May 4, 2007
RAINBOW WARRIORS
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GENDA fans at Equality Day |
Sunny skies smiled on Empire State Pride Agenda's Equality and Justice Day in Albany last Tuesday — it was the largest LGBT state lobbying effort in more than 30 years, and among those pushing for LGBT equality were hundreds of Housing Works clients and staff, including dozens of transgender folks. "I'm just really moved by how many people care enough about these issues to come to Albany today," said Lynn Walker, director of Housing Works' East New York transgender program.
Equality Day began in earnest with a rally in the in-bloom park adjacent to the massive 19th-century Capitol building. Empire State Pride Agenda Deputy Executive Director Carmen Vazquez emceed much of the event, which featured speeches by openly gay State Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell and openly HIV-positive State Senator Tom Duane. While gay marriage captivated the crowd's attention, Duane reminded the thousands in attendance not to forget the importance of pushing for the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and expression. "We are all transgender now!," he declared. Although the 2003's Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, it does not protect trans people.
After the rally nearly 1,100 LGBT folks and their supporters met with 200 state legislators on both sides of the aisle. Passing GENDA, as well as the Dignity for All Students Act, which prohibits bullying and harassment in schools based on gender expression and identity, were the legislative priorities for the Housing Works contingent. Housing Works State Organizer Charles Long, who coordinated visits to nine State Senators and Assembly members, said it was a productive day. "The highlight for me was to see how clients pointed out that LGBT equality wasn't just about gay marriage. What's the point of marriage equality if we don't have equality for every one?" he said.
Housing Works transgender program social worker Diana Oliva certainly had a productive encounter with Bronx Assemblyman Luis Diaz, who was on his way out of the office when Oliva arrived. "I asked him if he supported GENDA and he said 'I don't have a problem with it, of course I'm in support.' The fact that he said he didn't have a problem with it made me wonder," explained Oliva. "So I kept saying, 'Are you going to vote to pass GENDA, yes or no?' He finally said yes. That was all I needed to hear!"
Not all legislators were so receptive. According to one Empire State Pride Agenda blogger, a staffer for State Senate Republican Mary Lou Roth told a constituent, "We're not meeting with any of you people today."