Stonewall Democrats of Western New York  

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

It is with great pride that Stonewall Democrats of WNY announce our endorsement of Chris Fahey for the NYS Assembly, in the special election for the 145th District. The endorsed Democrat, Chris Fahey is the right choice for LGBTQ concerns—and all Democratic voices for progress—in the 145th District. An energetic, dedicated voice, Chris Fahey has made a name for himself in working to make government better.

“Chris Fahey will make an excellent Assemblyman for all of Western New York,” said Stonewall Democrat and Jamestown City Council President Greg Rabb. “He will be a champion for economic development for all as well as a friend and partner as we continue to fight for equal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender New Yorkers.  I urge everyone to do what they can to elect Chris Fahey.”

A supporter of full LGBTQ equality, Chris will be a champion for the GENDA bill in the Assembly, and a staunch supporter of maintaining Marriage Equality. “We are proud to support Chris Fahey in this election,” SDWNY president Bryan Ball said. “Chris has proven his dedication to the progress of WNY though the work he has done—in the office of Congressmember Brian Higgins and on any number of campaigns for good, progressive Democrats—and he will be a voice for the LGBTQ community when he is elected to the Assembly. Chris Fahey is a worthy successor to Assemblymember Mark Schroeder, who during his career in the Assembly proudly supported the full equality of LGBTQ people.”

The Special Election for the 145th will be held March 20. If you live in the 145th and would like more information on the election, please visit the Erie County Board of Elections at erieboe.com.

For more information on Chris Fahey visit chrisfahey.com 

SDWNY proudly announces our endorsement of Jeremy Zellner for the Erie County Legislature’s Fourth Disctirct. For years, Jeremy Zellner has worked hand in hand with the Stonewall Democrats as Executive Director of the Erie County Democratic Party, and has done much, along with Chariman Len Lenihan, to include LGBTQ persons and issues in the Democratic Party of Erie County.

A staunch supporter of progressive issues of equal rights, Jeremy Zellner has what it takes to win a seat currently held by an incumbent Republican, Kevin Hardwicke, who has been essential to County Executive Collins’ destructive agenda for Erie County. When elected to the Legislature, Jeremy Zellner wil continue to be one of our strongest allies in the passage of a LGBTQ-inclusive Equal Employment Opportunity Policy for the county, and on all issues of civil rights.

“If you have attended a Stonewall Democrats meeting, lobbied with us or worked a pro-equality campaign with us, you know Jeremy Zellner,” said SDWNY president Bryan Ball. “His work with us on behalf of the Democratic Party has been so welcomed, needed and helpful.  It’s a tremendous thing to see an ally such as Jeremy take the step to run for office, and run so strongly. Jeremy Zellner will be a full-time legislator for his constituents, and work his hardest and in the best interests of every woman, man and child of the fourth district.” 

Recently, I had the priviledge of being asked by Sen. Timothy Kennedy’s (D-Buffalo) office to testify at the NYS Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment (LATFOR) held at Buffalo City Hall.     

I spoke, as I have before this year, to similar panels and committees at the county and city levels, on the need to consider the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer (LGBTQ) community in redistricting. As always, I emphasized that while we are a vibrant, contributing part of communities the city, county, state and country over, we undoubtedly have areas of high concentration and, like any other community, we should have our voice in government protected.

Following my testimony, I was asked by committee member Assemblymember John McEneny, if I believe the LGBTQ community had been discouraged from participation in government, as communities protected under the voting rights act have been. I responded that yes, we absolutely have. When a government denies a person basic protections such as in housing, employment and civil marriage rights—when a government upholds segregation and does not treat you equally as any other American under the law—you absolutely are discouraged from participation in government. Unfortunately, this denial of basic human rights and dignity does discourage some in the LGBTQ community from participating in government and making their voice heard. This is wrong, and needs to be addressed. Assemblymember McEney, a supporter of marriage equality, also asked me how we keep LGBTQ communities together, when we appear to be part of the greater community as a whole.  I responded that he had answered his own question; to keep LGBTQ communities together, we need to keep communities together in the redistricting process.

Sen. Michael F. Nozzolio (R), who voted against marriage equality and our families, was silent throughout.

I am not familiar enough to personally endorse Gov. Cuomo’s independent panel and legislation, but one would think it common sense to have an independent body carry out the process of redistricting for our state legislature and Congressional lines. While I welcomed the opportunity to speak before the LATFOR committee, I do have to admit I was troubled that the LATFOR committee was so small, so representative of the state legislature and—for equality’s sake—has not a single woman sitting on the committee.

The entirety of my testimony as submitted to the committee:

"Good morning. I’d like to thank the members of the task force for holding this hearing today, and listening to the citizens of western New York on the crucially important topic of state legislative and Congressional redistricting.

This process of creating new districts for our state legislators and Congressional representatives is as necessary as it is difficult. Every ten years, we are faced with the task of revaluating our populations, determining who currently lives where in New York, and deciding how all our people should be represented—which is their right.

 

My name is Bryan Ball, and I am from the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer) community, and will speak for our interests.  I am here today to focus on one of many crucial elements that should be a part of any fair redistricting process: the protection of minority populations. While we make sure that, in drawing districts—which should be done by an independent commission-- we draw districts that represent people and not the elected officials that represent them, we need to make sure ALL our minority communities are protected, and have their say in our representative government preserved.

 

It’s a sad reality that the populations which make up majorities have inflicted oppression on minority populations. Simply put, a much needed role of government is to be fair, to protect minorities from oppressive majorities, and treat all people equally. The African American community. The Hispanic community. The working class. Our immigrant communities. The LGBTQ community. We all need to be treated as equal citizens, and our civil rights respected by affording us our community’s due voice in government.

 

While LGBTQ people, for instance, live and thrive in all areas of our great state, it cannot be denied that areas exist of high LGBTQ populations, though we are not accurately counted to the fullest in the census.  For instance, our two Buffalo Senate districts both contain the most highly concentrated LGBTQ populations in Western New York. We exist. We live, we work, we pay taxes—all from our proudly LGBTQ and inclusive communities.

 

In our great state, there are no laws which protect ALL OF US from housing and employment discrimination. Up until very recently, I was not allowed to enter into the civil government contract of marriage with my longtime partner to protect our lives and family—and even now, our federal government denies the basic civil rights and protections within its power to our families, through the segregation of marriage rights. And there are no laws which mandate LGBTQ citizens be included and considered in redistricting processes. But that of course does not mean that the redistricting process here in New York cannot do what is right, and take our voices and people into consideration as they would any minority population, person or vote.

 

Even apart from the issues of minority community representation is the good that can be done in simply keeping all communities and communities of interest relatively intact. One would think it common sense that splitting up areas such as historical districts and areas of high urban economic revitalization with a strong sense of community would be a poor choice. Redistricting is by its nature change, and will naturally create some separation and disconnect. But it is essential that any process, in a clear, transparent and non-partisan way, do its best to keep communities whole.

 

And this is especially true for urban areas. When communities such as those that thrive in East, West, South and North Buffalo are kept whole, we can continue the work we are doing to constantly improve our community and city. Block clubs, neighborhoods and businesses can—if kept together in a holistic manner—continue to be and grow. Without having to deal with being split amongst districts, haphazardly, in a manner that is often sadly only transparent to the fact it has been done to protect politicians and not the people they are elected to serve. 

 

In closing, I’d like to leave those present with my support for a truly fair redistricting process. This can ONLY be done by an independent commission to rightfully oversee that the process is transparent, and of and for the people, not of and for our legislative bodies. And a key cornerstone to keeping that promise of fairness is absolutely the protection of minority communities. Our government exists to serve and protect our people. Throughout our own history, minorities have needed that protection—as various minorities have, during the course of the civil rights movement, gained victories and thus their civil rights. I ask that any process be mindful of the LGBTQ community, as we are among the most oppressed by current state and federal government—as we are denied basic housing, employment and marital civil rights and protections. I ask any independent and fair redistricting process be mindful of our position, our needs and our rights and keep our voice and place at the table to determine our representatives in government."

-Bryan Ball

 

WNED, Buffalo/Toronto: “Protestors Decry Same-Sex Marriage”

Mike Desmond  (2011-07-25)

Buffalo (WNED)

“While dozens celebrated as they became some of the state's first legally married same-sex couples, hundreds at Buffalo's Niagara Square were protesting those unions.

Kitty Lambert and Cheryle Rudd may have been the first gay married couple in New York when Falls Mayor Paul Dyster made it official in the first minutes of Sunday but by the end of the day they had many companions across the state.

They married on Luna Island with the lights of Niagara Falls behind them.

"It was a beautiful and joyous moment," said one of those present, Bryan Ball, president of the gay political group, Stonewall Democrats.

"What means most to us is that we're going to be treated just like everyone else."

Ball is scheduled to be married this fall. …” 

(READ MORE)…

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wned/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1831759/news/Protesters.Decry.Same-Sex.Marriage


Photo: SDWNY President Bryan Ball demonstrating against the hate group, displaying an "Equality for All Families" sign and his engagement band. 

SDWNY would like to thank City of Buffalo Clerk Gerald Chwalinski and his staff in the clerk's office for being open for business on Sunday, July 24, 2011, to process marriage licenses, and perform marriages, the first day it was legal in New York State. SDWNY would also like to thank attorney Michael Kuzma for coming in at the spur of the moment, to provide much needed notary services! With NYS Supreme Court Judges on standby providing waivers for the 24 required period between the obtaining of a marriage license and the act of marriage itself, Chwalinski performed numerous wedding ceremonies within City Council Chambers. 


SDWNY was on hand to offer complimentary bottles of wine to the over two dozen happy couples who either received marriage licenses or were married that day! The wine was a gift from the Carl and Sophie Baj family. Congratulations to all the beautiful, happy couples! 

SDWNY is proud to announce our endorsement of City of Buffalo Niagara District Councilmember David Rivera for reelection. Since joining the council in 2007, Councilmember Rivera has represented one of the most diverse and inclusive council districts in the city to incredible results. A staunch supporter of equality, David Rivera helped lead the effort in 2010 for domestic partnership legislation, which led to the establishment of the a City of Buffalo domestic partnership registry and the extension of domestic partner benefits to all city employees in same-gender domestic partnerships.

A hard-working progressive, David Rivera has represented all the citizens of the Niagara District like no other. A great supporter of the urban renewal and flourishing happening in the City of Buffalo, David Rivera has set new heights of constituent services, establishing evening office hours in-district for his office and staff.

“We, as a civil rights organization, could not be more proud to endorse Councilmember Rivera for reelection, “said SDWNY President Bryan Ball. “David Rivera, a Stonewall Democrat and dynamic straight ally himself, has fought along-side our community for the civil rights movement, being a firm advocate for marriage equality and transgender civil rights. We are proud to endorse him, and look forward to continuing our great work together.”