Stonewall Democrats of Western New York held our yearly elections for officers this Tuesday, January 26, 2010. The officers for the coming year, elected unanimously, are as follows:

Bryan Ball, President

Kitty Lambert, Vice President for Community Outreach

Bruce Kogan, Vice President for Party Affairs

Thomas Peglowski, Secretary

Ron Groth, Treasurer

We are looking forward to a productive year working on the many challenges ahead faced by our community!

At 7:30PM

*PLEASE NOTE THE HALF HOUR DELAY AND TIME CHANGE*

El Museo

91 Allen Street

Buffalo, NY 14202

Business will include election of officers and discussion of goals for the coming year.

 Stonewall Democrats of Western New York recently sent a letter of concern to Darius Pridgen, a candidate for the vacant Ellicott District council seat in the City of Buffalo, and now the candidate recommended by the Erie County Democratic Committee (determined by a vote of committee members.)  Our letter expressed the concerns of many in our community, asking the candidate about his positions on the issues important to us, and to explain how he would legislate from a position of true fairness and equality, and not let any religious views he may have negatively effect his legislating, in light of the fact that he is a religious pastor who has made comments in the past many in our community find troubling. Copies of the letter were also sent to each council member, as well as The Buffalo News.

 Mr. Pridgen has yet to respond. The letter follows in its entirety below:

 Stonewall Democrats of Western New York

PO Box 857 

Buffalo, NY 14205

 January 4, 2010

Darius Pridgen

Subject: Your Candidacy for Ellicott District Councilmember

Dear Mr. Pridgen: 

We are a group of concerned citizens from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Our mission is to promote, advocate and fight for equality within all levels of government for the LGBT community. As you know, the Ellicott District is home to a large segment of our community. To our knowledge, your campaign for the Ellicott District Councilmember appointment has not addressed the important issues which are specific to the LGBT community in Ellicott and across the City of Buffalo. We write you today to find out your stances on LGBT issues, as well as address past comments you have made in the media which are offensive and troubling to the LGBT community. We respectfully ask that you respond by the end of this week, on Friday, January 8, 2010.

Our questions, which will accurately gauge the ability of the next Ellicott Councilmember to competently serve all the citizens within his or her district, are the following:

1.) Being that the institution of marriage is still segregated by the state of New York based on sexual orientation, will you support and promote a domestic partner registry to benefit LGBT couples in gaining recognition and protection for their families and relationships in the City of Buffalo?

2.) Would you support and promote a resolution establishing a committee of LGBT citizens which will regularly meet with a committee of law enforcement officers, including the Police Commissioner, to discuss and cooperatively seek resolution to issues and problems facing the LGBT community, including but not limited to discrimination, harassment, hate crime and sensitivity training for police officers?

And lastly, how will you, as the Councilmember representing the Ellicott District, be a just representative of all the citizens in the district you seek to represent, especially the LGBT community? Apart from the issues mentioned in this letter, what issues are important to our community, and how will you serve us as our democratically appointed and elected representative? There are deep concerns within our community that your position as a religious leader conflicts with being able to accurately represent all the citizens within our district.  Ellicott, as it now stands, is an incredibly diverse district, and should have that diversity   represented, celebrated and respected in the office of the Common Council.

Therefore, we are concerned with remarks you have made which are offensive to the LGBT community. The remarks, quoted from an Ethics Newsweekly Viewer's Guide (2003) magazine article, condemn homosexual persons. These remarks, made during a discussion of the disease HIV/AIDS, are as follows:

  “But despite the fact that Pridgen is taking on the AIDS issue directly, he separates support for AIDS patients and the need for prevention from accepting what he cannot condone. He condemns homosexuality and non-marital sex in unambiguous terms. ‘You have to call sin sin, but HIV/AIDS is not the sin, it's the disease,’ he says. ‘Until you separate the sin from the disease, people are not going to get tested.’”

With all due respect, these beliefs, that homosexual persons are living an immoral life, may be in line with the teachings and preaching of some organized religions, such as the organization for which you are a pastor. The right for anyone to hold and express these—or any other— beliefs should never be infringed upon or not respected in this country. In America, we have freedom of religious expression, freedom of speech and a just separation of the church and the state. However, it is nevertheless a problematic situation when a person holds these beliefs, which infringe and cast judgment upon the lives of other citizens, and enters the world of government and public office. The office of a District Councilmember should represent, respect and celebrate the views and lives of all persons and communities within a district; whether that be a family who believes in the preaching of your church or a gay family making a life within the district. These remarks are ones which any citizen of this country would be entitled to making and holding, regardless of who they may or may not offend or unjustly condemn. But were these remarks to be those of a public servant, the offense would be entirely unjustified as these words, coming from an appointed or elected representative, cast judgment and condemn, from a religious standpoint, members of the community which the representative serves. No citizen of the City of Buffalo, or anywhere else, deserves that disrespect from her or his democratically representative government leadership. How do you reconcile remarks such as these with your campaign to become the next Ellicott Councilmember? As Councilmember, how would you work to separate any religious beliefs you may have which would infringe upon the equality and rights of others from your legislative position in government?  

In conclusion, we greatly appreciate your response to our questions and concerns. As a group of LGBT people, many living in the Ellicott District, these issues are of the utmost importance to our citizens and families. These concerns of religion subjectively influencing government and public policy are especially troubling given the recent political climate, which continues to segregate certain civil rights and protections based on sexual orientation. We thank you for your time, and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

 Bryan Ball

 STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF WESTERN NEW YORK

CC:

Councilmember Richard Fontana

Councilmember David Franczyk

Councilmember Joseph Golombek, Jr.

Councilmember Michael Kearns

Councilmember Michael J. LoCurto

Councilmember David Rivera

Councilmember Bonnie E. Russell

Councilmember Demone A. Smith

Brian Meyer

 The article of concern, in its entirety.

Stonewall Democrats of WNY commends Governor Paterson for signing an executive order today that includes transgender people in state agencies’ antidiscrimination policies. The order will prohibit New York State agencies from discriminating against individual on the basis of gender identity and expression, in “any matter pertaining to employment by the State.” Only thirteen states and over ninety municipalities and counties prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender. Read more about the executive order on Governor Paterson’s campaign website here.

Stonewall Democrats of WNY Holiday Party

Our holiday party will not be taking place tomorrow, December 17, 2009, as was decided at our last meeting. We do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Our holiday party this year will be:

Tuesday, December 29^th

At Sugar City

19 Wadsworth Street

Buffalo, NY 14201

Time: To be announced very shortly, as soon as it is set for certain.

As a reminder, we do not have a regular meeting for the month of December. Our next meeting will be in January, on Tuesday the 26^th, at 7PM at El Museo (91 Allen Street, Buffalo.)

Rally at Bidwell Today (12/5)

Outspoken for Equality (www.OUTspokenForEquality.org) is organizing a rally today in response to the New York State Senate’s failure to pass Marriage Equality this week. From Outspoken for Equality:

“Send this to everyone you know through every means possible!

Rally in Bidwell Park (Elmwood ave and Bidwell Parkway)

3 Pm Saturday

December 5th

Rain, shine or snow!

Bring Signs banners and attitude

Western New York isn't scared of weather, but the Senate should be scared of Western New York.

Bring your mom, dad, grandkids, everyone you love and even those you dont like or know very well.

Call if you have questions. (716-578-3782)”

 Today, the Marriage Equality bill, S.66003, failed in the New York State Senate, by a vote of 24 to 38. No Republican supported the bill, and eight Democrats voted against equality and justice for their constituents.

Senator Antoine Thompson was the only member of the Western New York delegation to support the effort and vote in favor.

The other Democrat in our WNY delegation, William Stachowski, voted against the bill.

Click here for a link to the complete roll call tally of the vote.

And here for the names and districts of all eight Democrats who voted against marriage. 

Contact your NYS Senator.

Meeting Reminder, Officer Nominations and The 11^th International Transgender Day of Remembrance

Meeting Reminder:

Our next meeting is next Tuesday, November 24.

7PM

El Museo Gallery

91 Allen Street

Buffalo, NY

As a reminder, the Nominating Committee for next year’s officers would like any nominations by/at our November meeting. Please contact Cory Promowicz ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ), Kendra Korst, Melissa Breckenridge ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or Tom Gleed ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) with nominations and for further information.

From Spectrum WNY…

11th INTERNATIONAL TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 7 p.m.

Church of the Ascension
16 Linwood Avenue (corner of North Street)
Buffalo, NY

Join us for an evening to reflect on our shared humanity and carry on the
light of those who have suffered from anti-transgender hatred and
violence.

Stand with us as we honor our families and pledge to love and protect each
other.

This event will feature speakers from our local LGBT community, religious
leaders from open and affirming congregations, musical performances, and a
candlelight vigil. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact outspokenforequalit y@hotmail. com or
(716)578-3782

As I am sure you know, Governor Paterson has put the Marriage Equality bill on the State Senate’s agenda for today, November 10. During his address to the state legislature yesterday, the Governor reiterated his support for equality by saying that “Because justice delayed is justice denied, I am asking both sides of the aisle to take up marriage equality this week.”

Contact your State Senator and express your support for being on the right side of history with their support and vote for the Marriage Equality bill in bringing it to a floor vote today. In Western New York, Sen. Bill Stachowski is our top target—a Democrat who does not support equal marriage. Call his office locally: 716-826-3344 or in Albany: 518-466-2426. Also, our area is proud to have Senator Antoine Thompson as a supporter of marriage equality. You may call his office and reiterate your support and thank him locally at: 716-854-8705 or in Albany at 518-455-3371.

Other WNY Senators:

Sen. Volker (R): 716-656-8544

Sen. Ranzenhoffer (R): 716-631-8695

Sen. Maziarz (R): 716-731-8740  

Sen. Young (R): 716-372-4901

Don’t know who your NYS Senator is?

Go to www.nysenate.gov/

And go to the box which reads: Find My Senator and enter your street address and zip code.

Election Day is here! Remember to vote for all of our outstanding pro-equality endorsed candidates.

This year's general election slate of endorsed candidates is as follows: 

Erie County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz for Reelection

Captain John Glascott for Erie County Sheriff

Alice Kryzan for Amherst Town Supervisor

Legislator Lynn Marinelli for Reelection in the 11th Legislative District of Erie County

Legislator Maria Whyte for Reelection in the 6th Legislative District of Erie County

Jamestown City Council President Greg Rabb for Reelection 

Note: For offices such as the City of Buffalo Mayor and Erie County Legislature 8th District, SDWNY made endorsements to primary candidates who were not successful. SDWNY was unable to endorse the winners, Mayor Byron Brown and Legislator Tom Mazur, as neither replied to the group for a request for endorsement.

Tomorrow night, Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 5:30PM, the Buffalo Common Council will hold a Public Hearing on Councilmembers David Rivera and Mike LoCurto's proposed Domestic Partner Benefits resolution. If passed, the Rivera/LoCurto resolution would make DPB available to all City employees as well as create a citywide Domestic Partner registry. 

Currently, one third of City employees have Domestic Partner Benefits. estimated the costs of a DPB program, based on the current enrollment of eligible City employees, are nominal.

It's time to join municipalities like Rochester, Syracuse, and New York City, as well as hundreds of private companies, and offer City of Buffalo employees Domestic Partner Benefits. Please join us at tomorrow's public hearing, if you are able to do so and voice your support.

Public Hearing - Domestic Partner Benefits

Tuesday 10/20/09 at 5:30PM

Common Council Chambers - 13th Floor, City Hall

As a reminder to us all, The National Equality March will take place this weekend. The March is the movement for a march on full equality started by Cleve Jones (longtime activist and creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt) earlier this year. We wish our fellow Western New Yorkers who are going to Washington to participate in the march a safe trip and the best of luck.

Watch CNN’s Anderson Cooper interview Cleve Jones here.

Erie County Legislature 8th District:

SDWNY would like to congratulate our endorsed candidate Lynn Dearmyer in her primary challenge of Legislator Tom Mazur. Unfortunately, Lynn did not win, but ran a very close, hard fought race which was not determined, officially, until very recently. Lynn lost by 254 votes.  

City of Buffalo Mayor:

It was decided at our last meeting that the club will send a letter of congratulations to Mayor Byron Brown on his primary win, which will state SDWNY’s willingness to work with him in the future and explain why we cannot officially support the Mayor, due to his lack of support for our issues.

Meeting Reminder

Just a reminder, our next Stonewall meeting is:

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

7PM

El Museo Gallery

91 Allen Street

Buffalo, NY

Business on the agenda includes the results of the primary, hate speech on PoliticsNY.net and consideration for endorsement of Jamestown City Council President Greg Rabb.

Stonewall Democrats of Western New York invites you to attend our

2009 Endorsed Candidate Meet and Greet Reception and Wine Tasting

Tuesday, September 1, 2009, at the City Wine Merchant

715 Main Street

Buffalo, NY 14203

From 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

$10/person (includes wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and dessert, provided by Quaker Bonnet Eatery and Sweet Tooth, respectively)

For more information, please contact Bryan Ball at 716-541-5557

Stonewall Democrats of Western NY 2009 Endorsed Candidates

City of Buffalo Mayor: Michael “Mickey” Kearns

Amherst Town Supervisor: Alice Kryzan

Erie County Comptroller: Comptroller Mark Poloncarz

Erie County Sheriff: Captain John Glascott

Erie County Legislature:

District 6: Legislator Maria Whyte

District 11: Legislator Lynn Marinelli

District 8: Lynn Dearmyer

Kearns for Mayor Fundraiser

Date: Today, Friday, July 31 2009

Time: 6:00PM- 8:00PM

Location: Hoppers Rush Inn

Street: 2104 Seneca Street

City/Town: Buffalo, NY

Show your support for Michael P. Kearns on Friday, July 31, 2009 at Hoppers Rush Inn 2104 Seneca Street.

Beer, pop, and snacks will be served starting at 6pm.

$20.00/person

For questions please call 716.400.05610 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Lynn Dearmyer: Candidate for the Erie County Legislature 8^th District

If you would like to help out with the Dearmyer campaign, to elect this pro-equality, pro-reform Democrat, the campaign is looking for volunteers. If you would like to help, please respond to this email or visit http://www.lynndearmyer.com/

Alice for Amherst Fundraiser

Come Join Us!

Support the Endorsed Democratic and Working Families Party Candidate

Elect Alice Kryzan Town Supervisor

“Fresh Energy and New Ideas”

www.aliceforamherst.com

Who: Friends of Alice Kryzan

What: Fundraiser

When: Thursday, August 13. 2009

6:00- 8:00PM

Where: Amherst Democratic Headquarters

3364 Sheridan Drive

Amherst, NY

(In the Sheridan-Sweet Home Plaza)

$40 Per Person

Contribute by check payable to:

Friends of Alice Kryzan

6225 Sheridan Drive, Suite 206

Amherst, NY 14221

Erie County Legislature

11^th District: Legislator Lynn Marinelli (Questionnaire)

8^th District: Lynn Dearmyer (Questionnaire) (Candidate Website) 

Erie County Sheriff:John Glascott (Questionnaire available soon)(Candidate Website) 

City of Buffalo Mayor:Michael “Mickey” Kearns (Questionnaire) (Candidate Website) 

Questionnaires were sent out to all candidates for the Erie County Legislature.

8^th District Legislator Tom Mazur did not respond.

Questionnaires were also sent to both Democratic City of Buffalo Mayoral candidates. Mayor Byron Brown did not respond.

The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at 6PM at El Museo, 91 Allen Street.  The agenda will include endorsements for more Erie County Legislature seats, City of Buffalo Mayor and Erie County Sheriff.

Questionnaires:

Erie County Legislature

Mayor of Buffalo

Erie County Legislature – District 6:

Legislator Maria Whyte

Questionnaires were sent to all of our Erie County Legislators. Legislator Lynn Marinelli also responded, and will be interviewed at the July meeting.

SDWNY President Bruce Kogan has written a letter to Governor David Paterson, regarding the possibility—now reality—of his calling a special session for the State Senate in the upcoming week.  In the letter, SDWNY calls upon the Governor to include our pending GLBT-based legislation in the special session. “We need it because we at Stonewall Democrats of Western New York, speaking for our community, need you in our corner again.” Kogan said. “Senate bills 4901, the same gender marriage act, 2406 the Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act and 1887A, the Dignity For All Students Act are pending.  They've been pending in some cases for over a decade and were deliberately never even brought to a vote while the Republicans controlled the Senate with an iron grip.”

You may call Governor Paterson’s office at 518-474-8390. Or email his office here.

Complete text of the letter below.

June 19, 2009

Hon. David Paterson

Governor of the State of New York

State Capitol

Albany, New York 12224

Dear Governor Paterson:

As President of the Stonewall Democrats of Western New York I am writing to you because of the leadership stand you have taken in calling for a special session of the State Senate, in case the Senators who have made our state a laughing stock can't work out for themselves who will lead.

I am well aware of your commitment to the issues that affect the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Community.  Before I moved to Buffalo I worked 23 years for the New York State Crime Victims Board.  I was the only openly gay investigator that ever worked for that agency and I did hundreds of claims involving my GLBT brothers and sisters.  You and I met at community rallies on behalf of gay-bashing incidents on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in 1988 involving the attacks on Barry Finnegan and David Frank, and also in 1993, during a rally involving a gay-bashing incident involving Michael Zappalorti in Staten Island.  I appreciate the commitment you have always given us.

We need it because we at Stonewall Democrats of Western New York, speaking for our community, need you in our corner again. Senate bills 4901, the same gender marriage act, 2406 the Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act, and 1887A, the Dignity For All Students Act are pending.  They've been pending in some cases for over a decade and were deliberately never even brought to a vote while the Republicans controlled the Senate with an iron grip.

Our committed relationships need the force of law behind them, the transgendered component of the community needs to be added as a protected group to the State

Human Rights Law, and our GLBT children should also have the force of state law at their backs as they go through bullying and harassment, as I did as a child and adolescent. 

I know that there is other pressing business for the state to deal with, but this community has waited way too long for justice and equality under the law.   These bills must be on any agenda that you give the State Senate for the sake of justice and equality in New York.

Very Truly Yours,

Bruce Kogan

President, Stonewall Democrats of WNY  

Reminder:

 Our next meeting is next Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at El Museo (91 Allen St., Buffalo.) The meeting will begin an hour than earlier than normal, at 6PM, to accommodate our interviews for Erie County Legislature endorsements. Hope to see you there!

Questionnaires: click here

Stonewall Democrats of Western New York condemns the actions of renegade Senators Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserrate and their decision to side with the Republicans and remove the Democratic Majority from power in the Senate, and Senator Malcolm Smith as Majority Leader.

These cowardly and egotistical actions, of course, are the most heartbreaking as they place the future of Marriage Equality in New York out of our reach—for now. For far too long, politicians who put the prejudices of the many over the civil rights of the few have played games with the lives of so many across our great state and nation. This, sadly, is one of those difficult times.

However, we should never let adversity such as this dissuade us from our goal. We will regroup. We will do what is needed to achieve equality here in New York. If that means retaking the Senate in next year’s election—we will. If that means taking this fight to the ground in Sen. Espada and Monserrate’s districts—we will.

Remember, this Sunday, June 7, 1PM is the Buffalo Pride Parade!

Come March with us and / or visit our table at Bidwell afterwards!

We will gather for a 1PM step off at 1195 Main Street (note new location for gathering), in front of the Belmont Shelter Corporation. The Pride Parade will end at Bidwell Parkway, as usual, with the marketplace and Pride Celebration. If you would like to help volunteer at our table, please email Bryan ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and let us know!

May Meeting Endorsements:

 Erie County Comptroller: Mark Poloncarz

Amherst Town Supervisor: Alice Kryzan

(Read their endorsement questionnaires here)

 
Candidate Websites:

Mark Poloncarz Erie County Comptroller

The May meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 7PM at El Museo, 91 Allen Street.  The agenda will include candidate interviews for:

• Countywide Offices: County Comptroller and Sheriff
• Amherst Supervisor

For questionnaires, go here .