Public Employee Press

Political Action 2009
LAGIC to lobby in Albany April 28

DC 37’s Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee is organizing members to bus to Albany April 28 for Equality and Justice Day, the annual mass lobbying effort of the Empire State Pride Agenda advocacy group.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of DC 37 have participated for years in the annual trek to lobby state legislators, and this is the second time that the union has sponsored the trip, said LAGIC Chair Judith Arroyo. The grassroots lobbyists will focus on three bills that would protect LGBT youth, recognize same-sex marriage and end discrimination.

The Dignity for All Students Act would ensure that public schools have an environment free of harassment and discrimination based on race, national origin, ethnic group, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression) and sex. The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act would outlaw discrimination against transgender people. The marriage equality bill would give gay marriage partners the same rights and protections as married heterosexuals.

The state Assembly has passed the bills, and this year the group hopes to convince the Senate to approve the legislation.

“We are simply trying to gain equal rights,” said Arroyo, who is the president of United Federation of Nurses Local 436.

“There are certain rights that married couples have simply because they are married,” she explained. “If a married person is injured on the job, gets Workers’ Comp and dies, the spouse continues to receive the benefit. But not in a domestic partnership.”