A labor of love

The current issue of The Advocate features an article called "A Labor of Love," which discusses the contribution that organized labor is making to the movement for LGBT equality. The Pride Agenda's "Pride in Our Union" program was referenced as a model for national organizations looking to organize support within politically powerful unions.

In the article, the Task Force's Thalia Zepatos said that Pride in Our Union is an "out front model" and adds that "what ESPA has done is really comprehensive, and other states are looking to them as a template." Not to toot our own horn, but the initiative is quite fabulous. There are currently just under 1 million working New Yorkers who are represented by unions that support marriage equality. Additionally, 300,000 New Yorkers are represented by unions who support transgender non-discrimination legislation--and that number gets bigger and bigger every month.

Pride in Our Union was launched last November, and to cap off an amazingly successful year, the Pride Agenda will be honoring one of New York's most influential labor leaders with the Douglas W. Jones Community Service Award at this year's Fall Dinner. Randi Weingarten, President of United Federation of Teachers, has been instrumental in helping to get some of the other major unions on board with LGBT issues. Union support was one of the key factors in getting the Assembly to vote on and pass the marriage bill on June 19.

You can read the complete article here.
You can find out more about Pride in Our Union here.