Happy Pride!

As we mark 50 years since the revolt at Stonewall, we couldn’t be more grateful for all of those New Yorkers who stood up and made history, and all who continue to band together and stand up for justice today.

At the heart of all of the festivities this weekend is the fight for equality and justice, so as you march and celebrate here’s where we are today in New York. The New York legislature’s session ended last Friday – and what a session it was!  Thanks to your voices and support, we saw amazing progress on issues that are important New York’s LGBTQI community. 

In addition to progressive reforms like new rent control laws, protections for abortion rights, driver’s licenses for undocumented people, an end to cash bail for most charges, sweeping protections of the right to vote, protections for farm workers, and a package of legislation addressing climate change, our elected officials passed a record number of LGBTQI specific bills including:

• GENDA– our non-discrimination law was expanded to protect trans and gender non-forming New Yorkers in vital areas such as employment, housing, and public accommodations
• Conversion therapy – the harmful practice of “conversion” therapy has been outlawed
• Gay and trans “panic” defense – no longer will criminal defendants be able to argue that their victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity excuses their violent acts
• Second–parent adoption – married same-sex couples will continue to be able to protect the rights of a non-bio parent with a second-parent adoption
• Restoration of Honor Act – veterans who were discharged because of their sexual orientation or gender identity will be eligible for state programs, services, and benefits they were previously denied
• Homeless LGBTQI youth – all employees of programs and organizations providing care to runaway and/or homeless youth will be required to complete training providing instruction in issues pertaining to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth

Unfortunately, the legislature did not address marijuana legalization and regulation (although decriminalization was expanded and convictions will be expunged), or solitary confinement.  On our LGBTQI agenda, we continue to work with our allies to:

• Legalize gestational surrogacy and modernize family law to address sperm, egg, and embryo donation, and provide alternatives to second-parent adoption
• Decriminalize sex work
• End the “walking while trans” ban (A00654/S02253), which allows police to interpret lawful behavior such as “repeatedly” waving at a person in a vehicle, wearing a mini skirt, or talking to people in the streets as cause to arrest for loitering for the purpose of prostitution

We were not able to bring everything over the finish line this year but your voices were heard. These major pieces of legislation were part of the conversation in Albany and the subject of extensive negotiations and discussions. We will make sure they remain part of the conversation next year.  From now until the next session starts in January, we will be educating law makers and working to build consensus.

Fifty years after Stonewall we are heartened that all of our success is the collective success of over 40 organizations across the state, individual activists, elected officials and others in government. This year’s “wins” belong to all of us and we owe a great deal of gratitude to every person and organization that committed time, money, expertise, and leadership to the issues that make New York worthy of the legacy of Stonewall.

We could not have done this without your support. You came to Albany to meet with your elected officials. You called and emailed your senators and assembly members. Most importantly, you worked to elect a fair-minded legislature that would address the concerns of our community after too many years of stalemate and inaction.