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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.”

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I write regarding the civil rights movement, and how it continues with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community’s road to equality. Now is an important time for civil rights, and this past year saw triumphs that furthered our community’s equality.

In the City of Buffalo, our Common Council took action to protect its citizens. It passed legislation establishing a domestic partnership registry for the city and extending partner benefits to city employees in same-gender partnerships. This is an important action, as New York State currently discriminates in more than 1,000 rights and protections that a civil marriage provides to couples and families based on gender.

Marriage equality is needed legislation and will afford families the protections of hospital visitation, health insurance and home protection. Marriage equality will provide a civil right to citizens, and infringe on no one’s right to practice or preach the teaching of any religious dogma.

Our State Legislature also passed the Dignity for All Students Act, which protects all of our children from bullying in schools. While the LGBTQ community is ever-advancing in terms of acceptance, we must never neglect the plight of countless LGBTQ children who grow up in intolerant environments. As the recent highly publicized suicides of young LGBTQ individuals tragically highlighted, there is a crucial need for children to be protected from the forces of hate.

Each one of us who believes in the cause of the civil rights movement, alongside our elected officials, must make it known publicly and in our private lives that individual identity is not something to be hated, and that even in the worst of situations, it gets better and there is a life and world out there for our children that will embrace, accept and treat them equally under the law.

Also, in Washington, Congress finally repealed the military’s policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” ensuring that no one in our military is denied the opportunity to serve our country honestly and with dignity.

However, much work remains. There are no federal protections from employment discrimination for LGBTQ Americans, and our state has yet to pass anti-discrimination legislation for individuals based on gender identity and expression. If our government is truly concerned about jobs, Congress will pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and New York will pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, to allow that no one faces unjust discrimination from employment. Equally important is the need for LGBTQ-inclusive immigration reform, as no American should ever have to choose between family and country.

I look forward to the day when Martin Luther King’s dream is fully realized, and every woman and man is treated equally in our communities and under the law. I have every faith our nation and world will rise to the task.

Bryan Ball is president of Stonewall Democrats of Western New York.


http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/from-our-readers/another-voice/article317808.ece
 

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