Pride at Work AFL-CIO Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter

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.

This is not an isolated incident. Across the country there is an escalation of anti-LGBTQ+ attacks by those influenced by the far-right political establishment. Sam’s murder is a direct result of the divisive hate mongering and non-binary cultural erasure espoused by the Trump administration. Any mention of Transgender is now gone from official government websites. The National Park Service has tried to erase the historic trans presence at the Stonewall Riot, by taking the “TQ+” off the memorial plaque in New York City. Locally a small group of extremists are attacking anything LGBTQ+ related in schools. Such actions are a direct attack on the individual rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ citizens.

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

This is the first in a series of Activism 101 Workshops that are designed to share helpful tips with new organizers, and to encourage concerned citizens to be ready to mobilize when the call comes. The workshop is Saturday 2/22, 1-4pm with a short program by Bess & Anne from 1:30pm-2:00pm. All are welcome, regardless of your cause... The sign materials are provided or bring your own. Wear painting clothes!

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