The LGBTQ Democratic Voice of WNY
SDWNY Primary Election Voter's Guide 2017
This Tuesday, September 12, 2017, is the Democratic Primary Election in NYS! Stonewall Democrats of WNY has made the following endorsements in these Democratic Primary Elections: City of Buffalo Mayor: Mayor Byron Brown Buffalo City Court: (Vote for two) Judge Betty Calvo-Torres Andrew LoTempio Erie County Legislature, District 2: April Baskin Niagara Falls City Council: Councilmember Kristen Grandinetti Cheektowaga Town Board: Brian Nowak SDWNY has made the following endorsements in the following General Election races, in which no primary is currently scheduled: Jamestown City Council: Council President Greg Rabb Erie County Sheriff: Bernie Tolbert Erie County Clerk: Steve Cichon Erie County Comptroller: Vanessa Glushefski Erie County Surrogate's Court: Acea Mosey Erie County Court: Judge Susan Eagan Erie County Legislature, District 1: Legislator Barbara Miller-Williams Erie County Legislature, District 3: Legislator Peter Savage Erie County Legislature, District 7: Legislator Pat Burke Erie County Legislature, District 10: Michelle Schoeneman Comments July Membership Meeting Rescheduled to 08-02-17July 24, 2017
Dear Stonewall Democrats and Allies, We have had to reschedule our July Membership meeting. Originally scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday 7/25, our next Membership meeting will be Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 7 PM at the Brent House. We apologize for any and every inconvenience this causes, and we hope to see you there. Our agenda includes endorsement interviews for City of Buffalo Mayoral Candidates and Buffalo City Court candidates. We hope to see you there. SDWNY Membership Meeting Wednesday, August 2, 2017 Brent House 3105 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214 CONNECT with us in Buffalo Pride!
05-17-17
The Buffalo Pride Parade is Sunday, June 4! Pride's theme this year is CONNECT and we hope you will join us and CONNECT with your power to resist, persist, rise and make change. We are still looking for volunteers who would be able to help with tabling at the Pride Village at Canal Side, and also help during the parade with visibility and help carrying our banner. If able and interested, let us know at [email protected] . The Pride Parade steps off at noon, and if you are marching with us from the beginning we ask that you arrive between 11 AM and 11:45. As close to 11:45 as possible we will be taking our annual group photo with all our members, allies, elected officials and candidates. Even if you won't be marching with SDWNY but are part of our SDWNY family, we want you in the photo! Also, this year thanks to our Pride Committee, we have SDWNY Pride shirts (and other great things) available at https://www.zazzle.com/swdwny . Order yours today to make sure you have it in time to CONNECT with us and show your Pride! 
Also, more information about the Pride Parade and Pride week is available on Pride Buffalo's website here.
Happy Pride! Comments May Meeting Reminder05-17-17
As a friendly reminder, our May meeting is this Tuesday, May 23. Our agenda includes the beginning of our endorsement season with endorsement interviews for Erie County Clerk, Erie County Comptroller and Erie County Surrogate's Court. SDWNY May Meeting Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 7 PM Brent House 3105 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214 We will again be meeting at the Brent House, 3105 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214. Parking is available in the lot around the back, off of Lisbon Avenue. Candidate questionnaires will be made available on our website and released via social media as they are received. We hope to see you there! Comments Take Action: Help Pass the Conversion Therapy Ban in Erie County- now! 
Now that Erie County Legislator Pat Burke has introduced legislation to ban anti-LGBT conversion therapy on minors in Erie County, we have a chance to finally make history and pass the ban locally in Erie County. In order for the legislation to become a reality, we need the rest of the legislature to act, and hold a public hearing on the bill. Help pass the ban-- contact your legislator today! What is the best way to contact my County Legislator? You can contact your Legislator by phone, email or regular snail mail. It only takes a moment to call your legislator's office, or write them a letter or email of support. In addition to calling your personal Legislator, contacting the leadership of the Legislature How can I write or email my Legislator? While personal stories and handwritten notes are preferred, our SDWNY support letter is available here, as well. We also have links to note card templates at the end of this post if you are able to write out a note to your legislator letting them know who supporting the ban is important to you! Help make change today by telling your story. Let them know that protecting LGBTQ youth is not a partisan issue, and in this election year, we will be watching on whether and how they take action on banning conversion therapy. How can I call my County Legislator? Your County Legislator is available to you at their office, by phone or email. If calling your legislator's office, a staff member will likely answer the phone. You can leave a message with them to pass along to your legislator that you support of the conversion therapy ban. If you are comfortable doing so, be sure to leave your name and any additional contact the legislator's office may ask for. If you get an answering machine when you call- don't worry! Leaving a message with your name, contact and support for banning conversion therapy works just as well! How can I find out who my Legislator is? Find your legislator online here. Still unsure who your legislator is? Contact us at [email protected] for help. Contact Information for the Erie County Legislature Legislature Leadership EC Legislature Chair- John Mills District Office: 92 Franklin St / Fourth Floor / Buffalo, NY 14202 Phone: 716-858-8850 [email protected] EC Legislature Majority Leader- Joseph Lorgio District Office: 92 Franklin St / Fourth Floor / Buffalo, NY 14202 Phone: 716-858-8922 [email protected] EC Legislature Minority Leader - Tom Loughran 4549 Main Street, Suite 203 Amherst, NY 14226 Telephone: 836-0198 Fax: 836-0199 Email:[email protected] Legislator Contact Information: District No. 1: Hon. Barbara Miller-Williams District Office: 427 William St., Buffalo 14204 - Phone: 842-0490; Fax: 854-5722; E-Mail:[email protected] District No. 2: Hon. Betty Jean Grant District Office: 790 East Delavan Ave., Buffalo 14215 - Phone: 894-0914;Fax: 896-1463; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 3: Hon. Peter J. Savage, III District Office: 1701 Hertel Ave., Buffalo 14216 - Phone: 832-0493; Fax: 832-0494; E-Mail:[email protected] District No. 4: Hon. Kevin R. Hardwick Legislative Office: 92 Franklin St., 4th Floor, Buffalo 14202 - Phone: 858-8672; Fax: 858-8895; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 5: Hon. Thomas A. Loughran District Office: 4549 Main St., Ste. 203, Amherst 14226 - Phone: 836-0198; Fax: 836-0199; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 6: Hon. Edward A. Rath, III Legislative Office: 92 Franklin St., 4th Floor, Buffalo 14202 - Phone: 858-8676; Fax: 858-8895; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 7: Hon. Patrick B. Burke District Office: 469 Abbott Rd., Buffalo 14220 - Phone: 823-0752; Fax: 826-2870; E-Mail:[email protected] District No. 8: Hon. Ted B. Morton Legislative Office: 92 Franklin St., 4th Floor, Buffalo 14202 - Phone: 858-8856; Fax: 858-8895; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 9: Hon. Lynne M. Dixon Legislative Office: 92 Franklin St.,4th Floor, Buffalo 14202 - Phone: 858-8671; Fax: 858-8895; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 10: Hon. Joseph C. Lorigo Legislative Office: 92 Franklin St.,4th Floor, Buffalo 14202 - Phone: 858-8922; Fax: 858-8895; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 11: Hon. John J. Mills Legislative Office: 92 Franklin St., 4th Floor, Buffalo 14202 - Phone: 858-8850; Fax: 858-8895; E-Mail: [email protected] CT Ban Support Letter Download File CT Ban Note Card Letter 1 Download File CT Ban Note Card Letter 2 Download File CT Ban Note Card Letter 3 Download File Comments January Membership Meeting SDWNY meets this month on Tuesday, January 24th. We will again meet at the Brent House, 3105 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214 (parking is available in the rear lot, off of Lisbon Avenue.) We will start at 7PM and our agenda will include officer elections and discussion of the year ahead, politically and legislatively.
SDWNY January Membership Meeting Brent House 3105 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214 7pm We hope to see you there! Comments Take Action: Suppot the Conversion Therapy Ban in Erie County
December 20, 2017
Now that Erie County Legislator Pat Burke has introduced legislation to ban anti-LGBT conversion therapy on minors in Erie County, we have a chance to finally make history and pass the ban locally in Erie County. In order for the legislation to become a reality, we need the rest of the legislature to act, and hold a public hearing on the bill. Help pass the ban-- contact your legislator today! Take a moment to call your legislator's office, and/or write them a letter of support. While personal stories and handwritten notes are preferred, our SDWNY support letter is avaialble here, as well. We also have links to notecard templates at the end of this post if you are able to write out a note to your legislator letting them know who supporting the ban is important to you! Tell them our story by telling your story. Let them know that protecting LGBTQ youth is not a partisan issue, and in this election year, we will be watching on whether and how they take action on banning conversion therapy. Find your legislator here. Unsure who your legistor is? Contact us at [email protected] for help. Take action-- contact the Erie County Legislature's leadership today. Let our legislators know that you support protecting LGBTQ youth by passing the ban. EC Legislature Chair- John Mills District Office: 92 Franklin St / Fourth Floor / Buffalo, NY 14202 Phone: 716-858-8850 [email protected] EC Legislature Majority Leader- Joseph Lorgio District Office: 92 Franklin St / Fourth Floor / Buffalo, NY 14202 Phone: 716-858-8922 [email protected] EC Legislature Minority Leader - Tom Loughran 4549 Main Street, Suite 203 Amherst, NY 14226 Telephone: 836-0198 Fax: 836-0199 Email:[email protected] Full Contact for the EC Legislature (Unsure who your Legislator is? Email us at [email protected] for help!)mailto:[email protected] Legislator Contact Information: District No. 1: Hon. Barbara Miller-Williams District Office: 427 William St., Buffalo 14204 - Phone: 842-0490; Fax: 854-5722; E-Mail:[email protected] District No. 2: Hon. Betty Jean Grant District Office: 790 East Delavan Ave., Buffalo 14215 - Phone: 894-0914;Fax: 896-1463; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 3: Hon. Peter J. Savage, III District Office: 1701 Hertel Ave., Buffalo 14216 - Phone: 832-0493; Fax: 832-0494; E-Mail:[email protected] District No. 4: Hon. Kevin R. Hardwick Legislative Office: 92 Franklin St., 4th Floor, Buffalo 14202 - Phone: 858-8672; Fax: 858-8895; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 5: Hon. Thomas A. Loughran District Office: 4549 Main St., Ste. 203, Amherst 14226 - Phone: 836-0198; Fax: 836-0199; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 6: Hon. Edward A. Rath, III Legislative Office: 92 Franklin St., 4th Floor, Buffalo 14202 - Phone: 858-8676; Fax: 858-8895; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 7: Hon. Patrick B. Burke District Office: 469 Abbott Rd., Buffalo 14220 - Phone: 823-0752; Fax: 826-2870; E-Mail:[email protected] District No. 8: Hon. Ted B. Morton Legislative Office: 92 Franklin St., 4th Floor, Buffalo 14202 - Phone: 858-8856; Fax: 858-8895; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 9: Hon. Lynne M. Dixon Legislative Office: 92 Franklin St.,4th Floor, Buffalo 14202 - Phone: 858-8671; Fax: 858-8895; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 10: Hon. Joseph C. Lorigo Legislative Office: 92 Franklin St.,4th Floor, Buffalo 14202 - Phone: 858-8922; Fax: 858-8895; E-Mail: [email protected] District No. 11: Hon. John J. Mills Legislative Office: 92 Franklin St., 4th Floor, Buffalo 14202 - Phone: 858-8850; Fax: 858-8895; E-Mail: [email protected] Comments 
December Monthly Meeting Postponed- Meetings will resume in January 2017December 1, 2016
ATTENTION STONEWALL DEMOCRATS AND ALLIES- as custom, our December meeting has been postponed due to the holidays, and we will resume meetings in January 2017. Happy Holidays! SDWNY November Monthly Meeting- LOCATION CHANGED
Dear Stonewall Democrats and Allies,
We will hold our November Monthly meeting, the first since the past election, on Tuesday, November 22. Please note the change of venue, as we anticipate a higher turnout following the election results. SDWNY November Membership Meeting Tuesday, November 22 at the Brent House 3105 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214 (Parking available in the rear lot, off of Lisbon Avenue.) This meeting is your chance to come join us, talk through the election and the way forward. While we may not know the path ahead, we will make it through, together. We hope to see you there! Comments SDWNY Statement on Transgender Awareness Week
SDWNY Statement on Transgender Awareness Week
November 15, 2016 On this Transgender Awareness Week, SDWNY stands, as always, with our transgender community members. In a time of great bigotry and uncertainty, we pledge to continue to fight for every American-- transgender and gender non-conforming people, especially-- to be openly embraced, and treated equally under the law. Together, we will continue to fight against hate, and for legislation, policy and elected officials who will further transgender civil rights. Here in New York State, we stand thankful our Governor Andrew Cuomo has issued an executive order establishing transgender rights, and we stand proud with our pro-equality WNY delegation to the state legislature-- including Sen.Timothy Kennedy, Assemblymember Sean M. Ryan and Assemblywoman Crystal People's-Stokes, to continue to push for the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) so that trans rights may officially become the law of our land. We also pledge to continue to stand with our federal representatives-- Sen.Chuck Schumer D-NY, Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Brian Higgins to support transgender rights in the United States Congress. In every aspect of life, we pledge to continue to stand with and support civil rights and dignity for our transgender community. We will never give up the fight for transgender rights, and we will contribute to fight against bigotry, ignorance and intolerance wherever it is found. Comments SDWNY President's Statement on Election
November 9, 2016
"No, it is not okay, and it- at best- is not going to be okay for many marginalized peoples like those he built and spent his campaign on further attacking and marginalizing- women, LGBTQ people, people of color, not the least of which Hispanics, the disabled, immigrants- the list goes on. We cannot and should not condone the hatred and bigotry that has been exposed over this campaign cycle, and we should not normalize it. This is not normal, this is not what America is. It is ok to be scared and saddened by what has happened, but we should never let that fear define us. Let us mourn what we have lost, but waste no time in getting back up-- to organize more, to organize stronger and never let this do all we can to stand against hate, and prove that love truly will end the end trump hate. I am not going anywhere, and hope you won't, either." - Bryan Ball sdwny.org/news/sdwny-presidents-statement-on-election Comments |
 Stonewall Democrats of Western New York is the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer Democratic voice in western New York. Our mission is to advocate for the LGBTQ community within the WNY area government and the Democratic Party. Stonewall Democrats of WNY is an affiliate of the National Stonewall Democrats. Meeting Information We meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at: Brent House 3105 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214 at 7PM Officers: Bryan Ball, President Kitty Lambert-Rudd, Vice President of Legislative Affairs Ari Moore, Vice President of Community Affairs Mitch Nowakowski, Vice President of Political Affairs Nola Trotter, Correspondence Secretary Cory Promowicz, Recording Secretary Ronald Groth, Treasurer   
National LGBTQ Organizations
Human Rights Campaign Marriage Equality USA Freedom to Marry PFLAG National WNY LGBT Organizations Pride Center of Western New York Gay and Lesbian Youth Services of Western New York Spectrum Transgender Group of Western New York Western New Yorkers Against Conversion Therapy Outspoken for Equality PFLAG, Buffalo/Niagara Chapter Loop Magainze Imperial Court of Buffalo Outcome Buffalo LGBT Archives of Western NY Candidate Websites Tim Kennedy for State Senate Sean Ryan for Assembly Government Links Federal United States Senate United States House of Representatives Library of Congress: THOMAS State New York State Senate New York State Assembly Sen. Tim Kennedy Assemblymember Sean Ryan Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes County Erie County Erie County Legislature City/Town City of Buffalo City of Jamestown Town of Amherst  | ||||||||