Pro-LGBT candidates need us all tomorrow -- Every vote will count!

Tomorrow's Primary Election could impact LGBT equality and justice in New York State for years to come. Can you really afford to sit this one out? The Empire State Pride Agenda has endorsed 20 pro-LGBT champions for tomorrow's primary.

• Vote Sen. Eric Schneiderman for Attorney General tomorrow.
• Find out if we've endorsed a Senate or Assembly candidate in your district. Check our Primary Election Guide >

Sen. Eric Schneiderman has been a tireless advocate for the rights of LGBT New Yorkers and our families. As a State Senator, he has always gone above and beyond for equality: advocating for us in his district, marshalling pro-LGBT votes from his colleagues, leading floor debates on marriage equality, and taking the initiative to sponsor pro-LGBT legislation. As attorney general , he will never back down in the pursuit of justice. We encourage you to vote for him and our other endorsements in tomorrow's primary election.

We need all LGBT New Yorkers and our supporters tomorrow. Check out our Primary Election Guide, listed below, and share with everyone you know in the state who cares about equality and justice. If you're not sure, you can find out your district at our action center, or find out for a friend.

Don't forget to go out and vote tomorrow, September 14 in the Primary Election for the candidates who will go to Albany and fight for the LGBT community and our issues!

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2010 PRIMARY ELECTION GUIDE

STATEWIDE RACE
Attorney General -- Sen. Eric Schneiderman (D), Open

NEW YORK STATE SENATE
SD 10 (Queens) -- Lynn Nunes (D), Challenger
SD 16 (Queens) -- Toby Ann Stavisky (D), Incumbent
SD 18 (Brooklyn) -- Velmanette Montgomery (D), Incumbent
SD 30 (Harlem) -- Bill Perkins (D), Incumbent
SD 31 (Upper Manhattan and Bronx) -- Adriano Espaillat (D), Open
SD 32 (Bronx) -- Carlos Ramos (D), Challenger
SD 46 (Albany) -- Neil Breslin (D), Incumbent
SD 58 (Buffalo) -- Tim Kennedy (D), Challenger
SD 60 (Buffalo) -- Antoine Thompson (D), Incumbent

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
AD 39 (Queens) -- Francisco Moya (D), Open
AD 73 (Manhattan) -- Jonathan Bing (D), Incumbent
AD 114 (Plattsburgh/North Country) -- Janet Duprey (R), Incumbent
AD 119 (Syracuse) -- Phillip LaTessa (D), Open
AD 131 (Rochester) -- Harry Bronson (D), Open
AD 42 (Brooklyn) -- Rhoda Jacobs (D), Incumbent
AD 76 (Bronx) -- Peter M. Rivera (D), Incumbent
AD 82 -- (Bronx) -- Michael Benedetto (D), Incumbent
AD 144 (Buffalo) -- Sam Hoyt (D), Incumbent
AD 80 (Bronx) -- Naomi Rivera (D), Incumbent

Tim Kennedy reaffirms commitment to LGBT equality & justice

Tim Kennedy (D), running in a tight primary race against Sen. Bill Stachowski (D) in the 58th district, was out campaigning at the Buffalo AFL CIO Council’s Labor Day Parade and Picnic in South Buffalo this Monday. Pride Agenda staff and volunteers were also there, signing up marriage equality and transgender civil rights supporters. When Kennedy saw us, he quickly came over to talk to us, once again vocally stating his strong support for marriage equality and transgender civil rights.

He even signed our Supporter Sign Up Sheet to further document his support on both issues. Kennedy and his staff also took the opportunity to thank the Pride Agenda for its endorsement and involvement in his campaign to oust Bill Stachowski, who has consistently voted against measures supporting LGBT equality and justice, including SONDA, the most basic of civil rights protections based on sexual orientation. With the primary less than a week away, Kennedy needs support from the LGBT community and our allies to bring about long overdue change in the 58th Senate District.

Post by Western New York Organizer Alden M. Bashaw.

Governor Paterson Signs Dignity for All Students Act!

You did it! Thanks to years of advocacy by committed people like you, today Governor Paterson signed into law landmark statewide legislation with specific protections for LGBT youth. Won't you take a moment to send an email to the governor thanking him for signing The Dignity for All Students Act today?

The Dignity for All Students Act prohibits and combats bullying and discrimination in public schools, including bias harassment based on traits like race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression. It requires teacher training on how to discourage incidents of bias harassment, inclusion of discrimination and harassment awareness in students' civility and character education and the reporting of bias incidents to the State Education Department.

"Dignity" recognizes that students who are bullied can't concentrate on learning, may drop out of school and sometimes take their own lives. It also marks the first time a New York state law has included explicit protections for transgender New Yorkers.

Today's historic victory is the result of 10 years of hard work. In 2000, Pride Agenda joined with our partner GLSEN to pull together the Dignity for All Students Coalition, which now numbers over 200 very diverse groups like New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Anti Defamation League. Thanks to a decade of your consistent pressure, the leadership of Governor Paterson and the tenacious work of its sponsors, Assemblymember Daniel O'Donnell and Senator Tom Duane, "Dignity" passed the Legislature earlier this year with overwhelmingly bipartisan support.

It takes a minute to send a thank you note with our effective and easy-to-use action center. Your action today also sends a message to the next governor and all candidates running for office: we take action when our elected officials keep their promises -- and when they don't. You will also be signed up for our action center so you can continue to make your voice heard on the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) and marriage equality.

Once you thank Governor Paterson, please spread the word and forward this email to everyone you know who cares about student safety, and share the link on your social networks like Facebook or Twitter. No student should have to fear for their safety while trying to learn in school. Thank you for everything you did to help win this historic victory today.

P.S. -- You can also make a donation to our PAC to support pro-LGBT candidates who have committed to go above and beyond for our community --like this governor did today.

ELECTION ALERT: Our Primary Election Guide for Tuesday, September 14

We are one week away from an election that could determine the progress that New York will be able to achieve on marriage equality and GENDA for years to come. Pro-LGBT voters must make our voices heard this Tuesday. We can show candidates that supporting the LGBT community is both the right thing to do -- and politically prudent.

Check out our Primary Election Guide. It has what you need to make an informed choice in the voting booth on Tuesday, September 14 regarding which candidates support LGBT equality and justice issues. Then, make sure your friends and family know about it: forward this email and share the Primary Election Guide on social networks.

The Empire State Pride Agenda's Political Action Committee has endorsed 18 pro-LGBT candidates for the New York State Primary who have all stated on our questionnaire their unequivocal support for issues including transgender civil rights, marriage equality and public funding for LGBT health and human services across the state. These candidates include:

:: Attorney General — Sen. Eric Schneiderman (D), Open seat ::

A tireless advocate who has gone above and beyond simply voting for our rights, Senator Schneiderman has advocated for us in his district, marshaled pro-LGBT votes from his colleagues and led floor debates on our issues, such as marriage equality. He is not only a staunch supporter, but a true leader on LGBT issues.

:: Senate District 10 (Queens) — Lynn Nunes (D), Challenger ::

Lynn Nunes has proactively stated his support for marriage equality, transgender civil rights and other issues important to the LGBT community throughout his campaign. His opponent voted against the marriage bill and failed to fill out the Pride Agenda candidate questionnaire seeking our endorsement.

:: Senate District 58 (Buffalo) — Tim Kennedy (D), Challenger ::

Committed to cosponsoring the GENDA bill, the marriage equality bill and other LGBT family legislation, Tim Kennedy faces a 30-year incumbent who voted against SONDA, the most basic anti-discrimination protections for lesbian and gay people, and was one of the decisive no votes against marriage in the Senate. Now he has made his opposition to our equality a central theme in his campaign. He tried to turn Kennedy's pro-LGBT stance against him, but Kennedy has responded by publicly and clearly reiterating his support.

Please, help make history in 2010. If there is no endorsed candidate in your district -- or even if there is -- you can go above and beyond and volunteer on a key race or make a contribution to our election PAC.

Bereavement leave for same-sex couples signed by governor

A-2563a/S6177a prevents employers who extend funeral or bereavement leave to an employee for the death of a spouse, child, parent or other relative from denying the same leave for the death of an employee's same-sex committed partner. The new law defines same-sex committed partners as those who are financially and emotionally interdependent in a manner commonly presumed of spouses.

Pride Agenda has championed this critical legislation from the beginning to fill at least some of the gaps caused by the denial of marriage equality to New York’s committed same-sex couples. Big thanks to Assemblymember Deborah Glick and Senator Velmanette Montgomery for serving our community as lead sponsors of such an important bill!

Though New York State government recognizes the marriages of same-sex couples performed elsewhere, this new legislation makes it absolutely clear that our families will be treated fairly during the most trying of times. Every kind of family knows the pain of loss, and employers shouldn't single out certain employees to treat differently.

What it takes to be OUR Miss New York

In a year where we are celebrating the passage of the Dignity for All Students Act, a law to combat LGBT bias-based bullying, harassment and discrimination in the state's public schools and the first New York State law to include protections based on gender identity and expression, we are inspired by advocates who are working so hard to fight discrimination and open the dialogue around the issues facing the LGBT community, and especially our youth.

That is why we are so pleased to invite you to join us at the Empire State Pride Agenda's Fall Dinner on Thursday, October 14, where we will recognize the recipient of our 2010 Douglas W. Jones Leadership Award, Claire Buffie, Miss New York 2010.

For the first time in the 90 year history of the Miss America Pageant, Claire selected LGBT equality as her platform, working to engage and inspire straight allies to understand the discrimination LGBT youth face. Her groundbreaking platform, Straight for Equality: Let's Talk, is based on her past work with organizations such as PFLAG and A Thousand Moms to break the stigma of marginalized youth, eliminate discriminatory vocabulary and change the climate in New York schools by opening the dialogue about equality among youth, teens and adults alike. She, like the majority of New Yorkers, recognizes the unequal treatment that the LGBT community faces and is dedicated instilling pride, dignity and respect in developing minds and compassionate hearts.

Please join us in recognizing her at our 2010 Fall Dinner. The Fall Dinner is our chance to raise critical funds that will go directly to our efforts to increase awareness of our issues and elect supportive candidates for office. We are prepared to change the debate in Albany, support those who stood by us and bring in new legislators who consider our rights a real priority. In the coming weeks, we'll be helping to elect those who have stood by our side as well as new candidates who we can be certain will bring about real change in Albany.

Change happens when our community and our allies, like Claire, come together and support those who can -- and will -- fight for our equality right here in New York. This work can only happen with your generosity -- and with it, we will lead our community to equality and justice. That is why we want you to join us on October 14 and be part of this important night.

You will also be joined by our hosts for the 2010 Fall Dinner, award-winning actress and longtime LGBT advocate, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Bravo's SVP Original Programming and Development and host of Watch What Happens: Live!, Andy Cohen. In addition, you will be joined by opinion makers, celebrities and elected officials from across New York and the country.

And, it is not too late to be added to our invitation -- the deadline is being extended until Wednesday, September 1! Sign up right now, and join our growing list of Table Captains and Sponsors! Join us in celebrating our community and our allies who are committed to supporting our work.

You can help elect 5 more champions for equality and justice

We're only 23 days from the New York Primary Election -- just over three weeks away -- when voters could be deciding the fate of our rights for years to come. We're keeping the ball rolling here at the Pride Agenda and are thrilled to release our latest round of endorsements passed by the Pride Agenda's Political Action Committee (PAC). Will you help us tip the balance of the Senate and hold onto a supportive, pro-LGBT Assembly?

Make a contribution of $60 to Pride Agenda PAC -- one dollar for each pro-equality candidate we've endorse so far. Or make a contribution of $23 for each day left until polls open.

Volunteer your time on key races that will really make a difference. If you've never volunteered on a campaign before, now's your chance to take the fight for equality into your own hands and meet others who want to make a difference in New York.

If elected, the following candidates will help us continue fighting for our legislative priorities, such as the freedom to marry and the most basic of civil rights protections for transgender New Yorkers:

New York State Senate
Primary Election --
SD 31 (Upper Manhattan and Bronx) -- Adriano Espaillat (D), Open
SD 18 (Brooklyn) -- Velmanette Montgomery (D), Incumbent

General Election --
SD 22 (Brooklyn) -- Michael DiSanto (D), Challenger
SD 38 (Orange and Rockland Counties) -- David Carlucci (D), Open

New York State Assembly
General Election --
AD 1 (Suffolk County) -- Fred Thiele (I), Incumbent

Check out our online Election Center for a full list of endorsements, and stay tuned for our upcoming 2010 Election Guide, that we urge you to share with everyone in your life who supports full equality and justice.

In a time with some frustrating delays in our movement, from the federal courts to the halls of Congress, we know that we can make change happen in New York right NOW. We know we can count on you to be a part of that change. Contribute to our PAC or volunteer in a key race today. Let's build LGBT power in Albany together.