Our allies in the Legislature need your help

Last week, we told you about several candidates who would replace New York Senators who stand in the way of winning LGBT equality and justice. Today, we want to tell you about two of our allies in the Legislature who have stood by our side and who now need our help.

Both Senator Brian Foley, a Democrat, and Assemblywoman Janet Duprey, a Republican, have voted “yes” on the marriage bill. These votes in support of protections for LGBT New Yorkers and our families are now being used against these candidates. Our community must not allow attacks based on pro-LGBT votes to hurt fair-minded candidates in the 2010 elections.

In Brookhaven’s Senate District 3 we have endorsed Brian Foley, who voted “yes” on marriage despite some negative feedback from more conservative constituents in his district. Foley was willing to stand up and do the right thing for our community, and now our community needs to stand behind him against any anti-LGBT attacks.

In Plattsburgh and the North Country’s Assembly District 114 we have endorsed Janet Duprey, a Republican who changed her vote on marriage from “no” in 2007 to “yes” in 2009. Very soon after her original “no” vote, Duprey announced publicly that she regretted her decision and that she would change her vote the next time the bill came to the floor. She kept her word in 2009. Duprey also supports the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) and has voted for it each time it has come before the Assembly. Now we must stand behind her and against those who don’t support our community.

It is crucial that we defend our friends in the Legislature. Please donate now to the Pride Agenda PAC to keep Brian Foley and Janet Duprey in these crucial seats, and to allow us to support other candidates across the state who are also doing the right thing.