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.
Bess Watts, President of our chapter, had the opportunity to speak at the rally and work the information table with the Buffalo Chapter of Pride at Work at the annual Buffalo Dyke March on June 3rd. It was a wonderful diverse and inclusive event.
Bess Watts with Susan Woods, President of the Buffalo Chapter
Buffalo Dyke March believes that in response to our community’s and country’s uncertain future, we must build an expansive progressive movement. Our movement must make visible the vulnerabilities that reflect the intersections of racism, sexism, homophobia, class oppression, immigrant oppression, climate denialism, ableism, transphobia, islamophobia, and we must speak up for all victims of bigotry. As we experience a newly emboldened Far Right attack on our LGBTQIA community, we know that the only path to survival and resistance is for oppressed peoples to reach out to one another, to collaborate together, and to publicly express solidarity with each other at every possible turn.
Pride at Work Reacts to Religious Exemptions Executive Order
Washington - The White House, today, issued an executive order aimed at expanding
so-called “religious liberties.” While this order seems to back away from the anti-LGBTQ
provisions of the previous draft, the order will still provide cover for businesses that do
not wish to provide birth control to their employees and will make political speech
by churches and other religious institutions easier. Pride at Work executive director,
Jerame Davis, issued the following statement in response to the order:
“The changes in this executive order since the previous draft leaked are a strong
indication that the White House realizes that LGBTQ discrimination is not palatable
to the vast majority of Americans. While the worst anti-LGBTQ provisions were removed,
some pretty awful stuff remains that will impact our community.
“Reproductive healthcare decisions should not be dictated from the White House nor any
employer. Make no mistake - this executive order is a direct attack on women. Trump’s
plan to allow businesses to deny coverage of contraceptive care under the guise of
so-called religious liberty is a slippery slope. We are not a theocracy, but it appears
some in this Administration are eager to continue the slow creep toward that goal.
"Freedom of religion is a fundamental bedrock of our nation’s values. The First
Amendment to the Constitution protects our right to believe and worship freely. This
freedom is foundational, but it is not above all others. We will not stand by while this
Administration thumbs their nose at the Constitution and takes away our rights to
satisfy a narrow view of religion.
"Our constitutional right to practice our religion freely does not allow us to impose that
belief on others, to cause harm, to discriminate. It is designed to protect everyone’s
rights, not the rights of a few.
“Trump’s plan to give religious institutions a pass to enter the political fray is fraught
with danger. Churches should not be empowered to run campaigns against
LGBTQ people, women’s healthcare, and more without putting their tax exempt
status in jeopardy. That’s a violation of the founding principle of separation of
church and state.
“We will fight this shameful executive order with every tool at our disposal."
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Pride At Work organizes mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBTQ Community for social and economic justice. We seek full equality for LGBTQ Workers in our workplaces and unions and we organize in the spirit of the union movement’s historic motto, “An Injury to One is An Injury to All.” Learn more at www.prideatwork.org
On February 24th Pride at Work stood with the Gay Alliance in support of Trans youth at the School of the Arts in Rochester. We stood together in outrage and solidarity to send a strong message to the Trump Administration that rolling back protections for transgender students, introduced by the Obama Administration, is unacceptable.
The “People’s Solidarity Rally” took place at Washington Square Park in Rochester Saturday morning January 21 to coincide with action events planned throughout the United States today.
The event was organized by Action Together Rochester – Stronger Together WNY with the Gay Alliance, Pride at Work, Metro Justice, Urban League, NOW, Planned Parenthood of Central, Western New York Action Fund and several labor and social justice organizations.
The rally began at 11:15 a.m. and featured dozens of speakers, including Bess Watts, President of the Rochester chapter.
Pride at Work joined forces with the Coalition Labor Union of Women and Rochester Next Generation for a very successful Voter Registration Day. We registered over 100 new voters - with special thanks to CSEA and MCC library for providing space for this successful drive.
Pictured left to right is Tom Pollizi, CSEA MCC Unit President, Bess Watts, Julie Garrett and Kendall Bell.
