The NYS Gay and Lesbian (and Bisexual :) Civil Rights Bill (which
would provide protection against discrimination in employment,
housing, public accomodations, educational institutions, and financial
credit availability) has been stalled yet again.
Although the Assembly version of this bill (A3346-B) has passed,
Senate Republicans continue to block this bill's progress. The Pride
Agenda originally thought that this legislation (S-2236-B) would go
directly to the Senate floor after it made it through the Judicial
Committee, but Senator Lombardi (R) unexpectedly flagged the bill into
the Finance Committee to determine the "financial impact" of this
bill; in reality, it's the kind of stalling tactic that Senate
Republicans have used for years.
As of today, this bill is not on the Finance Committee Agenda.
However, even if it is placed on the agenda, we are still one vote shy
of passage. (A rule of thumb - the Democrats support this bill, and
the Conservative or generic Republicans don't.) IF WE DON'T GET THIS
THROUGH THIS SESSION (which ends in June) WE WILL HAVE TO START OVER
AGAIN! Write or call your Senator and ask what his/her vote will be
on this crucial issue. Tell him/her we can no longer afford _not_ to
have this crucial legislation. If your Senator is not on this list,
please write to Chairman Lombardi and implore him to put this bill on
the agenda.
Queer Nation Albany, NY is considering holding an action on May 8th
(if the Legislature is in session that day) to put pressure on the
Finance Committee to not only put this bill on the agenda, but to pass
it. If you are interested in attending an action, please let me know!
If you don't know who your Senator is, call Pride Agenda at 518 433-
0134 or 212 727-1291 and ask (Pride Agenda may offer to send you some
postcards; this is OK, however, if they ask you to join, they have
more than enough money right now).
The Senate Finance Committe Members:
Lombardi, Tarky R SD 49 Syracuse and other parts
**Committee Chair** of Onondaga Co. Rm. 913
Marchi, John J R-L SD 24 Staten Island Rm. 416
Goodman, Roy M R-L SD 26 NYC east side of ManhattanRm. 708
Stafford, Ronald B R-C SD 45 Plattsburgh, Warren,
Washington, Essex, Clinton,
Frankin Co's, part of St.
Lawrence Co. Rm. 502
Present, Jess J R SD 56 Bemus Pt., parts of Chautaugua
& Catteraugus Co's. Rm. 503
Levy, Normak J R SD 8 Merrick, part of Nassau Co.Rm. 811
Johnson, Owen H R SD 4 W Babylon, part of Suffolk Co.
Rm. 310
Trunzo, Cesar R SD 4 W Babylon, part of Suffolk Co.
Rm. 711
Bruno, Joseph L R SD 43 Brunswick, Rensselaer Co. and
parts of Columbia & Saratoga
Co. Rm. 409
Kehoe, Paul R-C SD 53 Wolcott, Wayne Co. & parts of
Ontario & Wayne Co. Rm. 307
McHugh, John M R-C SD 46 Watertown, Jefferson, Oswego &
parts of St. Lawrence Co.Rm. 814
Mega, Christopher J R-C SD 23 Brooklyn Rm. 509
Velella, Guy J R-C SD 34 Bronx, parts of Weschester &
Bronx Co. Rm. 902
Volker, Dale M R-C SD 59 DePew, Livingston Co. & parts
of Wyoming & Erie Co. Rm. 609
Tully, Michael J R SD 7 Roslyn Hgts, part of Nassau Co.
Rm. 707
Halperin, Donald M D SD 18 Brooklyn Rm. 918
**Ranking Minority Member**
Galiber, Joseph L D-L SD 31 Bronx Rm. 414
Gold, Emmanuel R D-L SD 13 Forest Hills, parts of Queen
**Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate**Co. Rm. 313
Leichter, Franz S. D-L SD 28 NYC Rm. 517
Nolan, Howard C D SD 42 Albany Rm. 809
Perry, John D D SD 54 Rochester Rm. 410
Mendez, Olga A. D-L SD 30 NYC, part of Bronx Co. Rm. 302
Stachowski, William T D SD 57 Buffalo Rm. 508
Oppenheimer, Suzi D-L SD 36 Marmaroreck, parts of
Westchester Co. Rm. 515
Quattrociocchi, Ralph D-C SD 55 Rochester Rm. 615
Connor, Martin E D-L SD 25 NYC Rm. 415
Key:
R = Republican
D = Democrat
L = Liberal
C = Conservative
SD = Senate District
Address Format:
The Honorable ___(insert Senator's name)___
Rm. _(insert Room. #)_, Legislative Office Building
The State Senate
Capitol
Albany, NY 12247
Remember to include the bill's number (A-3346-B for the Assembly
version, S-2236-B for the Senate version) in any correspondence or
communication.
Thanks for your time,
Aimee Tweedie
Queer Nation Albany
tweeda@rpi.edu