Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos doesn’t back same-sex marriage equality, but he promised to get results on the anti-bullying Safe Schools for All Act in January.
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 TRENTON STRAUBE
Thursday, September 18, 2008
It was a coming out party of sorts for Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. He appeared at his first LGBT function this week, a fundraiser at a private East Village residence organized by the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay GOP group.
Just last month, the Senate Republican Majority surprised Albany by introducing the Safe Schools for All Act, an anti-bullying bill that includes transgender protections (a Democratic version passed the Assembly the past seven years). “When we come back in January, we are going to come to agreement with the Assembly on anti-bullying legislation,” Skelos told Log Cabin. “We’re going to get results.”
Skelos also introduced the group to Ed Cox, chairman for the McCain presidential campaign in New York, and John Chromczak, the first openly gay Republican to run for state Senate. “Elect this man,” Skelos told the crowd of about 100 members. “[Chromczak] will express Republican views and bring the diversity we need in Albany and in our conference.”
Such statements would appear to signal a sea change in a chamber widely consider the only roadblock to major LGBT bills. The Democratic controlled Assembly already passed same-sex marriage equality and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act.
Skeptics point out that the Senate not once voted on the Democrat’s anti-bullying bill and that Skelos remains on record against same-sex marriage. In fact, Skelos, skirted the nuptials issue at the gay fundraiser, speaking instead against raising taxes and in favor of creating jobs. And now with the Senate majority whittled to a slim seat, others question whether the sudden pro-gay stance amounts to a death-bed conversion.
Log Cabin’s legislative advisor Jeff Cook stressed that Skelos, who took over this summer when Joe Bruno abruptly resigned, has been open to working with the LGBT advocates.
“We do not agree on every issue, and marriage equality is a key part of Log Cabin mission,” Cook said. “But dialogue is important to ensure that our party becomes more comfortable every day with our issues.”
If Republicans retain control of the Senate, they’ll need a critical mass of GOP lawmakers to support LGBT legislation just to get the bill on the floor. And if the Democrats win the majority, Republican votes will still be necessary for a bill to pass.
Senate hopeful Chromczak described the recent GOP developments as “a huge step in politics for New York City and State and a beautiful thing for the gay community.”
Chromczak faces Dan Squadron in the 25th District, home of the World Trade Center site.
Log Cabin is raising $15,000 for Assembly races and $60,000 for the Senate. Funds go to re-electing senators Elizabeth Little, Kenneth LaValle, Andrew Lanza, John Flanagan (who attended the Log Cabin event) and Thomas Morahan.
Support in the other chamber goes to Assembly members Teresa Sayward, Dede Scozzafava and Joel Miller. All three voted for marriage equality last June (so did Mike Spano, but he has since crossed the aisle). Log Cabin also honored and supports Janet Duprey, who now backs gay marriage.
Sayward described her marriage vote as “very Republican and conservative. We believe that to every extent possible, government should stay out of people’s lives and let them live in quiet dignity.
“When I voted that evening,” Sayward recounted, “I was told by a Republican colleague that I would never be elected again. And I stand here to tell you I’m running unopposed.”
Scozzafava and Duprey also run unopposed, and like Sayward, they’re from conservative northern districts.
And despite Miller’s vocal support for the LGBT community, the issues don’t play a part in his race. “My competition isn’t based on philosophy,” he said. “It’s based on money.”
All three GOP members who voted for marriage received unsolicited funds from across the country, from both individuals and groups such as the Gill Action Fund. “It’s a significant amount,” Sayward said. “About a quarter of the money in my account came from out of state.”
Scozzafava said this just proves that it’s becoming easier for people to break new ground, even in conservative territory.
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