Stonewall Democrats of Western New York  

May 5, 2013

At our Buffalo School Board Candidate Forum, our membership heard from the following candidates and issued the following endorsements, by district: 



North District: 

-Dr. Susan Gillick, candidate for the North District, ENDORSED. View her questionnaire here. 

-Dr. Wendy Mistretta, candidate for the North District. View her questionnaire here.

-Jason McCarthy, incumbent board member. View his questionnaire here. 

West District: 

-Ralph Hernandez, Incumbent Board Member, ENDORSED. View his 2013 questionnaire here. 

View a copy of Ralph Hernandez's Dignity for All Resolution passed by the Board of Education submitted with his questionniare. 

-James Sampson, Hernandez's opponent, responded to our questionniare that he is not seeking the endorsement of group's that aren't entirely made of parents. 

As of this writing, Ralph Hernandez will not be on the election ballot this Tuesday, and is running a write in campaign for the West District. 

East District:  

-Dr. Theresa Harris-Tigg, candidate for the East District, ENDORSED. View her questionnaire here.

-Rosalyn Taylor, incumbent board member, did not respond in any way to SDWNY's endorsement questionnaire. 

 As of this writing, Rosalyn Taylor will not appear on Tuesday's ballot, but is waging a write-in campaign. 

Central District: 

-Bryon McIntyre, candidate for the Central District, ENDORSED. 

-Mary Ruth Kapsiak, incumbent board member, did not respond in any way to SDWNY's endorsement questionnaire. Joseph Mascia, who had been running in the district and has since been removed from the ballot, also did not respond to our questionnaire. 

Park District: 

-Neither candidate-- Carl Paladino or Adrian Harris-- running for this open seat responded to SDWNY's questionnaire. 

Ferry District: 

-The only candidate in the Ferry subdistrict, Sharon Belton-Cottman, has not responded to our questionnaire. On May 3, in The Buffalo News, it was reported that Rev. Kinzer Pointer is being targeted by a write-in campaign to elect him to the district seat. As he was neither an announced or filed candidate this year, he did not receive an update questionnaire. However, Rev. Pointer has not responded to our questionnaire when he ran for the seat previously in 2010.


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Image: via YNN

04/22/13

***Attention everyone, we have had to reschedule our meeting for this Wednesday, at the same time and place, due to an unforseen circumstance that saw the Buffalo School Board schedule a meeting on Tuesday night which would have deprived us of nearly all our School board memebers and candidates. ****

 This Wednesday we will be meeting an hour earlier than normal-- 6PM-- due to the start of endorsement season, as we will hear from and consider endorsement for the Buffalo Board of Education. 

Due to the number of candidates running for district office (in the Park, East, Central, West, North and Ferry districts) to the Buffalo Board of Education, all endorsement interviews at our candidate forum will be scheduled in ten minute intervals. Interview will consist of a candidate’s presentation (no more than five minutes) and a question and answer portion (no more than five minutes.) 

All candidates who have filed with the Board of Elections to run for the district seats have received endorsement questionnaires. As responses come in, they will be posted on our website and linked here, and candidates will be scheduled. 

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04/02/13
You are invited!

Stonewall Democrats of Western New York’s

Spring Fundraiser Honoring Jamestown City Council President Greg Rabb


Come celebrate and honor Council President Rabb, as he receives the SDWNY 2013 Excellence in Leadership Award!

Date: Thursday, April 18, 2013

Location: Madonna’s

62 Allen St., Buffalo, NY 14202          

5:30 – 7:30 PM

Suggested Donation: $20/per person / $35/couple

Sponsorship Levels Available: $35 - Ally / $50 – Advocate / $100 – Champion

Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

RSVP- Bryan Ball  / Bryan_Ball@sdwny.org / 716-541-5557

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03/26/13

his evening, SDWNY participated in the WNY Light the Way to Justice Rally, a national movement to rally and hold vigil while the Supreme Court hears the Proposition 8 and DOMA cases this week. 

A special thanks go out to SDWNY VP Kitty Lambert-Rudd for planning the event, Jamestown Council President Greg Rabb for attending and speaking and everyone who came out and participated this evening! 

During the program, I spoke on the non-partisanship of Marriage Equality. My prepared remarks are below-- we hope, if you are able, to see you tomorrow night at 5:30PM in Niagara Square as we continue our vigil for equality! 

-Bryan Ball

Light the Way Remarks; Tuesday, March 26, 2013....

(Read more) 

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Dear Stonewall Democrats and Allies, 

 I know you know. Today is election day. And this election day, more than any other that has come before, there is more on the line for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender New Yorkers and Americans than ever before. 

 The history we have been a part of in these last few years is simply astounding. When I hear the question asked during the campaign "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" I cannot help but immediately think of each vicotry we as the LGBTQ community have made not only as part of the Obama presidency, but here in New York. In the last four years, we have passed Marriage Equality and the Dignity for All Students bill here in our state. And in the last four years, President Obama and his administration have made history by repealing the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and making tremendous progress on issues such as hospital visitation for LGBTQ families. Absolutely, we have more work to be done before our task is completed, before we as LGBTQ Americans have full equality under the law. The work will not be finished until we have passed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, repealed the Defense of Marriage Act, established Immigration equality and passed a transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. But we will finish the work we have started.

 To finish our work, we have to reelect and elect our supporters. Never before has there been a starker contrast made for LGBTQ Americans. President Obama has become the first stitting president to support Marriage Equality; Mitt Romney supports a federal amendment banning Marriage Equality. Today, will America reelect President Obama- who will work to repeal DOMA- or will we elect Mitt Romney, who has promised to reverse the progress the LGBTQ community has made for our civil rights?

  President Obama can't do this alone. He needs our help-- to help the country win. Please, if you are able, voluteer your time and support in any way you can between this moment and when the polls close at 9PM tonight. Do what you can to give President Obama and VP Biden a pro-equality Congress who will do their part to get our work done. Our great Congressmember Kathy Hochul is in an incredibly close race with her Republican opponent, disgraced former Erie County Executive Chris Collins. As in the presidential election, the election for NY 27 could not be a starker choice between two futures. I urge you to do all you can to reelect Kathy Hochul, President Obama, Rep. Brian Higgins and our slate of pro-equality candidates for the state legislature. Because we cannot do this alone. We are all in this together-- and no one will be left behind. 

 The Obama campaign has volunteer opportunities happening here in WNY now. Phonebanking will be going on at the UAW Region 9 Hall (35 George Karl Blvd. - off of Wehrle Dr) from 9AM-9PM; and a bus will leave from the Hall Tuesday at 6AM (returning at 11PM) to take volunteers to Cleveland, Ohio for GOTV. In addition to the Obama campaign, there are opportunities to volunteer for Kathy Hochul, and you can sign up for a volunteer shift here. Our local pro-equality candidates here in WNY can also use your help; for any questions about how to become involved with any of our campaigns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I hope to see you on the campaign trail- and at one of what I'm sure will be many victory parties after the election has finished! As always, we will go forward-- never backward. 

Yours in equality, 


Bryan


-- 
Bryan Ball
President, Stonewall Democrats of Western New York
PO Box 857
Buffalo, NY 14215
www.sdwny.org


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It is with great pride that Stonewall Democrats of Western New York announces our endorsement of Rep. Kathy Hochul for reelection to the US House of Representatives. Kathy has been a longtime friend and ally to SDWNY and the LGBTQ community of WNY, and since her historic victory in a largely conservative and Republican Congressional district, Rep. Hochul has continued her advocacy. 

"We could not be more proud of Representative Hochul, and the work she has done in Washington for us all," said Bryan Ball, SDWNY president. "Upon arriving in Congress, Kathy Hochul quickly signed on as a co-sponsor to the Respect for Marriage Act, and has made good on every promise to the LGBTQ community she has made, and has had our backs time and again on our civil rights issues." 

 Rep. Hochul is currently running for reelection in the newly redistricted NY-27.  We encourage you to do all you can to ensure Rep. Hochul is reelected this fall. 


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Stonewall Democrats of Western New York are proud to announce our endorsement of Reprsentative Brian Higgins for reelection to the United States House of Representatives. 

"Since his election to Congress, the LGBTQ community of WNY has had a great friend and ally in Congressman Brian Higgins," said Bryan Ball, SDWNY president. "Whether it has been the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," employment non-discrimination or immigration equality, Brian Higgins has been there for the civil rights and human dignity of his constituents. SDWNY has endorsed Brian Higgins in each of his Congressional campaigns-- and this year is no exception. Brian Higgins has always been there for us-- and-- again and proudly-- we will be there for him."


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Please join us for our annual fundraiser and candidate reception! 2012 has been yet another historic year for the LGBTQ community- with President Obama coming out for Marriage Equality, and all three of our SDWNY endorsed candidates winning their Democratic primaries! 

Come celebrate our victories, and be a part of the movement needed for the work ahead, to win our goal of full equality. With your help, we will continue what we all started, and pass the GENDA bill here in NYS, and win marriage, employment and immigration equality in Congress! 

Light food, and a selection of wine, beer and soda will be served. 

Monday, October 22, 2012
5:30PM - 7:30PM


Betty's 
370 Virginia St, Buffalo, NY 14201

Donation/Sponsorship Levels: 
$15/person & $25/Couple 
| $35/ Ally Sponsorship | $50 / Advocate Sponsorship | $100 Champion Sponsorship 

We hope to see you there!


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As a reminder, our monthly meeting is this Tuesday, September 25, at 7PM in El Museo. Due to an oversight, we did not realize that we are meeting on Yom Kippur. This prevents a number of our members from attending-- however, we will still meet to go over the primary elections and our presence at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte-- and, most importantly, to plan our upcoming event in October. 

 Our agenda is available here. We hope to see you there!

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Another Democratic primary election is upon us! Today, you can do your part in helping to elect pro-equality Democrats, who are and will be the best representatives for the LGBTQ community in Western New York. SDWNY has endorsed candidates in the following contested primary elections, and we urge you to do all you can to support our great pro-LGBT elected officials and candidates! 
 

New York State Legislature:

Assembly District 149:

Assemblymember Sean Ryan

A long-time ally-member of SDWNY, Sean Ryan has already blazed a path all his own of tireless, unfaltering and constantly engaged advocacy for LGBTQ people. In Albany, Sean Ryan has been a leader on civil rights legislation. A co-sponsor of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, Sean Ryan has stood for the equal rights of all Western New Yorkers. He has been at the forefront of the fight for GENDA and transgender civil rights in NYS, and he and his staff have been tremendously involved with SDWNY and the greater LGBTQ advocacy community in advocating for the importance of gender identity and expression protections in his Assembly district and beyond.

 In the world of government politics and advocacy, there are allies and there are friends. Sean Ryan is one of the best examples of a government leader who is an ally and a friend, an advocate who has been called to government based on real issues and the needs of the people. Sean Ryan has stood with not only the LGBTQ community in our civil rights movement for years; he has been a steadfast ally in similar progressive fights, there with us on the front lines. Stonewall Democrats are proud to stand with him, and work for his reelection to the state legislature.

State Senate District 63:

Senator Tim Kennedy

Two years ago, Tim Kennedy did what many believed impossible. A county legislator, he ran a pro-equality campaign in a Democratic primary against one of the most entrenched, anti-equality incumbent Senators in New York—and won. And when Tim Kennedy defeated his anti-equality Republican opponent, he went on to become the most vocal and pro-full LGBTQ equality Senator in WNY.

 In his time in Albany, Tim Kennedy has made the LGBTQ and allied community of WNY proud, and delivered on each promise to support full equality—and beyond. Upon his election, Tim Kennedy quickly signed on to co-sponsor the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, and has been a model advocate for gender identity and expression rights in NYS. His vote last year to help pass the Marriage Equality Act—and allow LGBTQ families in NYS the equal rights and protections of the state in a civil marriage—will go down in history as a courageous act, which helped New York be at the forefront of the national movement toward full marriage equality. With his  leadership on LGBTQ equality issues, Sen. Kennedy will with his reelection go on to do even more good for social justice in our state.



State Senate District 60:

Mike Amodeo

Mike Amodeo-- a young, progressive attorney-- is the progressive candidate in the race for the Democratic Primary in the district currently held by Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti. In this primary, the choice could not be clearer. Mike’s opponent, former Erie County Legislator 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. He understands the needs of the LGBTQ community, and will uphold the Marriage Equality Act, and become a needed voice in the fight for the passage of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act. We are proud that our local Erie County Democratic Committee has endorsed his candidacy, and deeply disappointed the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee has compromised our party’s morals and supported Mr. Swanick.  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 the 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 a standard for ensuring all women and men be treated equally under the law, with his vote in favor of Marriage Equality.  We encourage all Stonewall Democrats to be involved in this primary, and stand for GENDA, for Marriage and for the values of the Democratic Party and stand with Mike Amodeo.

*All candidates in races received endorsement questionnaires and follow up candidate inquiries. Visit www.sdwny.org to view endorsed and non-endorsed candidate questionnaires in their entirety. While responses by all candidates for endorsement are available online, the following candidates did not respond to repeated requests to be a part of our endorsement process: SD 60: Chuck Swanick; SD 63 Betty Jean Grant; AD 149: Joe Masica *

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Today, the Stonewall Democrats of Western New York are proud to announce our endorsement of NYS Senator Tim Kennedy for reelection. Two years ago, Tim Kennedy did what many believed impossible. A county legislator, he ran an exceptional, pro-equality campaign in a Democratic primary against one of the most entrenched, anti-equality incumbent Senators in New York—and he won. And when Tim Kennedy defeated his anti-equality Republican opponent, he went on to become the most vocal and pro-full LGBTQ equality Senator in WNY.

“I am incredibly proud of the work Sen. Tim Kennedy has done on behalf of the civil rights movement in the State Senate,” said Bryan Ball, president of SDWNY. “Tim Kennedy has made the LGBTQ and allied community of WNY so proud, and delivered on each promise to support full equality—and beyond. Whether it is his part in history as a vote in favor of Marriage Equality, his leadership on the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act or the issue of bullying, Sen. Kennedy will, with his reelection, go on to do even more good for social justice in our state.”

Upon his election, Tim Kennedy quickly signed on to co-sponsor the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, and has been a model advocate for gender identity and expression rights in NYS. His vote last year to help pass the Marriage Equality Act—and allow LGBTQ families in NYS the equal rights and protections of the state in a civil marriage—will go down in history as a courageous act, which helped New York be at the forefront of the national movement toward full marriage equality. Stonewall Democrats are proud to support Sen. Tim Kennedy for reelection.


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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 the 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-- taking a candidate's support of Marriage Equality equally as important to support for 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. 


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It is with great pride that Stonewall Democrats of Western New York announce our endorsement of our Assemblymember Sean Ryan for reelection. A long-time ally-member of Stonewall Democrats, Sean Ryan has, in the short time he has represented WNY in Albany, blazed a path all his own of tireless, unfaltering and constantly engaged advocacy for LGBTQ people.

In Albany, Sean Ryan has been a leader on civil rights legislation. A co-sponsor of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, Sean Ryan has stood for the equal rights of all Western New Yorkers. He has been at the forefront of the fight for GENDA and transgender civil rights in NYS, and he and his staff have been tremendously involved with SDWNY and the greater LGBTQ advocacy community in advocating for the importance of gender identity and expression protections in his Assembly district and beyond.

 “In the world of government politics and advocacy, there are allies and there are friends,” said Bryan Ball, president of SDWNY. “Sean Ryan is one of the best examples of a government leader who is an ally and a friend, an advocate who has been called to government based on real issues and the needs of the people. Sean Ryan has stood with not only the LGBTQ community in our civil rights movement for years; he has been a steadfast ally in similar progressive fights, there with us on the front lines. I could not be more proud to have him as my representative in the Assembly. Stonewall Democrats are proud to stand with him, and work for his reelection to the state legislature."  


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Please join us for our July meeting, where we will hear from and consider endorsement for a number of state legislative candidates. Our schedule for Tuesday night is as follows: 

7:15: NYS Sen. Tim Kennedy (SD 63)
7:30: Mike Amodeo (SD 60) 
7:45: NYS Assemblymember Sean Ryan (AD 149)
8:00: Kevin Gaughan (AD 149) 

*Amy Hope Witryol, the Democratic candidate running in Sen. Maziarz's district, has submitted her questionnaire and will be represented by a surrogate. 

*Al Coppola, another candidate in SD 60, is unconfirmed for an interview following the 8:00 slot. 

*Betty Jean Grant (SD 63), Joe Mascia (AD 149) and Chuck Swanick (SD 60) have not responded to requests from us to be considered for endorsement. .

Questionnaires to follow as they are received and uploaded.  The following have been received: 

-Michael Amodeo, SD 60

-NYS Assemblymember Sean Ryan, AD 149

-Amy Hope Witryol, SD 62

-NYS Sen. Tim Kennedy, SD 63

We hope to see everyone there! 

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July 11, 2012- 

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. 


(Read More)

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For immediate release

SDWNY Statement on President Obama's Support for Marriage Equality

" Today, Stonewall Democrats of Western New York are proud to add our voice to the chorus praising President Obama's historic announcement that he supports Marriage Equality. The first sitting president to support the freedom to marry for all Americans, President Obama has cemented his place in history as a groundbreaking leader for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. Already a tremendous part of the civil rights movement in so many ways, President Obama understands what it means for LGBT Americans to lack the civil rights and protections brought by the segregation of marriage rights-- and has the courage to lead on the issue, and make change. 

We could not be more proud of our President. This is what leadership looks like, this is change. This is the kind of leadership which comforts and changes hearts and minds, and inspires the American people and our representatives to work together to repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, and bring full LGBT Marriage Equality to all fifty states. The President's announcement also boldly sets the presidential election this November. Americans will have a clear choice: will we continue the change and real progress brought by President Obama's leadership, or will we elect Republican nominee Mitt Romney, who is opposed to equal rights and protections for all American families? When President Obama is reelected, SDWNY knows this President will build on his accomplishments for our community such as ending the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and the work his administration has done on issues such as hospital visitation. With President Obama's leadership, and our WNY pro-equality federal delegation of Reps. Brian Higgins, Kathy Hochul and Louise Slaughter and Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, we will see finished what we have started here in New York with full LGBT equality being legislated in Congress for these United States. 

We thank President Obama for his courage, sincerity and dedication in doing what is right, and supporting the civil rights of all American people. "

Bryan Ball 


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