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 .

SDWNY President Bruce Kogan’s Buffalo News Letter to the Editor

“I would like to comment on the Another Voice column regarding not rushing the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” While the writer is correct that there is no legitimate reason for the policy in noncombat positions, he makes the false assumption that the notion does not transfer to positions in combat. For if equality is not everything, as the writer suggests, then it would mean that all men and women are not equal, most assuredly lesbians and gay men.

The sentiment that national security would be compromised if gays and lesbians were openly allowed to serve is offensive. It suggests that gay Americans are inefficient for military duty, due to the alleged affects it would have on their straight counterparts, who would be so unable to deal with open gay people that it would render them unable to perform their duties. This is an insult to American heroes like Sgt. Leonard Matlovich and the countless gay people who have honorably and successfully served and are serving right now, albeit in silence.

With the establishment of equal marriage in states across the country, there will be less and less reason for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell to exist. It cannot be repealed soon enough.

Bruce Kogan

President, Stonewall Democrats of Western New York”

http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/everybodyscolumn/story/660288.html