Jose Peralta For New York Senate

Jose Peralta a progressive democrat is running for New York state senate against anti-gay incumbent Hiram Monserrate. Fight Back New York an advocacy group committed to ousting all the senators who voted against marriage equality is urging all in the 13th district of Queens (Jackson Heights, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst and Woodside) to vote in the special election tomorrow on March 16th.

Monserrate was convicted of domestic violence for slashing his girlfriend in the face and was consequently expelled from the Senate. Anti-gay right-wingers are supporting him for his efforts to deny marriage equality to same-sex couples.



Jose Peralta has an LGBT rights voting record, voting three times for marriage equality! Please learn more, donate, and campaign for Peralta.

*Image courtesy of Manhattan Young Democrats.

New Yorker's Call Senate for GENDA

Today the New York LGBT advocacy organization Empire State Pride Agenda is urging New Yorkers to demand the senate vote on the Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act (GENDA). The bill if passed will outlaw discrimination based on gender identity and expression. GENDA has already been passed in the Assembly and now needs to be voted on by the Senate.

-Due to difficulty with job discrimination, one-fifth of transgender New Yorkers have incomes below $10,000 a year.

-28% of transgender New Yorkers have experienced a serious physical or sexual assault motivated by hate.

GENDA has widespread support, 78% of New York voters, Unions representing 2.1 million working New Yorkers, 30 Fortune 500 companies based in cities like Rochester, Corning, New York City and White Plains, and 547 clergy and lay leaders representing over 20 different denominations.

Please call your state senator and urge them to bring (S.2406/Duane) The Gender Expression Non Discrimination Act to the floor and to vote in the affirmative.

Fight Back New York PAC Aims to Defeat Anti-Marriage Senators

A new political PAC called Fight Back New York has set up shop. The group aims to strategically replace anti-equality NY senators who voted against same-sex marriage with pro-LGBT senators. The group is non partisan and will be targeting both democrats and republicans who voted against marriage.

Sign up, donate, and tell friends to participate with Fight Back New York.

Weekend Protests Directed at Anti-Marriage Equality NY Senators

Marriage Equality New York is organizing several protests against senators who voted against equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. The protests follow a recent vote by the New York State Senate where same-sex marriage failed by a 38-24 margin.

The protests are scheduled throughout the weekend. Activists are responding by supporting opposition (pro-equality) candidates for the upcoming 2010 election.

MENY Protests are against Senators Hiram Monserrate, Carl Kruger, George Onorato, and Thomas Morahan.

New York Marriage Inequality Protest Tonight!

After marriage equality suffered a 24-38 loss in the NY state senate, advocates are now protesting the outcome and demanding full equality for all residents.

Tonight marks the second rally in response to the vote and is organized by Marriage Equality New York. NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn is also expected to be among the crowd. Signs and noise-makers are highly encouraged.

Thursday, December 3, 2009
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Union Square - North End (17th Street)
17th Street & Broadway
New York, NY

New York to Consider Same-Sex Marriage Today

The New York senate via the direction of Governor David Patterson will hear the same-sex marriage bill today at 3pm. The bill was supposed to be heard yesterday but the republicans did not show up for a vote. Today both the Republicans and Democrats are promising to attend the session. With no majority control over the senate due to the 31-31 democrat and republican split, there is no telling if the bill will finally reach a vote or what the outcome may ultimately be.

Be sure to contact your state senator and tell them to support marriage equality.

Call your senator before 3 p.m. today via the senate switchboard at 518-455-2800

Tell NY Senate to Take Up Gay Marriage Vote!

Even in the midst of a power battle for for the New York senate between the Democrats and Republicans, Governor David Patterson has promised a vote before the legislative sessions ends. The governor can force discussion on the topic, but whether the bill comes to a vote is the decision of the senators themselves.

The senators below just want to vote on a tax bill and end the session without giving a fair chance for the marriage equality bill. It is essential to call them if you reside within their district.

Sen. Diane Savino (Staten Island, BK – Southwest): 518-455-2437
Sen. Daniel Squadron (Lower MH, BK – Northwest): 518-455-2625
Sen. Liz Krueger (Manhattan- UES): 518-455-2297
Sen. Eric Schneiderman (NW Manhattan): 518-455-2041
Sen. Jeff Klein ( Bronx, Lower Westchester): 518-455-3595

New Yorkers, be sure to email your state senator and let them know you demand a vote in the affirmative on marriage equality for same-sex couples, regardless of their previous stated position.

HRC has phone banks set up across New York State, email them now to help volunteer:

NYC: 111 W. 40th St. (@6th Ave.) 5th Floor from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. *Additional time can be provided if needed. To RSVP, please e-mail roryjomalley@gmail.com with your name, cell phone number and availability. Note: To clear security, all volunteers need valid ID and to be on the RSVP list.

Rochester: e-mail Jeremy at jpmull@gmail.com or call 617-669-4412

Syracuse: e-mail David at HRCSyracuse@gmail.comor call 301-651-8518

Westchester: e-mail Brendan at nymon02@gmail.com or call 914-420-3596

New York Senators On The Fence or Opposed to Same-Sex Marriage

The New York State Senate is in limbo, with a 31-31 split, nobody knows which party is in control, and what legislation will make it before the session ends.

20 senators publicly stated their support for equal marriage, 32 are needed to pass the bill.

The following list of senators are either on the fence or opposed. If you are resident of their district please call, email, and write them and encourage friends and family to follow suit!

On the fence:

3. Brian X. Foley, D-Long Island (Blue Point)
4. Owen H. Johnson, R-Long Island (West Babylon)
6. Kemp Hannon, R-Long Island (Garden City)
13. Hiram Monserrate, D-NYC (Jackson Heights)
15. Joseph Addabbo, Jr., D-NYC (Ozone Park)
19. John Sampson, D-NYC (Brooklyn)
24. Andrew Lanza, R-NYC (Staten Island)
36. Ruth Hassell-Thompson, D-Bronx/Westchester (Williamsbridge)
38. Thomas Morahan, R-Rockland/Orange (Clarkstown)
40. Vincent Leibell, R-Westchester (Patterson)
42. John Bonacic, R-Delaware/Sullivan/Orange/Ulster Counties
43. Roy McDonald, R-Upstate (Wilton)
49. David Valesky, D-Upstate (Syracuse/Onondaga/Madison Counties)
55. James Alesi, R-Upstate (East Rochester)

Opposed:

1. Kenneth LaValle, R-Long Island (Port Jefferson)
2. John J. Flanagan, R-Long Island (East Northport)
5. Carl Marcellino, R-Long Island (Syosset)
8. Charles Fuschillo, R-Long Island (Merrick)
9. Dean Skelos, R-Long Island (Rockville Centre)
10. Shirley Huntley, D-NYC (Jamaica)
11. Frank Padavan, R-NYC (Bellerose)
12. George Onorato, D-NYC (Astoria)
22. Martin Golden, R-NYC (Bay Ridge)
27. Carl Kruger, D-NYC (Brooklyn)
32. Rubén Díaz, D-NYC (Soundview)
39. Bill Larkin, R-Westchester (New Windsor)
41. Stephen Saland, R-Westchester (Poughkeepsie)
44. Hugh Farley, R-Upstate (Schenectady)
45. Betty Little, R-Upstate (Queensbury)
47. Joseph Griffo, R-Upstate (Rome)
48. Darrel Aubertine, D-Upstate (Cape Vincent)
50. John DeFrancisco, R-Upstate (Syracuse/Onondaga Counties)
51. James Seward, R-Upstate (Milford)
52. Thomas W. Libous, R-Upstate (Binghamton)
53. George H. Winner, Jr., R-Upstate (Elmira)
54. Michael Nozzolio, R-Upstate (Fayette)
56. Joseph Robach, R-Upstate (Greece)
57. Catharine Young, R-Upstate (Olean)
58. William Stachowski, D-Upstate (Hamburg)
59. Dale Volker, R-Upstate (Depew)
61. Michael Ranzenhofer, R-Upstate (Clarence)
62. George Maziarz, R-Upstate (Newfane)

Use the New Yorkers for Marriage Equality form to identify your state senator and call them urging for their support.

Republican Leadership to Bring Gay Marriage to Vote in NY

In what has been a shocking turn of events in the New York state senate, two democrats defected from the democratic party to become republicans giving control of the senate back to the GOP. Former senate leader Malcolm Smith refused to bring the gay marriage bill to a vote until he was assured it had the votes necessary to pass.

The new senate President Dean Skelos wants to bring up the bill for a vote before the legislative session ends in 10 days. Pedro Espada Jr. one of the democrats who changed his party affiliation still maintains that he firmly supports marriage equality and wants to see the bill voted on swiftly.

If republicans are the ones to bring this bill to a vote and pass marriage equality this will signal an entirely new shift in politics.

Urge President Skelos to bring the bill for a vote before the session ends and to vote in favor of marriage equality!

E-contact form for President Dean Skelos

Albany Office
Room 907 LOB
Albany, NY 12247
Phone: (518) 455-3171

Take Action to Pass Marriage Bill in New York

The New York Civil Liberties Union has unveiled a project called Marriage NY that gives the tools necessary to battle for marriage equality.

There are only 14 days left in the legislative season, time is of the essence!

1. Goto the site, spread the word on twitter, and email friends and family.

2. Send a letter to your senator.

3. Look up and call your senators office.

4. Send a free fax to your senator ONLINE without a fax machine!

Join the phone bank for marriage fairness.

• Thursday, June 11
• Tuesday, June 16
• Thursday, June 18

Volunteer at Pride Events!

• Brooklyn: Saturday, June 13
• Long Island: Sunday, June 14
• Albany: Sunday, June 14
• Syracuse: Saturday, June 20
• Bronx: Saturday, June 20
• New York City: Sunday, June 28
• Rochester: Saturday, July 18-19
• Pride in the City (Black Pride): Aug 7 – 8

Contact Lead Organizer Erica Braudy to get involved!
ebraudy@nyclu.org | 212.607.3361

Support Marriage Fairness in New York

With just a few days left in the legislative season to take action, the New York Civil Liberties Union is urging residents of the state to contact senators to bring up the same-sex marriage bill for a vote.

NYCLU has a form for New York residents to urge the senate leader Malcolm Smith and individual senators that represent particular districts to take action.

New York Statewide GENDA Call-In Day

Today is New York statewide Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) S.2406 Call-In Day. The bill has passed the assembly and not awaits action by senate committee.

Take action to get S.2406 approved by the senate and signed into law.

Tell Senate sponsor Tom Duane - (518) 455-2451 to bring GENDA to a full senate vote. Then contact your state senator if you are resident of New York state to vote in favor of the legislation.

Take Action for Marriage Equality in New York

Governor David Patterson has announced the introduction of a marriage equality bill within New York state. A previous bill under governor Eliot Spitzer passed the state house but was not allowed to come up for a vote in the then republican controlled senate.

New York now needs to pass the bill again within the assembly and to garner enough votes to pass the bill within the senate. The governor will then sign the bill into law making New York the next state to have full marriage rights for same-sex couples.



Sign the Empire State Pride Agenda's E-contact Form to urge your representatives to go on record supporting marriage equality.

Prospects for Marriage Equality in New York on Thin Ice

CALL TO ACTION: Dec 1st, please take action on this issue!

In New York it boils down to marriage equality or a continuation of denying equal rights. Democrats now have a very slim majority in the senate which paves way for the opportunity to introduce a marriage bill which already passed the legislature, and which the governor is eager to sign into law.

The current obstacle is three socially conservative democrats who refuse to support a democratic majority leader who will put forth a same-sex marriage bill for a vote. These three senators will possibly even cross party lines and caucus with the republicans in order to ensure it doesn't happen.

It is uncertain how a vote on same-sex marriage would turn out, not all democrats support it, and not all republicans oppose it. 5-6 republican senators are likely to vote in favor of marriage equality.

Below are the three socially conservative democrats opposing same-sex marriage and a majority leader who will allow the bill to come to the floor for a vote:

Senator Carl Kruger
kruger@senate.state.ny.us

Office of State Senator Carl Kruger
2201 Avenue U
Brooklyn, NY 11229
Tel: (718) 743-8610

Senator Ruben Diaz
diaz@senate.state.ny.us

1733 East 172nd Street
Bronx, NY 10472
Tel: (718) 991-3161

-Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. - No contact info found

It is imperative that we contact these senators and urge them to vote along the New York Democratic Party platform which supports same-sex marriage. When calling please be sure to let them know as democrats it is their obligation to support Malcolm Smith for majority leader. The fate of marriage equality very well may lie in the hands of a few socially conservative democrats trying to impose their will on the majority.