 On this Memorial Day, SDWNY honors the courageous men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service for our great country, and we look forward to the day-- never closer before than this Memorial Day-- when all of our best women and men are allowed to serve honorably without fear of discrimination, and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" if finally, fully repealed. Add Comment  Last night, I attended my second hearing of the Erie County Legislature’s Reapportionment Advisory Committee, to speak out on the map submitted by Committee Chair Adam Perry. The map, which you can view here, is largely seen as a transparent attempt to draw districts favoring Erie County Executive Chris Collins and the legislators who vote with him. County Executive is very much anti-LGBTQ , as he last year refused to incorporate LGBTQ individuals into the County’s Equal Employment Opportunity on the ground it included gender identity and expression—and this redistricting process is a new offense. The map submitted by Perry blatantly disregards and splices heavily LGBTQ neighborhoods such as Allentown and the Elmwood Village in the City of Buffalo, to the point where each neighbor has its voice drowned out by the rest of the new districts. Though LGBTQ individuals are a very present and vibrant part of communities all over Erie County, such disregard of the areas of our highest populations should not go without notice. I was one of about people who spoke against Perry’s plan, which also uses the same tactic to silence the city’s Hispanic and African American communities. Immediately after the meeting, the committee voted to send the controversial map and only the controversial map as a recommendation to the legislature. Here is what I said: My name is Bryan Ball, president of the Stonewall Democrats of Western New York. We are a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) advocacy group for the advancement and civil rights movement of our community. I’m here this evening to once again ask the committee, legislature and county draw attention to the needs of the LGBTQ community in Erie County, with the difficult task of reapportionment. At an earlier meeting of this committee, I urged the committee to take into consideration the representation of the LGBTQ community when drawing the new legislative districts. For while the LGBTQ community is a vibrant, contributing part of communities everywhere in Erie County, keeping in mind the Voting Rights Act, we deserve to have our voice considered in our allegedly representative government. Simply put, LGBTQ people need their voice respected in government, as we are among the most oppressed minority groups for we are routinely denied by our government basic civil rights such as liberty and the pursuit of happiness—in the form of employment, housing and marital discrimination. For example, right here in Erie County, LGBTQ persons have been denied employment protections, as County Executive Collins refused to sign off on a resolution—unanimously passed by the legislature last year—which would add LGBTQ people to the County’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, because the resolution included transgender individuals and gender identity and expression. Not only are transgender individuals denied employment protections here at the local level of government, but they are denied such protections by our state, our country. The reality is that may people live in the fear that comes with not being able to obtain legal protections granted to others but discriminated by gender. When applying for jobs, looking for housing or seeking to protect our families—there is no equal, legal protection for us, which our government has the power to grant. Therefore, because we are a minority group that is denied such equal treatment under the law, I urge the committee to not weaken what voice we have, in the power that comes from the highest area of our populations, in the legislature. One of the many aspects very wrong with the map submitted by Committee Chair Adam Perry is its disregard of heavily LGBTQ neighborhoods in the city of buffalo—neighborhoods which, if for nothing else, are strongly connected historical districts with an undeniable sense of community. By slicing these neighborhoods—separating areas such as Allentown and the Elmwood Village, the map not only weakens LGBTQ voices, but weakens Hispanic and African American voices, as well. And districts that could lead to the eventual elimination of any non-white, non-heteronormative, non-male representation is a frightening prospect. Especially when such maps appear to be transparent, partisan attempts to hinder or help individual legislators based on politics that have nothing to do with our communities. In closing, there are no laws in place to preserve LGBTQ voices in government. There are no laws to protect us all from employment discrimination in our county, state, country. There are no laws which allow me to marry my partner and have us both protected as people of different genders would be allowed to. There are no laws, and there need to be such laws. And there are no laws in place which would prevent the committee from doing what is right and protecting minority voices. I thank you for your time and attention to this matter. -Bryan Ball  Now is an exciting time for LGBTQ civil rights in New York State. Following last year’s election, when the Republicans regained control of the State Senate, many LGBTQ and allied New Yorkers were disappointed as to the future of Marriage Equality and Gender Expression Non-Discrimination in New York. But things are looking better. Governor Cuomo has been an incredible, staunch advocate for advancing—and passing—both the Marriage and GENDA bills in the state legislature. High profile national and state LGBTQ advocacy groups have formed a united voice in New Yorkers United for Marriage, and they are beginning an advertising campaign, which hopes to culminate with a vote on the Marriage bill in the legislature during the very near future. Here in Western New York, SDWNY and Outspoken for Equality has, with our great community of advocates, been actively lobbying all our state senators—and having an open dialog regarding the issues of Marriage and Gender Expression Non-Discrimination. As part of our lobbying, we have been running our Marriage letter campaign, and recently begun our GENDA letter campaign, focusing on the State Senate. If you have been one of the hundreds 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 joint letter project between SDWNY and Outspoken for Equality 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 will receive an email and phone call from Outspoken for Equality, 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. 
 Sunday, May 1, 2011 Stonewall Democrats of Western New York are proud to congratulate two of our own Stonewall Democrats on receiving Community Service Recognitions from the Buffalo Brunch, sponsored by Embrace WNY. As one of the most dynamic and accomplished young activists in WNY, Andrew Randazzo works tirelessly along with Outspoken for Equality, SDWNY and the WNY LGBTQ community to advance the civil rights movement. Among his many accomplishments, Andrew was instrumental in lobbying the State legislature to finally, after a long campaign, pass the Dignity for All Students Act last year. We proudly congratulate Andrew Randazzo on his recognition at this year’s Buffalo Brunch. As one of the most responsive and productive elected officials in WNY, Maria Whyte has always stood proudly, steadfastly for what is right. A long-time supporter of LGBTQ civil rights, Maria Whyte is the absolute model of a public servant and elected official. In the County Legislature, Maria Whyte has been an integral part of advancing issues such as the County’s Equal Employment Opportunity Policy, domestic partnership legislation and just representation for all the citizens of her district. SDWNY is proud to congratulate Erie County Legislator Maria Whyte on her recognition by Embrace WNY, her tremendous accomplishments, and even brighter future. (Pictured: SDWNY Co-Founder Carol Speser, having introduced Legislator Whyte on receiving her award.) |  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. Meeting Information We meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at: El Museo Gallery 91 Allen Street Buffalo, NY 14202-1320 at 7PM News Archives
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