Tag Archives: Empire State Pride Agenda

Paterson Calls Special Session For Nov. 10th – Senate Marriage Vote Possible

Although he originally promised that it would occur this week, NY Gov. David Paterson has called the state legislature back for a special “unfinished business” session to be held on November 10th, during which same-sex marriage may finally be voted upon by the state Senate. Paterson wants what is technically called an extraordinary session on Nov. 10 that would address …

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Politicos, Activists, Stars Come Out For Pride Agenda’s Annual Dinner

Last night I attended the Empire State Pride Agenda’s annual dinner, a massive and swank affair held in sprawling ballroom where activists mingled with Gov. Paterson, Mayor Bloomberg, Sen. Chuck Schumer, emcee Margaret Cho, Alan Cumming, Cheyenne Jackson, and Anne Hathaway (who brought her openly gay brother and smokin’ hot father – who is an LGBT activist/ally in his own …

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Skelos: NY Senate Will Vote On Marriage

One day after he was installed as Senate Majority Leader in a coup that Democrats attempted to end by turning off the lights in the Senate room, Sen. Dean Skelos is telling the press that he will bring marriage equality to a vote before the current session ends in less than ten days. New Senate President Pedro Espada agrees and …

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NY Unions Back Marriage Equality

A coalition of New York’s largest labor unions including the AFL-CIO are working with the Empire State Pride Agenda to sway state Senators into the light on marriage equality. Community organizers from the powerful health care union 1199 SEIU and its sister union, building service union SEIU 32BJ, have worked for the past few weeks with the Empire State Pride …

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New From The Pride Agenda

These ads keep getting better. The Empire State Pride Agenda is asking for help in keeping this ad on the air and in the face of our state Senators.

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NY Deputy Secretary Of Education: Schools Don’t Teach About ANY Marriages

The Empire State Pride Agenda delivers this lie-dispelling message from the New York Deputy Secretary of Education. Visit the Pride Agenda’s “Same-Sex Marriage Myths Busted” page for more.

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Turning Up The Pressure

The NY Daily News is reporting that the Empire State Pride Agenda is using polls conducted in the home districts of ten Republican state senators to convince them to flip their votes on marriage equality. Over the past several months, the group commissioned polls from Boston-based Kiley & Co. in the districts of at least 10 GOP state senators. The …

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Marriage Bill Begins Journey Through New York Legislature

The New York Assembly has moved openly gay rep Daniel O’Donnell’s marriage equality bill through committee and may vote on the bill as early as next week. Empire State Pride Agenda urges New Yorkers to contact their Assembly rep and request their support.

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Equality & Justice Day In Albany

JMG reader Gavin sends us the above shot of the Empire State Pride Agenda’s Equality & Justice Day in Albany yesterday, where over 2000 LGBT activists lobbied their state reps for equal rights. Gavin reports that ten bus loads of activists came from NYC alone. Visit Gavin’s blog for lots of great photos.

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Equality & Justice Day Underway In Albany

The Empire State Pride Agenda’s Equality & Justice Day is underway in Albany, where thousands of activists are joining Gov. Patterson, openly gay Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, and other pro-gay pols to lobby the legislature for LGBT rights. (Photo via HRC Back Story)

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Fighting The Lies About Religious Freedom

Via the Empire State Pride Agenda: One of the most dominant myths used by forces opposed to marriage equality is that allowing same-sex couples to marry would somehow negatively affect religious institutions or apply restrictions to their freedom to worship as they choose. Although this myth is patently false, that has not stopped some opponents from using the claim to …

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New York Marriage Action Alert!

At this writing, New York Gov. David Paterson is holding a news conference announcing the submission of his marriage equality bill. The Empire State Pride Agenda urges all New Yorkers to contact their representatives using this form and request that they uphold the American ideal of equality for all citizens. Do it now, please.

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NY Gov. David Paterson To Reintroduce Marriage Equality Bill

How about THIS for some momentum? Gov. David Paterson said Wednesday he plans to re-introduce legislation to make same-sex marriages legal in New York. The legislation is expected to mirror a gay-marriage bill introduced in 2007 by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who — with Paterson as his running mate — campaigned in 2006 on a platform that included marriage equality. …

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HomoQuotable – Alan Van Capelle

“Vermont was the first state to pass a law recognizing same-sex couples through civil unions and now becomes the first state to provide real marriage equality for same-sex couples through a vote in the state legislature. This is truly a victory for LGBT people in Vermont and across the country. “But I’m embarrassed for New York State. “We hope that …

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Sen. Chuck Schumer Comes Out For Marriage Equality And Repeal Of DOMA

At an Empire State Pride Agenda dinner in NYC last night, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer reversed his previous stance, publicly endorsing marriage equality and called for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. From our reliable ally Elizabeth Benjamin at the New York Daily News: Schumer: “It’s time. Equality is something that has always been a hallmark of …

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Happy V.D.

Gay singer/songwriter Matt Alber has “lent” the video of his lovely single End Of The World to the Empire State Pride Agenda for this Valentine’s message. Alber has been added to the cast of Defying Inequality, Broadways all-star fundraiser for marriage equality which benefits the Pride Agenda and other groups.

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Broadway Friday

Defying Inequality, Broadway’s all-star benefit for marriage equality, plays the Gershwin Theater on Monday, February 23th. Appearing: Nathan Lane, Harvey Fierstein, Matt Alber, David Hyde Pierce, Cyndi Lauper, Judy Gold, Mary Testa, the NYC Gay Men’s Chorus, Alison Janney, Douglas Carter Beane, Lynda Carter (!!!), Gavin Creel, Kerry Butler, and many many more. Among the numbers to be performed will …

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Just Issued: Guide To Your Rights As A Gay New Yorker Married Out Of State

The Empire State Pride Agenda, the ACLU, the NYCLU, and Lambda Legal have collaborated to create a document called Your Government Respects Your Marriage: Developments in New York State Agency Recognition of Same-Sex Couples’ Out-of-State Marriages. View the complete publication here. (PDF) From the NYCLU press release: “Couples in New York who have never known true security for their families …

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Gay City News On Senate Deal Collapse

Gay City News’ Paul Schindler has written a great recap of this tumultuous week in the New York Senate. If you’ve been confused by the alliances, the deals, the un-deals, and where things stand at the moment – read the story. An excerpt: [Sen. Malcolm] Smith has taken a gamble – he and his fellow Democrats may well be consigned …

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The Empire State Pride Agenda Responds To Criticism On Marriage Equality

After my Saturday post about the New York Times’ claim that the Empire State Pride Agenda was in a “quiet period” during the most exciting time for gay activism in decades, the ESPA contacted me to dispute the story. I offered a chance to make a correction to the Times report and below is their response. The author is Josh …

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