Council candidates will be on the ballot, to include a voter’s guide or at least indicate where the candidate stands on LGBT issues.
“We’ll be paying more attention to endorsing in races where the candidate requests the endorsement,’ Carlin said.
“This could have been avoided if we hadn’t endorsed in every race,” he added. “Some of the candidates may not have wanted it.”
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