 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. Add Comment  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 congratulates VP Kitty Lambert and Cheryle Rudd on their first NYS same-sex marriage! 07/23/2011
 July 24, 2011 SDWNY congratulates our Vice-President and Outspoken for Equality activist Kitty Lambert and her new wife's, Cheryle Rudd, marriage the moment Marriage Equality became legal on July, 24 2011 at 12:00:01 AM. The Lambert-Rudd couple marriage before a crowd of family, friends, elected officials, activists and supporters in a beautiful ceremony, as a newly iconic image of the happiness Marriage Equality brings, married by Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster in a joyous moment to the backdrop of Niagara Falls. SDWNY congratulates Kitty and Cheryle on their part in making equality legal for all New York families, and looks forward to the day when our United States government treats us equally under the law. Marriage would not have happened if not for the work of Kitty and Cheryle in NYS, and others who shared their determination, love and perseverance! -Bryan Ball Photo: The New York Times  This week, SDWNY VP Kitty Lambert and her wife to be, Cheryle Rudd, were featured in the New York Times, in an article on New York same-gender couples who will be marrying when the new laws take effect this weekend. READ: NYT "Same-Sex N.Y. Couples of Up to 41 Years Who Now Plan to Marry" READ: NYT "After a Long Wait, Finally Tying the Knot in New York  It is with both heartfelt congratulations and a heavy heart that SDWNY thanks former NYS Assemblymember Sam Hoyt for his career of service, upon his recent resignation from the NYS Assembly. Sam has been the fiercest longtime advocate the LGBTQ community has had in WNY. This year, we celebrated the passage of the Marriage Equality Act, and it was in such a large part due to the tireless advocacy of Assemblymember Hoyt throughout the years. Like his father the late Assemblymember William Hoyt was before him, Sam Hoyt has represented every woman, man and child in his district to the absolute best of his ability. “Throughout the years, Sam Hoyt has been an intergral part of the Stonewall Democrats of Western New York,” said Bryan Ball, Stonewall Democrats of Western New York President. “Together, we worked on advocacy for marriage equality, transgender civil rights and all LGBTQ civil rights. Along with his incredible staff and team, we have worked side by side to advance pro-equality legislation, and elect incredible pro-equality, progressive officials. We are proud to have been a part of the progressive vision and legacy Sam Hoyt lived for the 144th Assembly district for the past nearly twenty years.” Stonewall Democrats of Western New York wishes former Assemblymember Hoyt all the best in his new endeavor with Governor Cuomo’s administration in the Empire State Development Corporation.  SDWNY is thrilled that our Vice-President of Community Affairs Kitty Lambert and her partner, Cheryle Rudd, may become the very first legal New York State same-gender marriage later this month. Congratulations, Kitty and Cheryle! “The Buffalo News: “Gay wedding in Falls may be state’s first” Early July 24, with hundreds, if not thousands, of people on hand, Kitty Lambert and Cheryle Rudd will stand next to Niagara Falls in hopes of becoming the first gay couple married in New York State. “Prince William and Kate didn’t have as many people at their wedding as we will,” Lambert, one of the region’s most prominent gay rights activists, said Tuesday. “It’s going to be amazing. We’ve joked that we’re inviting 1,800 of our closest friends.” And yes, Lambert and Rudd promise to be the first couple legally married under the state’s historic marriage equality law, which takes effect that day. And what a party they have planned. The celebration will start with a reception on Goat Island at 7 p.m. July 23 and end with a civil marriage ceremony on Luna Island shortly after midnight. Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster will officiate. “Everyone is invited,” Lambert said. “We’re doing this because of what it will do for Western New York, and media is coming from all over the world to see it.” For Rudd, the wedding marks the end of a more-than-eight-year wait. “I’m thrilled,” she said. “We’re finally getting the same rights as everyone else. Nobody can take that away from us anymore.” Lambert and Rudd are not the only ones with out-of-the-ordinary wedding stories. Rick Crogan, head of the Main Street Business & Professional Association in Niagara Falls, finds himself in the unusual position of having to choose between politicians competing to officiate at his upcoming wedding. He said both politicians — Niagara Falls City Judges Diane L. Vitello and Angelo J. Morinello—believe strongly in the rights of gays to marry. “They’re both arguing over who’s going to do it,” he said. “It got to the point where Judge Vitello’s mother grabbed my cheeks and said, ‘You have to let Diane do it.’ ” Buffalo’s Unitarian Universalist Church is going out of its way to publicize its elation over the new law and its eagerness to marry gay couples once it takes effect. “We’re going to throw the doors open,” said the Rev. Joel Miller. “These are people we’ve been taking care of for a long time, so its nice to see the state finally doing that, too.” Miller said the church has hosted about 50 gay weddings since he arrived there 11 years ago and would love to see each of those couples return now that their marriages are recognized by the state. For Lambert and Rudd, the new law marks the end of a struggle that often tested their personal relationship. And for those who know them, it’s more than appropriate that they will be among the first, if not the first, to wed under New York’s new law. As president of OUTspoken for Equality, a local gay rights group, Lambert was instrumental is getting the State Legislature to allow gays to marry. “There’s a certain justice to that,” Dyster said of the wedding. “And I’m honored that she thought of Niagara Falls and agreed to shine the spotlight on Niagara Falls.” To pave the way for the big event, Lambert persuaded a local municipal clerk to be on hand to sign their marriage license after midnight and a local State Supreme Court judge to waive the normal 24-hour waiting period, which will put them a day ahead of most couples. She also called on former Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, a Buffalo Democrat and longtime friend, for help in securing Goat Island for the party. “There may be other weddings that day,” Hoyt said, “but I don’t think there will be another wedding as well-attended or as happy and enthusiastic as this one.” As she often does these days, Lambert is quick to mention the people who made her big day come to be, and State Sen. Mark Grisanti is often at the top of her very long list. Grisanti, a Buffalo Republican, cast one of the deciding votes in the law’s passage. “I’m happy for them,” he said Tuesday. “It’s important that they can finally realize that they count and that they matter to New York State.” Lambert said the wedding is open to the public and suggested the guest list will include a fair number of VIPs. She stopped short of naming names, but when asked about reports that comedian Ellen De- Generes might come, she confirmed the possibility. “All I can tell you is that she was invited,” Lambert said. “Wow, wouldn’t that be something if she came.” pfairbanks@buffnews.com " http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article486991.ece  It is with tremendous joy that Stonewall Democrats of Western New York celebrates the passage of the Marriage Equality Act by the NYS Legislature. At long last, New York will cease to segregate civil marriage rights based on gender. Families throughout our state today have been validated by our government, and given the civil rights once denied them. When same-gender marriages begin in New York, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer (LGBTQ) New Yorkers will have the 1,324 state and federal rights that come with a civil marriage. We commend our Governor Andrew Cuomo for his soaring leadership on this issue. Gov. Cuomo made good on his promise of bringing marriage equality to our great state, and without his non-partisan leadership, we would not have this great victory today. I thank—from the bottom of my heart—SDWNY Vice-President of Community Affairs and Outspoken for Equality President Kitty Lambert for her powerhouse leadership on Marriage Equality. For the last several years, Kitty and her partner Cheryl Rudd have worked their lives for this issue. Kitty Lambert has been the voice of the Marriage Equality movement in WNY, and all fair-minded New Yorkers will forever be grateful for her role in Marriage Equality’s passage. New York State could not have gained this victory for the civil rights movement without the ceaseless work and unfailing dedication of our Stonewall Democrats of Western New York members, allies and incredible community of local, grassroots advocates. It is because of each letter you signed or delivered, each phone call you made, each lobby visit you attended and each neighbor you talked about equality that we now have Marriage Equality in NYS. Thank you to the many SDWNY members and activists who have, throughout the years, worked so passionately for this issue. We thank Carol Speser, community leader and co-founder of SDWNY, for her astounding leadership and advocacy for Marriage Equality. We thank SDWNY Vice-President for Political Affairs Bruce Kogan for his heart and endless drive to work for equality. We thank SDWNY Secretary Thomas Peglowski and Treasurer Ronald Groth. We thank James Bragg, Rita Sanchez, Paul Morgan, Mark Nowak, Jamestown City Council President Gregg Rabb, Ari Moore, Thomas Gleed, Madeline Davis, Wendy Smiley, Andrew Randazzo, Terry Purdue, Edwin Martinez, Douglas Charles, Sean Cooney, Cynthia Appleton, Christopher Sasiadek, Michael James, Gail Wojtowicz, former NYS Sen. Antoine Thompson, Timothy Maggio, Melissa Breckenridge and Jennifer Diagostino, among many, many others. SDWNY extends a special commendation to NYS Assemblymember Sam Hoyt. Throughout his career in the Assembly, Sam Hoyt has fiercely championed the civil rights of LGBTQ New Yorkers. Always, Sam Hoyt has stood with the LGBTQ community. Marriage Equality is now law in NY because of his great work and advocacy. We also proudly extend our utmost gratitude to NYS Senator Timothy Kennedy. A pro-equality voice where previously we’d had none, Sen. Kennedy has proven to be among the most-staunch supporters of LGBTQ rights in the state legislature. As Andrew Cuomo did with his own election, Sen. Kennedy has made good on his promise of Marriage Equality, and SDWNY could not be more proud. We also extend our immense gratitude to Senator Mark Grisanti. With his vote in favor of Marriage Equality, Sen. Grisanti displayed a true profile in courage by standing up for what is right. Throughout our lobbying and working with Sen. Grisanti, he has proven himself to be a man of great wisdom and heart—a Republican willing to listen to the needs of our community, open to learning and, in the end, champion the cause of civil rights. Our state and country would be a much better place if we had more heroic legislators like Sen. Mark Grisanti. And we thank our WNY pro-equality Democratic legislators who helped pass Marriage Equality with their votes and advocacy—Assemblymembers Crystal People-Stokes and Mark Schroeder. We thank all our outstanding pro-equality elected officials: Congress members Rep. Higgins, Hochul and Slaughter; Erie County Legislators Majority Leader Maria Whyte and Lynn Marinelli; Buffalo Common Councilmembers David Rivera, Michael LoCurto and Michael Kearns. And we thank the Erie County Democratic Committee for their support—Chairman Len Lenihan, Executive Director Jeremy Zellner and Melissa Bochenski, as well as the Erie County Young Democrats. It is with this great happiness that we look to the next chapter of our involvement in the civil rights movement: the passage of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act. We remain saddened that our state has not extended protections from discrimination to our transgender sisters and brothers, and has not outlawed discrimination—for employment, for housing—based on an individual’s real or perceived gender identity and expression. We celebrate the victory of Marriage Equality today, and look forward to the day when every single LGBTQ American is afforded all her or his equal, civil rights. -Bryan Ball SDWNY Pride Events 06/02/2011
 Come show your pride and celebrate Buffalo Pride this weekend with the Stonewall Democrats of WNY. We will be marching, with Outspoken for Equality, in the Pride Parade and Dyke March, and will be having our Pride Raising Rally for LGBTQ civil rights this Saturday. Join SDWNY as we rally on Saturday with our community, allies and pro-equality elected officials such as Assemblymember Sam Hoyt and Sen. Tim Kennedy for Marriage and GENDA in NYS—and join us again on Sunday as we march in the parade to show our pride! Pride Events: Friday, June 3 · Madeline Davis GLBT Archives will have a show at the Karpeles Museum at Elmwood and North (not the one near D’Youville). The opening is Friday, June 3, 7-9 and SDWNY member Madeline will be in attendance. People can browse items from the museum collection as well. The show is being put on by the Museum Dept. at Buffalo State College. Saturday, June 4 · Pride Raising Rally: At 2PM on Saturday, June 4, in Niagara Square in front of Buffalo City Hall and Sen. Mark Grisanti’s (R) Buffalo office, we will be showing our pride in our community by rallying for our civil rights. Join Stonewall and Outspoken for Equality as we rally with our community, allies and elected officials in support of Marriage Equality Gender Expression Non-Discrimination—and call on our State Legislature to pass Equality. Among our scheduled speakers, we will be joined by NYS Assemblymember Sam Hoyt and NYS Senator Tim Kennedy. We will be rallying to show all of WNY’s elected officials the tremendous support that exists in Buffalo and WNY for Marriage Equality and GENDA! You can also RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=153341324734082 |