Pride at Work AFL-CIO Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter
If you believe that the fight for social justice doesn't just stop at the doorsteps of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, but that true social justice means an end to racial discrimination, sexism, the right to join a union, the right to a living wage and health care, and peace above war, then you belong with Pride At Work.
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Monday, March 24, 2025
Hell NO! USPS Protest Against Privatization
On March 23 at the Rochester Main Post Office, workers and supporters rallied against the Trump administration's efforts to privatize or restructure the US Postal Services. This would jeopardize the jobs of nearly 8 million people, reduce services - especially to rural areas, and services to 50 million households and raise shipping cost. Hell NO to privatization! Our chapter attended the rally and provided signs.
For more information go to this link: https://www.nalc.org/news/body/Public-flyer.pdf
Monday, March 10, 2025
Workshop Success
Pride at Work local president Bess Watts and her wife Anne Tischer from Rainbow Seniors ROC taught a Signs, Visibility and Messaging Workshop on February 22. The two sessions had over 80 people participate. The signs they created are being used for various rallies and protests across Upstate New York. We have such a creative, involved and talented community. It was fun and informative. Hopefully, we'll have more workshops in the future.
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Pride at Work mourns Sam Nordquist
Pride at Work AFL-CIO, Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter, mourns the passing of Sam Nordquist, a trans man from Minnesota who came to New York looking for a better life and instead was brutally tortured and murdered. Major Kevin Sucher, commander of the state police troop that includes the Finger Lakes region, said the facts and circumstances of the case were "beyond depraved" and "by far the worst" homicide investigation the office has ever been part of.
Pride at Work has always fought
for equal treatment of all people and will continue to support and defend our
Trans siblings. Trans rights are human rights,
and we’ll continue our fight for justice. Join the community on Monday,
February 17, 6:00pm – 8:00pm for a “Trans Resilience” vigil at Wood Library,
134 N Main Street in Canandaigua.
Bess Watts
President
Pride at Work AFL-CIO – Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Activism 101: Effective Signmaking, Messaging & Media Visibility
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Passing of Nancy Wohlforth
With heavy hearts we share the news that Nancy Wohlforth, founder of Pride At Work, passed away on December 31, 2024.
Nancy’s organizing and leadership in the labor, LGBTQIA+, and civil rights movements are tremendous and we look forward to sharing her story in depth once her obituary is ready and plans for a spring celebration of life are finalized.
A few highlights from Nancy’s busy lifetime fighting the good fight:
Nancy Wohlforth became the first openly LGBTQIA+ officer of an international union in 2003 when she was elected as Secretary-Treasurer of OPEIU.
In 2005 she became the first openly LGBTQIA+ person elected to the AFL-CIO Executive Council.
Nancy and Cal Noyce served as the first Co-Presidents of Pride At Work and in 1997 secured the AFL-CIO’s recognition of us as an official constituency group.
As a teenager Nancy spent a summer as a Freedom Rider in the Civil Rights movement, part of her lifelong commitment to racial justice.
Nancy was known for reminding her Pride At Work siblings, “If you don’t have a seat at the table, bring a sturdy folding chair!”
Thank you for everything, Nancy!
On our website you can find a growing photo gallery and an excerpt about Nancy from the book Out in the Union: A Labor History of Queer America by Miriam Frank.
Pride at Work AFL-CIO