The Stonewall Democrats of Western New York would like to thank Senator Antoine Thompson for his service to Erie and Niagara counties in the 60th Senate District. Senator Thompson has always been a steadfast, true progressive voice and a champion of equality for all New Yorkers. In all of Western New York, Antoine Thompson will go down in history as the only Senator in our region on the right side of history for his historic vote in favor of Marriage Equality last December, and his constant support of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act. It was with the dedication and hard work of Senator Thompson that we achieved the tremendous victory for our children with the passing of the Dignity for All Students Act earlier this year. A great many elected officials in WNY and beyond—in both major parties—could learn a great deal from Senator Thompson’s commitment to standing up for that which is right.
It is with heavy hearts that we confront this loss of our pro-equality champion in the State Senate. The new Senator-elect in the 60th District ran a steadfastly anti-equality campaign, which promised to deny the constituents he will now serve their civil rights. The Stonewall Democrats of Western New York promise to hold the new Senator accountable for his actions, as we will the Senate’s new Republican leadership, should they continue the course of failing to serve all New Yorkers.
-Bryan Ball
President, Stonewall Democrats of WNY
 Today, I wrote to New York’s Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, thanking them for their work and advocacy on behalf of repealing our military’s bigoted “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and urging our Senators to continue fighting for the repeal in the form of bringing the Defense Authorization bill to the floor of the Senate before this current Congress ends.
“I support and strongly urge your continued advocacy to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and see the Defense Authorization bill brought to the floor before this current Congress ends. Repealing this policy is the only way to honor the memory and make right the lives of the countless members of our military who have been unjustly harmed by this ugly policy.”
This period of time as the Senate remains in session during the current Congress is crucial in the fight to repeal this discriminatory law as once this Congress ends, a new class of many anti-equality lawmakers will be sworn in with the new year. The Human Rights Campaign is making a large effort in their “Repeal DADT Now” campaign to continue lobbying our Senators to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. This campaign is something I personally highly support, and encourage you to do the same.
Please, call Senators Gillibrand and Schumer. Thank them for their work on repealing DADT, and urge them to support bringing the Defense Authorization bill to the floor for a vote before this current Congress ends.
Senator Schumer’s Western New York Offce may be reached at 716-846-4111.
Senator Gillibrand’s WNY Office may be reached at 716-854-9725.
Read the full text of my letter to Sen. Schumer here.
Read the full text of my letter to Sen. Gillibrand here.
November 16, 2010
Hon. Kirsten Gillbrand
478 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Gillbrand,
I write concerning the freedom of our country’s military. As you know, the military’s policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) threatens, harms and devastates the lives of women and men who serve our military. With this policy, our government continues to unjustly discriminate against our best who seek to serve and protect our nation. These great Americans are often faced with unimaginable dilemmas that place career, identity and family separately from one another. Never should this happen, and each day that passes when a soldier is forced to keep silent or risk the end of his or her career is an American tragedy.
I thank you for the work and advocacy you have done to keep this desperately urgent issue discussed in the Senate and on the national stage. Your recognition of heroes such as Lieutenant Dan Choi is commendable. Unfortunately, this Congress has seen many set backs in the effort to repeal this bigoted policy. I respectfully ask that you do all you can to continue to see this repeal through to a reality. I fully support the Human Rights Campaign’s “Repeal DADT Now” Campaign, and endorse action being taken to bring the Defense Authorization bill to the floor before this current Congress ends.
Again, I know you are well aware of the facts. The soldier who cannot receive an honest letter or phone call from the one they love. The partner who remains at home, in silence. The career pointlessly ended because of accusations over a soldier’s personal life. The personal stories from men and women across our nation’s borders and history, which tell of lives ruined and compromised in the name of this policy. Western New York has a great number of lives directly affected by this policy, men and women who have had personal freedom and security threatened by this true threat to our national security. I support and strongly urge your continued advocacy to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and see the Defense Authorization bill brought to the floor before this current Congress ends. Repealing this policy is the only way to honor the memory and make right the lives of the countless members of our military who have been unjustly harmed by this ugly policy. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Bryan Ball
Today, I wrote to New York’s Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, thanking them for their work and advocacy on behalf of repealing our military’s bigoted “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and urging our Senators to continue fighting for the repeal in the form of bringing the Defense Authorization bill to the floor of the Senate before this current Congress ends.
“I support and strongly urge your continued advocacy to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and see the Defense Authorization bill brought to the floor before this current Congress ends. Repealing this policy is the only way to honor the memory and make right the lives of the countless members of our military who have been unjustly harmed by this ugly policy.”
This period of time as the Senate remains in session during the current Congress is crucial in the fight to repeal this discriminatory law as once this Congress ends, a new class of many anti-equality lawmakers will be sworn in with the new year. The Human Rights Campaign is making a large effort in their “Repeal DADT Now” campaign to continue lobbying our Senators to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. This campaign is something I personally highly support, and encourage you to do the same.
Please, call Senators Gillibrand and Schumer. Thank them for their work on repealing DADT, and urge them to support bringing the Defense Authorization bill to the floor for a vote before this current Congress ends.
Senator Schumer’s Western New York Offce may be reached at 716-846-4111.
Senator Gillibrand’s WNY Office may be reached at 716-854-9725.
Read the full text of my letter to Sen. Schumer here.
Read the full text of my letter to Sen. Gillibrand here.
November 16, 2010
Hon. Kirsten Gillbrand
478 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Gillbrand,
I write concerning the freedom of our country’s military. As you know, the military’s policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) threatens, harms and devastates the lives of women and men who serve our military. With this policy, our government continues to unjustly discriminate against our best who seek to serve and protect our nation. These great Americans are often faced with unimaginable dilemmas that place career, identity and family separately from one another. Never should this happen, and each day that passes when a soldier is forced to keep silent or risk the end of his or her career is an American tragedy.
I thank you for the work and advocacy you have done to keep this desperately urgent issue discussed in the Senate and on the national stage. Your recognition of heroes such as Lieutenant Dan Choi is commendable. Unfortunately, this Congress has seen many set backs in the effort to repeal this bigoted policy. I respectfully ask that you do all you can to continue to see this repeal through to a reality. I fully support the Human Rights Campaign’s “Repeal DADT Now” Campaign, and endorse action being taken to bring the Defense Authorization bill to the floor before this current Congress ends.
Again, I know you are well aware of the facts. The soldier who cannot receive an honest letter or phone call from the one they love. The partner who remains at home, in silence. The career pointlessly ended because of accusations over a soldier’s personal life. The personal stories from men and women across our nation’s borders and history, which tell of lives ruined and compromised in the name of this policy. Western New York has a great number of lives directly affected by this policy, men and women who have had personal freedom and security threatened by this true threat to our national security. I support and strongly urge your continued advocacy to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and see the Defense Authorization bill brought to the floor before this current Congress ends. Repealing this policy is the only way to honor the memory and make right the lives of the countless members of our military who have been unjustly harmed by this ugly policy. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Bryan Ball
Image: hrc.org
 This Tuesday, Western New York voters went to the polls. Stonewall Democrats of Western New York is thrilled with many of the results. Pro-equality champion Assemblymember Hoyt was reelected to represent the voters of Buffalo and Grand Island in the Assembly. And with a tremendous victory, Tim Kennedy was elected our next Senator in the 58th Senate District. In the Senate, Tim Kennedy will be a pro-equality vote and advocate, taking the place of anti-equality Sen. Bill Stachowski. We congratulate Senator-elect Kennedy on his hard fought win, and look forward to a long, productive working relationship with our new voice in the State Senate.
In other victories, SDWNY saw all three of our endorsed New York State Supreme Court candidates-- Catherine Nugent-Panepinto, Judge Eugene Fahey and Judge Hank Nowak-- elected and reelect to the State Supreme Court.
Tuesday did not come without disappointments, however. Stonewall Democrats of Western New York congratulates Cynthia Appleton on her noble and courageous pro-equality campaign for the 59 Senate District. We were proud to stand with Cynthia in her campaign to bring the change so desperately needed to the 59 district. We commend her for her for fighting the fight for what is right, and we look forward to working with this amazing public servant in the future.
We also deeply thank and congratulate Robin Wilt for her dignified and unalterable pro-equality campaign to restore a representative supportive of civil rights to the 56 district. Robin Wilt ran a phenomenal campaign for that which is right, and the Stonewall Democrats were thrilled to have supported her. Robin Wilt will continue to be a much needed progressive voice in Western New York, and we look forward to continuing our great work with her.
Tuesday also dealt the progressive community a great uncertainty, with the race for the 60 State Senate District. Pro-equality champion Senator Antoine Thompson's race with anti-LGBT Republican candidate Mark Grisanti remains to close to call, with an intense and likely lengthy recount process soon to begin. The Stonewall Democrats of Western New York hold the faith, and are confident that when all the votes have been counted, we will return our great advocate in Sen. Thompson to represent us in the State Senate.
Dear Stonewall Democrat, Soon, this election season will be over. We will have a new Governor, a new Attorney General, new justices and in many districts new State legislators. If we elect our pro-equality Stonewall endorsed candidates for these elected offices, we will have Marriage Equality and the Gender Non-Discrimination Act passed in New York State. It is as simple as that. Over the last year, GENDA and Marriage Equality failed in the State Senate. When Andrew Cuomo is our governor, and the state legislature has a Democratic pro-equality majority, those failures will not be repeated. In order to keep the Senate, and win equality, we need to come through for our supporters at the voting booth. With the Democratic majority in the Senate currently so thin, we cannot afford to lose our pivotal Western New York races. After today, I will have a new State Senator, and that State Senator will be Stonewall Candidate Tim Kennedy. In Tim Kennedy, we will have a new vote for equality in the seat formerly held by Senator Bill Stachowski, one of the eight Democrats who denied us Marriage Equality last December. Tim Kennedy will be a yes vote for marriage, a yes vote for GENDA and he will champion our cause. His opponent, Albany incumbent Jack Quinn III, is anti-equality, and has already had experience voting in Albany to deny the LGBT community our rights in the Assembly. It is crucial that we elect Tim Kennedy our next state senator in the 58th District. Please, do all you can to help elect a new pro-equality Senator from Western New York. If you can volunteer your time today, call Tim Kennedy’s field office at 716-818-5076 to find out how you can canvass doors, phone bank and work polls to elect Tim Kennedy our Senator from the 58th District. We have the same opportunity in the 59th Senate District. Stonewall Candidate Cynthia Appleton is running to succeed Senator Dale Volker—who while many claim to have been a good man, was never a good man to the LGBT community. Cynthia Appleton is a true progressive. Cynthia is an accomplished public servant, a proud and strong advocate for justice and equality—and she will restore integrity to the office of the 59th District. A true community leader, Cynthia Appleton has a strong record of accomplishment, and the right commitment to the reform we so need in Albany. A vocal champion of Marriage Equality and GENDA, Cynthia Appleton is exactly the kind of strong progressive we need to change Albany. Please, do all you can to help elect this new champion of the LGBT community as state senator. Call Chris Sasiadek at 716-997-0504 to find out how you can work today to make this victory a reality. In the 56th Senate District, we have yet another vital opportunity. Robin Wilt is a phenomenal voice who will bring a desperately needed fresh perspective to Albany. A co-founder of the Genesee Valley chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, Robin Wilt will be the needed progressive voice to replace anti-equality Sen. Joseph Robach in the State Senate. Robin Wilt has championed LGBT-rights issues throughout her campaign, and will another new champion for the cause once elected Senator. Also in need of your support is pro-equality champion Senator Antoine Thompson. Last year, when Marriage failed the Senate, Senator Thompson was the lone vote from Western New York that supported Marriage Equality. Senator Thompson has helped to pass the Dignity for All Students bill, and has been a proponent of LGBT equality throughout his career in elected office. Senator Thompson’s opponent, Mark Grisanti, is strongly opposed to LGBT equality. You can help retain this great advocate for the LGBT community by volunteering your time at Sen. Thompson’s headquarters at 20 Court Street in downtown Buffalo or by calling 716-856-6030. And lastly, but certainly not least, we are proud to support State Assemblymember Sam Hoyt in his reelection this year. Sam Hoyt is, simply, Western New York’s fiercest champion in the State Assembly. Sam’s long history supporting civil rights is one closely linked with the work of the Stonewall Democrats. Always, Sam has been with us. And again, we will be with Sam. When Marriage Equality and GENDA are finally passed, it will be because of Sam Hoyt’s dedicated work, and those of legislators like him. SDWNY has also endorsed several candidates for judicial office. These candidates submitted questionnaires and interviewed before the general membership for endorsement, and displayed a breadth of knowledge and fairness that consisted of equality for all who may appear before them in a court. For Erie County Court, we are proud to support Judge James McLeod, a great judicial mind and a man of outstanding character. For the five available seats on the New York State Supreme Court, we have endorsed Catherine Nugent-Panepinto, a dedicated community activist, school board member and New York State Supreme Court Confidential Law Clerk. We have also endorsed Judge Eugene Fahey for reelection and Judge Hank Nowak for election to the Supreme Court. Judge Nowak is currently a Buffalo City Court Judge assigned to Buffalo Housing Court. For more information on our judicial candidates, please visit www.sdwny.org. For state-wide office, SDWNY has endorsed Andrew Cuomo for Governor and Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy for Lieutenant Governor, and Eric Schneidermann for Attorney General. There are clear lines drawn between Cuomo and Schneidermann and their Republican opponents on the issues of equality. All three men have been unquestionably strong advocates for LGBT rights throughout their careers, and will be fierce advocates as our next Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. And today, we also have our WNY Congressional members running for reelection. Congressman Brian Higgins, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have all been friends and advocates for LGBT rights in Washington. Again, I implore you to do all you can to help elect our good, pro-equality Democrats this Election Day. This last year, our community has had great victories, like the passing of Dignity for All Students and domestic partnerships in the City of Buffalo, alongside great disappointments, like the failure of GENDA in committee and Marriage Equality on the Senate floor. Today, vote to make Marriage Equality and GENDA a success in the coming year, by vote pro-equality. Thank you. Bryan Ball
Stonewall Democrats of Western New York:
2010 General Election Voters GuideNew York State Governor/Lieutenant Governor: Andrew Cuomo and Robert Duffy New York State Attorney General:Eric Schneiderman New York State Legislature:Assembly District 144:Assemblymember Sam Hoyt State Senate District 60:Senator Antoine Thompson State Senate District 58:Tim KennedyState Senate District 59: Cynthia Appleton State Senate District 56: Robin Wilt New York State Supreme Court: Catherine Nugent-PanepintoJudge Eugene Fahey Judge Hank NowakErie County Court:Judge James McLeod
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