2020 New York State
LGBTQI Virtual Day of Action

Advancing Equality & Justice for LGBTQI New Yorkers and their Families on Thursday, May 7, 2020

LGBTQI Virtual Day of Action is your chance to join dozens of organizations and hundreds of individuals from across the state to advocate for policy that impact improves the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Questioning, Intersex  (LGBTQI) New Yorkers and their families.

What We Are Fighting For

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As a strong coalition of advocates and organizations, we are committed to advancing equality and justice for LGBTQI New Yorkers and their families. We recognize the importance of a comprehensive platform that demonstrates the breadth of the LGBTQI community.

We acknowledge the LGBTQI communities of New York are diverse in many ways and there is no single agenda that can entirely represent our entire community.  This year, our policy prirorites will include:

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  • Loitering AKA “Walking While Trans” (A00654 Paulin/ S02253 Hoylman)

  • Transgender Prisons & Jails Protection Bill (A05257 Rozic / S04702 Sepúlveda)
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  • Comprehensive Sexuality Education (A6512 (Nolan/ Gottfried)/S4844 (Metzger/ Montgomery)
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  • LGBT Long-Term Care Facility Residents’ Bill of Rights (A866 Simotas/S2912A Hoylman)

To learn more about our policy priorities above, vist our legislative education page here. 

What to Expect

LGBTQI Virtual Advocacy Day is an exciting day of educational webinars, online panels, calls with elected officals, virtual networking, and so much more. You will have the opportunity to  meet LGBTQI activists from around the state and band together to advocate for policies that will lead to a more equitable New York for all LGBTQI New Yorkers.

All communication will be done via zoom and/or phone. You can join us for the whole day or just the parts that interest you! Once you register, you will recieve email updates, links to all programming , and additional supporting documents via email. You can find a full schedule below:

SCHEDULE (Thursday, May 7, 2020 from 9:00AM-5:00PM)

9:00AM-9:50AM
Welcome, Review of Agenda, & Video Addresses from Elected Officials

The 2020 LGBTQI Virtual Advocacy Day will start with a welcoming address from our planning committee which will include an overview of the agenda and introductions and speeches from some of our New York State elected officials Join some of New York State's most powerful politicians as they share how LGBTQI organizing is important to them. 

Special Speakers:

Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul
Senator Brad Hoylman 
Assemblymember Richard Gottfried
Assemblymember Felix Ortiz
Assemblymember Harry Bronson 

10:00AM-10:50AM
Repealing the Discriminatory Policy: Loitering “Walking While Trans”

The Loitering “Walking While Trans” (A654 Paulin/S2253 Hoylman) bill allows police officers to arrest a person for allegedly loitering “for the purpose of prostitution.” This practice is unconstitutional broad and has led to police profiling, particularly affecting black and brown Transgender women. Advocates will discuss how the lack of protection directly impacts the community and what we can do to ensure we pass this legislation. 

11:00AM-11:50AM

  • Punishment Beyond the Crime: Trans Treatment in Prisons & Jails

    The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) which was passed in 2019, does not provide the same protections to TGNC/NB people who are currently in a jail or prison. The Transgender Jail/Protection bill was created to protect those that aren't covered through GENDA. Advocates will discuss how the lack of protection directly impacts the community and what we can do to ensure we pass this legislation.

  • Why Comprehensive Sex Ed Matters for LGBTQI Youth

    New York State has yet to pass a Comprehensive Sexuality Education standard. Without it we are leaving out critical knowledge that can have a huge impact on youth. The information can also help decrease sexual orientation and gender identify stigma, leading to healthier and happier youth. Advocates will discuss how this directly impacts the community and what we can do to ensure we pass this legislation. 

12:00PM-12:50AM
Virtual Networking Lunch via Zoom 

A big part of our annual advocacy day's is networking! People come from all over New York State to connect and build relationships with like minded people. We will not leave that important component out just because we are virtual this year. Participants will sign up and be randomly put into small groups (10 people or under). These "lunch rooms" will give people a chance to make new connections and build your advocacy network! 

1:00PM-1:50PM
Calls w/ Elected Officials

One of our main intended outcomes for virtual advocacy day, is to influence elected officials. We spend time telling our personal stories, giving facts and using other tactics to get them to support our sponsored legislation. Individuals will be matched in small groups to speak with an elected official about one to two bills on our platform and ask for their support.

2:00PM-2:50PM
LGBT Long-Term Care Facility Residents’ Bill of Rights Panel

The LGBT Long-Term Care Facility Residents' Bill of Rights will bring together advocates to talk about including the LGBTQI aging population in this important key legislation. This bill will ensure additional protections to those who identify as LGBTQI.

3:00PM-3:50PM
Youth Leaders in Action: A Panel on Impacting LGBTQI Policy

Young people play a critical role in gaining rights and improving systems for all LGBTQI members. Join a group of young people as they share their own personal journey in becoming an advocate for both their peers and others. 

4:00PM-4:30PM
Closing Remarks & Next Steps

We will end the day with a couple special guests and share the launch of our ongoing monthly educational series. 

Special Speakers:

U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand
Assemblymember Deborah Glick
Assemblymember Danny O'Donnell

Register Here for Advocacy Day!

Sponsors

Equality New York  is committed to building a community of power for Transgender, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, and Intersex New Yorkers. LGBTQI Virtual Day of Action is a community effort and brings together organizations from across the state to work together for all LGBTQI New Yorkers.

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Organizational Partners

Translatinx Network

Association of Legal Aid Attorneys

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Cente

NY Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)

Beyond Bold And Brave/Black Lesbian Confernece

Equality New York

Gays Against Guns

Gender Equality New York

GLSEN (NYCR-GLSEN)

GLSEN Hudson Valley

Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club

Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn

Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens

LGBT Bar of Greater New York

The LOFT LGBT Community Center 

Princess Janae Place

Queeramisu

Stonewall Democrats of NYC

Princess Janae Place

NYC Pride & Power

Albany Damien Center

Harlem Pride 

Transgender Legal Defense & Educational Fund

These are the principles that guide our work together:

  • We acknowledge the LGBTQI communities of New York are diverse in many ways and there is no single agenda that can entirely represent all LGBTQI New Yorkers;

  • We aim to have a thoughtfully diverse, equitable and inclusionary coalition  that works to implement mechanisms by which those who choose to be involved can gain access and inform our decisions and priorities;

  • Achieving full protections for our trans communities is a high priority in a state where most other legal protections are provided;

  • The challenges of the LGBTQI community are at the intersection of multiple identities: racism, classism, sexism, economic issues and many more are central to supporting LGBTQI people;

  • We  support each others organizations and efforts, recognizing  partnerships are valuable, as we work towards building a powerful voice for LGBTQI people and organizations throughout the state;

  • New York is a large state with different lived experiences in different areas of the state. An LGBTQI state coalition must represent all of these areas, being intentional not to over-represent the New York City region.