GENDA and a Ban on Conversation Therapy

January 15, 2019

Contact: Jerame Davis - jdavis@prideatwork.org

Pride at Work Reacts to New York Legislature Passage of LGBTQ Protections  

Today, the New York Senate passed two pieces of legislation to protect LGBTQ people in the state. Once signed by Governor Cuomo, New York will become the 20th state in the US to ban discrimination against transgender Americans and the 15th state to ban so-called “ex-gay” conversion therapy. Pride at Work Executive Director, Jerame Davis, issued the following statement:

“We are winning despite the constant attacks from Trump,” said Davis. “If we can’t get the protections we need in Washington, we’ll get them in the statehouses. That’s exactly what activists and advocates did in New York to pass GENDA - nondiscrimination protections for transgender people - as well as a ban on so-called conversion therapy.

"The work done in New York could be a model for the majority of states where it is still legal to discriminate against LGBTQ people.”

Celebration at the Out Alliance in Rochester

NY State to Vote on GENDA

Our chapter of Pride at Work has made Gender Expression Non Discimination Act (GENDA) a priority this year. It is great news to hear that the New York State Assembly and Senate may be voting on GENDA and the Conversion Therapy bills next Tuesday. January 15th.   GENDA is simply a bill that provides basic civil rights for transgender New Yorkers by adding gender identity and expression to already existing New York State Human Rights Law.  Now is a good time to contact your Senate representative & Assemblyperson and ask them to vote 'yes' on both bills. 

If you don't know, we've been trying to get GENDA passed since 2003 when Gender Identity and Expression were excluded in the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA).  This is historic and we may finally have the votes we need to pass this bill as it has NEVER come to a vote on the Senate floor.   The Assembly has passed GENDA every time it has come forward for a vote.  We have not had positive LGBTQ bills passed in New York since marriage equality in 2011. 

Please take a few minutes and contact your New York State Senator to vote 'yes'.   If you do not know who your Senator is you can find your senator at this link:  https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator  I have already contacted my Senator.  

Please let your friends and allies know about this pending vote.   We need GENDA to pass NOW! 

New beginnings

We had our elections and passed our revised by-laws.  Congratulations and a big thank you to Tom Privitere who was a founding officer and served as VP since 2008 - his commitment to equality and justice cannot be understated.  Tom will continue to be active and his guidance will always be welcomed.

President, Bess Watts

Vice President, Christopher Roesch

Secretary, Dawn Lepard

Treasurer, Kendall Bell 

Member at Large, Linda Donahue

We will be meeting quarterly with our next meeting on March 7, 2019 at the Out Alliance, 100 College Avenue, Rochester.

Chapter Elections

Chapter Elections are on November 13

Rochester nominees are:

Bess Watts, President
Christopher Roesch, Vice President
Kendall Bell, Treasurer
Dawn Lepard, Secretary

If you are interested in running for an officer position and are a member in good standing with Pride at Work email besswhat@gmail.com.

Our next meeting is on November 13 at 5:30 at the Out Alliance where we will be electing officers and voting on by-law changes.  

Unite for Justice Rally

Rochester Pride Weekend

This year's Pride Parade and Festival was the most successful ever!  Thousands of people were lined up along the parade route and over 20,000 went to the Festival afterwards.  Once again the beautiful Teamsters Local 118 Truck participated driven by Teamsters President Paul Markwitz.   A great time was had by all!

Bess Watts and Kendall Bell worked the Festival Labor table

Families Belong Together Rally in Rochester

Rochester took part in rallies across America to voice their opposition to Trump Administration's  immigration policies.  Here are a few photos from the rally in Washington Square Park.   #familiesbelongtogether