Stonewall Democrats of Western New York  

Stonewall Democrats of Western New York are proud to announce our endorsement of Mike Amodeo for the New York State Senate. In the Democratic Primary for the 60th Senate District currently held by Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti, the choice before our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community-- and the Democratic Party-- could not be more clear. 

Mike Amodeo-- a young, progressive attorney-- is the forward-thinking candidate in this race, who has what it will take to realize the future of WNY and the Democratic Party. Mike’s opponent, former Erie County Legislator Chuck Swanick, could not be more of a contrast. Chuck Swanick emerged early on in this race as the choice of the Conservative Party, and an opponent of LGBTQ equality. Mr. Swanick has been endorsed by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), an anti-equality hate group, famously designated as such by the Southern Poverty Law Center-- and he has since received considerable campaign funding from NOM. 

“Mike Amodeo stands for the progress of our community, and I am proud to support him in this election to become our party’s nominee for State Senate,” said Bryan Ball, president of SDWNY. “Mike Amodeo understands the needs of the LGBTQ community, and will support the Marriage Equality Act and become a needed voice in the fight for the passage of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) in Albany. I am proud our Erie County Democratic Party has endorsed his candidacy, and opposes the hate of Chuck Swanick. Mr. Swanick and his supporters attempt to claim his position on Marriage Equality is irrelevant because Marriage Equality is now law. This could not be more wrong. While in his arrogance Mr. Swanick may try and cast the issue of marriage as resolved, the reality-- as I have told him to his face-- the LGBTQ community faces is that the struggle for our families to achieve full equality and civil protections under the law is far from over. Even with our victory here in NY, any same-gender marriage granted by our state remains invalid in the eyes of the federal government, and denies our families the vitally needed rights and protections of full legal and tax equality, Social Security and immigration. And in our state senate where a Republican senator recently began carrying a bill to repeal the Marriage Equality Act--a senator funded by the hate group NOM should have no place, and should never be supported by any part of our great Democratic Party. I am proud that our party is standing against the hateful values of Chuck Swanick, and for the of the people values of Mike Amodeo.”

SDWNY strongly encourages Stonewall Democrats and all pro-equality allies to do all we can to ensure Mike Amodeo is our party’s nominee for the general election. In every election, the candidate put forth by our great party should support the equal rights of all people he or she seeks to represent-- and in no other year or office is this more important than for the State Senate in 2012; especially when the incumbent Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti has set such a high standard for ensuring all women and men be treated equally under the law, with his vote in favor of Marriage Equality. 

At our endorsement meeting, many Stonewall members stressed the importance of being involved in this Democratic Primary. In no way, should any attempt be made by our community to allow anti-LGBT candidates support in Democratic primaries. The importance of considering all LGBTQ issues was also stressed-- considering a candidate's support of Marriage Equality equally as important as a candidate's support of transgender civil rights. 

I encourage all Stonewall Democrats to be involved in this primary, and stand for GENDA, for Marriage and for the values of the Democratic Party to elect Mike Amodeo. 

Now that designating petitions are beginning to be filed, this year's elections are becoming clear-- and, clearly, again this year there is so much to be won, and so much to be lost for the LGBTQ community at the ballot box. 

 Back in February, former Erie County Legislator Chuck Swanick made headlines when he announced his endorsement from the Erie County Conservative Party, and that he was once again a member of the Democratic Party. Having abandoned county Democrats to become a Republican in years prior, the new candidate Swanick also made headlines with the radically conservative positions his coming campaign would hold. In a Buffalo News article regarding the early endorsement, Swanick stated his opposition to Marriage Equality. While SDWNY works hard to educate Democratic candidates and beyond on the need to support equal rights for all people, this took many by surprise that because WNY appeared, at least in part, ready to take a step back on civil rights issues. Although we have several members of our delegation-- on both sides of the aisle-- who oppose equality, WNY has made headlines (again, from sides of the aisle), most recently with pro-equality Sen. Tim Kennedy's primary victory against an entrenched anti-equality incumbent, and subsequent general election win. 

 Only days after Swanick announced his Conservative endorsement, the Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) announced their endorsement of Chuck Swanick, and pledged to support his candidacy financially. 

 In no way, should this stand. The Democratic Party is the party of progress, and change. There is no room in our party for a candidate who actively promotes the segregation of civil rights and protections for American families. In the halls of Albany's legislature, in the days before the Marriage Equality Act was passed, I and other Stonewall Democrats were there, and endured the demonstrations and counter demonstrations put on by supporters and opponents. Members of NOM spat on us, tried to pray over us and told us we were not created equal. This is the true face of hate groups such as NOM, who exist to preach the word of hate-- the same word which so many LGBTQ youth hear, and are unable to overcome. By siding with NOM in such a direct way, the candidacy of Chuck Swanick is a threat to all families-- in WNY and beyond. Immediately, we took action, and I wrote to the NYS Senate Democratic Campaign Committee expressing the LGBTQ community's unconditional opposition to candidates such as Mr. Swanick. 

 When the Erie County Democratic Executive Committee, of which I am a non-voting member, met to interview candidates in this race, Mr. Swanick and I had a rather intense exchange. During this exchange, he would not commit to refusing the support-- financial or otherwise-- of NOM, and even at various points would not admit to positions he had taken in the earlier Buffalo News article. At one point during our exchange, when he would not answer my question of why, as a gay American, he believed I am not entitled to the same civil rights which he enjoys in his marriage with his wife, he pointed his finger at me, and said, "But you gave all that money to Mark Grisanti!" To which, I honestly replied, "I have not given any money to Mark Grisanti." Mr. Swanick then responded: "But YOU PEOPLE gave all that money to Mark Grisanti." 

 Needless to say, the way in which he referred to the LGBTQ community as "YOU PEOPLE" and the way in which Mr. Swanick treated myself and any mention of the LGBTQ community's equal rights, is troubling. What is also troubling is the prospect of any support Mr. Swanick might receive from any part of the Democratic Party. While the Erie County Democratic Committee has endorsed another candidate in the Democratic Party, local attorney Michael Amodeo, who is running on a pro-equality platform, a petition I started on Change.org, directed to the NYS Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, is still going strong. We recently reached 100 signatures, and I hope that you will take the time to sign, and ask your friends, family and community to, as well, to show the Senate Democrats that, under no circumstances, should the hate of candidates such as Mr. Swanick ever be supported by our party.  The NYS SDCC has done such great work for progress and change on behalf of all our true progressive values here in NYS, 

As a Stonewall Democrat, I am proud to stand against the brand of hate Mr. Swanick stands for, and I am proud of each fellow SDWNY member, ally and person who has stood up to be counted in solidarity with the equal rights of our community. As Stonewall Democrats, I invite everyone to be a part of this complicated election, and involved in the best ways we all can be for the betterment of our community's civil rights movement.  

Bryan Ball 

 

Dear Stonewall Democrat or Ally,

 2011 has been a year unlike no other. As this year draws to a close, it is so easy to look back and reflect upon the victories which were won, the history which we all had a hand in making. We passed Marriage Equality. We went to the White House. We repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed the United Nations in adamant advocacy of the Obama administration for the humanity and civil rights of LGBTQ people the world over. And in 2012, we will go on to do more. 

 I remember back in January, as we began another year of working for Marriage Equality in New York. The outlook was bleak. While we'd had huge victories like Sen. Tim Kennedy defeating his anti-equality opponents in both the Democratic Primary and General Elections, we lost supporters such as former Sen. Antoine Thompson to a candidate who ran for election opposing equal marriage rights. Our new governor was Andrew Cuomo, but our State Senate was in Republican hands. But none of that was going to deter us or stop us from lobbying and pushing for the legislation that would make equal our state's marriage contract laws. 

 Months later, in June, after countless car rides back and forth to Albany, multiple lobby bus trips with Buffalo contingents for the Empire State Pride Agenda and Marriage Equality New York lobby and education days, victory came.  After gathering literally thousands of letters in support of Marriage from Western New Yorkers and beyond (I remember one woman we stopped outside at the Lady Gaga concert earlier this year, who lived in West Virginia but wanted her sister to have marriage equality here in NY so badly she wrote a letter to her sister's Senator Patrick Gallivan); after Kitty Lambert, Cheryle Rudd, myself and other members endured hate group the National Organization for Marriage in the state legislature's halls as we counter-protested in the days leading up to the vote-- where we were literally cursed at, spat upon and harassed-- after months of waiting, a vote was held. In the Assembly, our champions like Sam Hoyt and Danny O' Donnell delivered a passed bill. In the Senate, a late night vote made Buffalo proud with Sen. Kennedy's vote as promised, and Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti changing his stance with his vote, and joining the ranks of the brave few in the Republican Party who will stand up to the party's discriminatory platforms-- and he stood up for New York families, voting for Marriage Equality. 

 A historic victory, winning Marriage Equality in New York was the work of so many generations of Stonewall Democrats and WNY LGBTQ civil rights advocates; so enormously well-deserved, far long overdue. Because of the work of each and every one of you, New Yorkers are now free to marry who they love. Sadly, our federal marriage laws remain in need of equality, with the Defense of Marriage Act remaining law. But the act of New York State legislating Marriage Equality, the most populous state yet to do so, we have won one of the most important battles we will along the road to full LGBTQ equality. I thank each and every one of you who helped, came to Albany or a district office to lobby with us, who wrote or signed a letter and all who-- most importantly-- made their voices heard. Without you, we would not have Marriage in New York. 

 Fresh off the victory in New York, I had the distinct honor of being invited to the White House for President Obama's LGBT Pride Month Celebration. To attend a national gathering of LGBT rights activists, with Kitty Lambert-Rudd, was an incredible thing. Because of the incredible work SDWNY and all our WNY civil rights activists had done, we were recognized and respected by the President who has done more for LGBTQ rights than any other. It was the experience of a life-time to take you all with us to  the White House and President Obama, in such a place of American history, and bring attention to LGBTQ rights issues and grassroots activism.  

  And September brought the desperately long-awaited repeal of the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy-- finally, allowing our best and bravest women and men who are lesbian and gay to serve their country the way America deserves: openly, honestly and with complete integrity. 

  Tragically, with these best of times came the worst. With September came another heartbreak of losing a youth to suicide because of  bullying. Every time we lose a youth to this senseless problem is a tragedy hard to comprehend-- and each time it hurts more. In Jamey Rodemeyer's case, the pain was local and so personal; having made a video for the "It Gets Better" campaign himself, Jamey had so many of the strengths needed to overcome the bullying of his peers, society and beyond-- and in the end, it was not enough. Each LGBTQ youth who finds no recourse but to take away the gifts of their owns lives feels, to me, such a personal failure, a failure of society. Because there's nothing that we can do, and so much we, others and society could have done. All we can do, in my opinion, is to continue to live openly and proudly-- advocating for the full equality of our community to become a reality in the world, and live as an example for our youth that it got better for us-- and it will get better for them, too. 

 Electorally, 2011 brought more of the highest victories and the most heartbreaking losses. In Erie County, SDWNY ally Mark Poloncarz soundly defeated incumbent Republican, anti-LGBTQ county Chris Collins, who had refused to add LGBT persons to the county's Equal Employment Opportunity policy, based on the fact it include non-discrimination of gender identity and expression. SDWNY member Greg Rabb was reelected as Jamestown City Council President, and Erie County Legislator Lynn Marinelli, long-time SDWNY ally member, was also reelected. With sad hearts and bittersweet emotions, we said goodbye to Assemblymember Sam Hoyt, when he accepted a position with Gov. Cuomo's administration this summer. Sam Hoyt's service for his community and particularly to the LGBTQ community was staunch and fierce, and we will forever be grateful for his advocacy, and his essential help in the passage of Marriage Equality. Fortunately, we now have Assemblymember Sean Ryan, also an ally member, who is firmly supportive on all issues of LGBTQ equality. 

 I would also like to thank outgoing Erie County Legislature Majority Leader Maria Whyte for her distinguished service in the legislature. During her terms as legislator, it was always nothing but an absolute pleasure to work with Legislator Whyte and her staff member Melissa Cummings on a wide-variety of progressive issues, not the least of which was LGBTQ equality. Always, Maria Whyte has been the absolute golden standard of a public servant. Maria's dedication to issues of what is right is unfailing. Always there, always right and always a fighter-- that is Maria Whyte. We congratulate Maria on her close, well and hard-fought campaign for Erie County Clerk-- and look forward to the great things which will come from her public service in years to come. 

 In closing, 2011 has been a year when so much work for the civil rights movement culminated in amazing victories. But there remains so much work to be done. To have full LGBTQ equality, we must-- as soon as possible-- pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act to allow that no New Yorker be discriminated against because of gender identity or expression. Federally, we must repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and pass a transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, as well as the Uniting American Families Act, to bring equality to our immigration laws. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all you do to make Stonewall Democrats what we are-- and for all you will do to continue our good work. Every phone call you make, every door you knock on, every event you attend and every letter you sign brings us a step closer to GENDA, closer to the day when all Americans will be equal under the law. We have come so far, and will go the rest of the distance-- with your help. I thank you for being a Stonewall Democrat. 

Yours in equality, 

Bryan Ball


PS: If  you have not already done so, you may sign a GENDA support letter on our website, www.SDWNY.org. Thank you! 

Now is an exciting time for LGBTQ civil rights in New York State. With the passage of Dignity for All Students last year, and Marriage Equality only this past summer, the future for the Gender Expression-Non Discrimination Bill in NYS is bright. 

Here in Western New York, SDWNY and our great community of advocates have been actively lobbying all our state senators—and having an open dialog regarding the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination. As part of our lobbying, we have been running our GENDA letter campaign, focusing on the State Senate. If you have been one of the many who have signed one of our different form letters or taken the time to write a handwritten note to your legislators, we thank you. If you have not, or are willing to go the extra step and gather more signatures and notes for equality, we encourage you to download the letters below, print them out, gather signatures and send them into your State Senator. However, SDWNY is ready and able to help with mailing, and we encourage you to contact us (by email or calling 716-541-5557) should you wish us to come pick up your letters and notes and mail them to our Senators. 

All information collected on this letter project is stored in an individual database. Each Senator receives a letter, and the database will only be used when it is know the legislation is coming to a vote in the Senate. You may receive an email and/or a phone call, letting you know a vote is coming and asking you to put a phone call into your Senator’s office asking him or her to support this legislation. 

 If your Senator is Sen. Kennedy, please thank him for championing the GENDA bill. If your senator is Sen. Mark Grisanti, please thank him for his heroic support of Marriage Equality and ask he come out to support transgender civil rights for all New Yorkers, as well.