A Message from our Pride in the Pulpit Coordinator

Post by Lead Organizer Kate McDonough, coordinator of Pride in the Pulpit

I still struggle with Hebrew. Although I’ve been to a number of Shabbat services, I find myself tripping over every other word. Hebrew was something that we just did not cover in my Lutheran Sunday school. Last month, I had the pleasure of participating at the Nehirim Queer Shabbaton, a conference dedicated to LGBT Jewish spirituality and culture. As lunch ended one of the rabbis at the conference announced that we’d be singing a nigun, which excited me because I know some nigunim and hoped I could sing along. However, shortly after the song began, I realized this is a nigun I did not know and prepared to struggle with the words—then we hit the melody. The tune for the song was the same as "Lord Prepare me to be a Sanctuary," a song that I grew up singing—making the unfamiliar familiar.

The beauty of interfaith work is discovering commonality in the face of diversity. Likewise, the beauty of movement work is realizing that although we may use different words to describe the problems we see, we are in fact singing the same tune. For example, when a young boy is bullied at school for “acting like a girl,” one person will label it homophobia because gay men are perceived to be effeminate, another will say that it is transphobia because he is being attacked for his gender expression while a third will claim it has to do with gender norms and a narrow view of what it means to be male. Who’s right? I would say all of them. Sexual orientation is different from gender identity and expression, but homophobia and transphobia can be very much intertwined. Furthermore, a narrow prescription for gender roles can have harmful effects for the LGBT community as well as our overall society.

In recognizing that we sway to the same melody, we have an opportunity to overcome perceived difference and address intersecting oppression as a unified movement. Here lies our strength, for the walls of oppression will surely fall if we break them down from all sides. Our words can be different, but we can sing as one when our tune is the same.

Organized Labor Deepens Support for Transgender Equality and Justice at Annual Conference

Post by Director of Upstate Organizing, Sheilah Sable, who also serves as the statewide coordinator of the Pride Agenda’s Pride in Our Union program.

On Saturday, November 19, forty members of the Pride in Our Union New York City Committee gathered at CUNY’s Murphy Institute for the annual Pride and Solidarity in Action Conference.

As usual, we accomplished a lot. The afternoon kicked off with my welcoming remarks, reminding attendees of the important and powerful work that was done last spring by labor partners to help pass the Marriage Equality Act. We talked about the Pride Agenda’s upcoming work and how labor can once again bring numbers and voices in support of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), and improving the quality of life for New York’s LGBT laborers and our families in the areas of health care, access to benefits, accurate documents and safety.

For the opening panel, we were joined by Kevin Finnegan, the Political Director of 1199 SEIU and Denise Berkley, the Statewide Secretary of CSEA. These two unions combined represent over a million members. Denise and Kevin spoke eloquently about their own journeys around LGBT issues, how their unions supported marriage equality and how we can work together to pass GENDA. In honor of the work done by both unions, the Pride in Our Union committee presented Denise and Kevin with framed marriage equality placards as a token of thanks for their support and hard work. The placards were the same as those used by tens of thousands of activists during rallies and events in the years and days leading up to the passage of marriage.

The rest of the conference was chock full of great information on how to work with your union to maintain domestic partner benefits, tools you can use to determine which healthcare plans cover transgender needs (and which don’t), how to negotiate those benefits into the contract and how to be an ally for LGBT issues. Legal experts joined us to answer legal questions pertaining to LGBT issues. Sally Otos, a New York City attorney spoke to us about issues that arise as a result of marriage being legal in New York and only five other states, but not on the federal level due to the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. Noah Lewis, from the Transgender Legal Education and Defense Fund talked to the group about specific legal issues that affect transgender people and shared with us a credit card-sized document that transgender people can carry in their wallets to identify them as transgender if they encounter transphobic members of the police department or others who harass them in various public accommodation settings.

We enjoyed a meal together, took the opportunity to talk about the upcoming election work on behalf of the legislators who stood with us during the marriage vote and who commit to standing with us on GENDA; our campaign work around transgender equality and justice; in-district meetings and community ambassador trainings; building the volume of New Yorkers contacting their elected officials; and, recruitment for Equality & Justice Day, May 8, 2012.

This was a great conference, and Pride in Our Union is a vitally important program that supports our work for transgender equality and justice. If you are interested in Pride in Our Union or being involved in our other work, please contact me at (518) 649-8135 or send me an email at ssable AT prideagenda DOT org.

Photos: (Kevin Finnegan, SEIU 1199 and Denise Berkley, AFSCME CSEA Local 100); (Noah Lewis, Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and Sally Otos, NYC Attorney); (Kelly Canzoneri, DC 37, Local 1503; Jeff Oshins, DC 37, Local 375; Denise Berkley, CSEA Local 100; Gail Harris, DC 37, Local 375)

Transgender Day of Remembrance around New York State

Over the last several days, Pride Agenda staff have participated in Transgender Day of Remembrance gatherings across the state. Captured below are their collective reporting and musings about the events, all of which have helped to strengthen the Pride Agenda’s commitment to transgender equality and justice and the critical work that lies ahead.


Buffalo

On Monday evening, November 21, Spectrum Transgender Group of Western New York in Buffalo held a Transgender Day of Remembrance event at Buffalo United Artists Theater. A diverse crowd of transgender and allied Buffalonians gathered to remember those who were victims of transphobic violence, discuss the need for transgender protections and honor allies who have stood up for transgender equality. The event was both moving and educational. At the end of the memorial, organizers had attendees break into groups to participate in role-plays about some of the challenges faced by transgender New Yorkers. (Alden)


Capital District

People from all over the Capital District came together on Friday evening to celebrate and mourn the lives of transgender people who were killed in the past year. We had a panel of wonderful speakers including Police Chief Krokoff, who assured the audience that his department was committed to protecting the safety of the transgender community. Speakers shared their diverse experiences with being transgender; all had the same message of resilience in the face of great hardships. Reverend Sam Trumbore of First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany spoke about the courage of transgender individuals to live their lives with authenticity.

Having moved to Albany eight months ago, this was the first time I felt I really belong to a community here, more so than I have in many other places I have lived for years. As the seventy-five attendees gathered in a circle for the candlelight vigil, I could sense the shared warmth and support that filled the room. Each name read aloud was accompanied by a description of the person’s life or personality. One woman owned a beauty salon, another was earning a GED to go to nursing school, another helped form a transgender activism organization, another worked making piñatas to support herself and her mother and so on…

In the closing, I reminded the crowd that while we are sad, we must not be dismayed. We can see around us that progress is happening and we all have a great opportunity to participate. We must make New York State a place where transgender people are treated with dignity, have equal opportunity to have a job, provide for their families, go to school and or simply go shopping without getting harassed. (Christopher) Photo credit: Cindy Schultz

Kingston

Last night, on November 20, I attended the Transgender Day of Remembrance event in Kingston. There were about 30 of us in the room and as with many of these events, it was a profound combination of a somber mood and an acknowledgement of resilience, strength and a commitment to work to end the ignorance and hate that perpetuates crimes against transgender people. Members of the Mid-Hudson Valley Transgender Association read names and acknowledged lives of transgender people who have been murdered as a result of transphobic hate crimes around the globe. After the ceremony, members of the audience were asked to share their successes and challenges in living in a state that doesn’t value its transgender and gender non-conforming citizens.


Members of PFLAG and parents of transgender children pledged to work with the Pride Agenda to ensure passage of GENDA in New York State. (Sheilah)


Nassau County

Over 100 members of the Long Island LGBT community came together for the 8th annual Long Island Transgender Day of Remembrance service and reception. The evening was organized by the LI-TDOR Committee and was hosted by Temple Sinai of Bay Shore. The community came together in peace and solidarity in order to remember those transgender people lost to us this year. The memory of those who were murdered was honored by the singing of songs, the sharing of stories, the lighting of candles and the recitations of the names of those no longer with us. (Joanna)

New York City

At the Center - I attended the Transgender Day of Remembrance event at the LGBT Center in Manhattan. The evening was a memorial to the more than 200 transgender people who lost their lives in the past year because of violence caused by transphobia. The program began with brief introductions by Cristina, a lead counselor for the Gender Identity Project (GIP), and Glennda Testone, Executive Director of the LGBT Center. The GIP provides an opportunity for trans-identified individuals to interact with other people who are trans-identified and allied service providers, who are both powerful role models and supportive agents in the process of normalizing a person’s trans-identity.

After a candlelight vigil down West 14th Street, transgender community members shared their personal stories and remembered the friends and family lost. (Bryan)

At Housing Works - It was very meaningful for me to attend Housing Works’ Transgender Day of Remembrance. It’s important to acknowledge those who’ve been taken away from us due to transphobic violence, but it’s never an easy thing to do. At one point during the service a video was screened which showed the pictures of those killed because of their gender identity or expression. I saw the faces of people who were as young as 15 years old. However, among the sorrow and loss, there was a profound sense of hope and a determination to advocate for equality and justice. Lynn Walker, the director of housing operations at Housing Works, spoke of the importance to fight for transgender civil rights legislation, stating: “we have power and we need to bug our senators--it’s time to get involved” Others spoke of the importance of walking the path that past transgender civil rights advocates have paved for us so that the next generation can go even further. Lastly, the day was full of wonderful performances, ranging from the East New York Choir to one of the best drag performances I’ve ever seen. We cannot ignore the tragic reality that the transgender community is frequently a target of violent attacks. In addition, we cannot let this sorrow drive us to complacency--things will only get better if we join together and work to make them better. (Kate)

Palmyra

In Palmyra this past Sunday, November 20, there was a Transgender Day of Remembrance memorial service at the Zion Episcopal Church. Shauna Marie O’Toole hosted a church service filled with hymns and prayers honoring the victims of transphobic violence and discrimination. Reverend Susan Kohlmeier gave a sermon sharing her personal experience with the transgender community and called on us all to be welcoming. The event was an opportunity for community members to come together and remember those we have lost because of transphobic violence. (Jonathan)

Rochester

In commemoration of Transgender Day of Remembrance, the Rochester Transgender Equality & Justice Coalition hosted a Celebration of Life and Rally at the Auditorium Center. The event attracted a diverse crowd of over 20 members of the community to honor those individuals who have faced transphobic violence and address the need for a transgender non-discrimination law in New York.

The event was led by Pride Agenda staff, who spoke about the need for a statewide transgender non-discrimination law. Speakers included KaeLyn Rich, Chapter Director for the New York Civil Liberties Union, Kelly Clark, Community Safety Director from the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley and Pamela Barres, a member of the Pride Agenda’s Board of Directors. Every speaker shared their perspective on transphobia and the need for New York to finally pass a statewide transgender rights law. (Alden)

Staten Island

The evening began with the reading of the names of the dead and an inspiring song. This was followed by a panel, led by Ms. Ron B, that included Taniyah, Sarina, Haylie and Aiden—four transwomen of color and the transman who facilitates the support group “TRANSistors.” They told powerful stories of surviving assault, self-doubt and thoughts of suicide, rape and family rejection. But they have found strength inside, from friends, from family and from the Staten Island LGBT Community Center. Now they are all in school, employed and pursuing their dreams. All 50 of the attendees, ranging in age from teens to elders, were moved by their stories and signed postcards in support of GENDA. (Desma)

Suffolk County

In observance of the National Transgender Day of Remembrance, the Interweave Group of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stony Brook held a service in memory of those transgender individuals who were murdered over the past year. The service included a recitation of the names of those lost to us. Candles were lit for each of the 20 names that were read. The service was followed by a panel discussion that addressed the need for protections for transgender New Yorkers, including legislation that protects them from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations. (Joanna)

The Transgender Day of Remembrance is an important and historical day in LGBT history and the fight for equality and justice for all members of our community. The Pride Agenda staff were proud to be among allies and activists who organized these events so that we would have the opportunity to acknowledge our losses and come together and recommit to the work ahead. For more information about the Pride Agenda’s Transgender Equality and Justice work, please contact our Transgender Rights Organizer, Christopher Argyros at cargyros AT prideagenda DOT org or (518) 649-8140.

Leaders in LGBT Health Gather in Albany

Post by Kimberly Eisen, coordinator of the New York State LGBT Health and Human Services Network

This week, the New York State LGBT Health and Human Services Network (the Network) held its 2011 Network Annual Meeting and Retreat. The Network is a statewide coalition of over 55 LGBT-specific and LGBT-supportive non-profit groups and organizations that serve the non-HIV/AIDS-related health and human services of LGBT New Yorkers.[link to membership page on the website] Network members know from experience and thorough research that LGBT New Yorkers face unacceptable health disparities when compared with rest of the population, and are committed to closing these gaps.

The Pride Agenda, as the coordinator of the Network, hosted the retreat in Albany at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center.

With over 35 organizations represented at the yearly planning meeting, the Network focused on reaffirming its mission of ensuring and enhancing the ability to provide needed services to LGBT communities. The work of the Network in the upcoming year will focus on increasing and maintaining public funding for LGBT health and human services, strengthening communications and collaborations among member agencies and improving the sustainability of member agencies in communities across New York State, as well as improving the vitality of the coalition.

As a group, the Network conducts its primary work in five areas – Funding Advocacy, Capacity Building and Technical Assistance, Networking and Peer Support, Membership and Cultural Competency. Each member agency participates in the creation of a work plan that reflects these priorities and addresses the health and human services needs of LGBT communities throughout New York State. Additionally, member organizations participate in issue- and population-based committees. New York State LGBT Health Month, which is held each year in March, is an example of the work that is being done in those committees.

We also had some fun! We were treated to a duet of “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart,” some lunch time trivia and an impromptu gathering in the hotel restaurant to watch “Dancing with the Stars.”

It’s not often that non-profit professionals have the opportunity to network in person and discuss the challenges and successes of their work. The Network Annual Meeting and Retreat has proven to be an important opportunity for statewide colleagues to work together in person on statewide collaborative initiatives.

In the end it comes down to everyday people. The service providers in the Network collectively and individually find ways to make sure all people receive the type of care they need, including LGBT people. Have you ever faced a barrier to good health because of who you are?

Celebrating a huge success in Albany!

More than 100 supporters joined us on Thursday, September 22 for An Albany Celebration, a cocktail party benefiting the Empire State Pride Agenda. The event was generously hosted by Albany restaurateur, blogger, activist and philanthropist Matt Baumgartner at his beautiful North Albany loft. Supporters from across the Capital Region joined in the celebration, and included elected officials, union and community leaders, people of faith, business owners, activists and past and present members of the Pride Agenda Board of Directors.

There was clearly a lot to celebrate at the event, including this summer’s passage of the marriage equality law and the commencement of weddings, as well as the 20th Anniversary of the Empire State Pride Agenda. Libby Post, long-time Albany activist and founding Co-Chair of the Pride Agenda Board of Directors, welcomed guests to the event and introduced Pride Agenda Executive Director Ross Levi. Ross spoke of how important the community in the Capital region is to the work of the Pride Agenda and thanked guests for supporting our work for two decades. He also shared a vision of the organization’s work in a post-marriage New York.

Thank you for helping to make this event a great success! For more information about getting involved in future special events in the Capital Region, please contact Roger Calderon at rcalderon AT prideagenda.org.

Volunteers Celebrate Successful Marriage Work in Buffalo

Post by Western New York Organizer Alden Bashaw

Last week volunteers from the Pride Agenda, Human Rights Campaign, Marriage Equality New York, OutSpoken for Equality and the Stonewall Democrats of Western New York got together to celebrate the successful campaign for marriage in the Queen City at Allen Street Hardware in Buffalo. The tireless work of volunteers in Buffalo, New York State’s second largest city, helped deliver two critical votes for the Marriage Equality Act in the state senate this year: Senator Mark Grisanti and Senator Tim Kennedy. About 30 volunteers gathered to celebrate the hard work on the marriage campaign.

Over great food and a few drinks, activists reminisced about the marriage campaign and talked about the work ahead to ensure equality and justice for transgender New Yorkers. Buffalo should be famous for more than just hot wings. The fervor for justice I’ve seen from Buffalonians is about as hot as it gets! It can be expected that the diehard volunteers from Buffalo will again play a critical role in the campaign for transgender equality and justice over the coming year. I look forward to continuing to work in the vibrant and unique community of Buffalo as we continue to build partnerships and allies in our fight for LGBT equality and justice.

Rochester Activists Gather to Celebrate Successful Work on Marriage Campaign

Post by Western New York Organizer Alden Bashaw

Last night Rochester area activists gathered with Director of Upstate Organizing Sheilah Sable and me, along with our local community partners - Equality Rochester, Pride At Work, Marriage Equality New York and Human Rights Campaign - to celebrate the hard work that our community put into this year’s successful marriage campaign. The work of all our organizations and our steadfast volunteers was critical to Sen. James Alesi becoming the first Republican in the Senate to come out publically in support of marriage for all loving couples in New York State. About 40 dedicated volunteers joined us at Shea’s Restaurant in Rochester, with entertainment for the evening provided by Deb Mangione.

Volunteers are the backbone of all of our organizations. They help all of us to achieve the many victories that we have under our belts, and at times when we get discouraged their tenacity reminds us of why we do the work we do. Fittingly, one of the couples who volunteered on the marriage campaign actually booked the restaurant where we held the event last night for their wedding rehearsal dinner in October. The Pride Agenda, Equality-Roc, Pride at Work, MENY and HRC have been privileged and lucky to share and work with so many talented and dedicated volunteers in Rochester. I personally look forward to continuing to work with all of our volunteers as we push forward on winning full equality and justice for LGBT New Yorkers and our families.

There was much talk last night of the broad and cohesive coalition that was built in the Rochester region through the marriage campaign. While everyone took the time to celebrate by enjoying some fabulous food (I’m going to have to run a few extra miles this week after all of those chicken and waffle bites) and a few drinks, there was a clear sense in the air that while marriage is a huge victory for our community, we still have work to do to ensure equality and justice for all New Yorkers. All of the speakers talked about taking the momentum we have built in our community and using it to work together to finally pass a statewide transgender rights law.

Please email me at abashaw AT prideagenda DOT org to get more involved in Western New York, and check out the rest of the photos on our Facebook page.