SDNYC is proud to endorse Assemblymember Danny O'Donnell for New York City Public Advocate!

It's about time an openly LGBTQ person was elected to a citywide office in New York City!

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LGBTQ New Yorkers know him as the first openly gay man elected to the New York State Assembly and as a fiercely progressive voice in Albany for seventeen years.

Born in Queens and raised with his four siblings in Commack, Long Island, O’Donnell put himself through college and law school, earning a B.A. in public affairs from George Washington University and a law degree from CUNY Law School. After seven years as a public defender at the Legal Aid Society, he opened his own public interest law firm on the Upper West Side. His community practice helped clients with tenant representation, as well as civil rights litigation ranging from employment discrimination to First Amendment rights.

During his tenure in the Assembly he has been the prime sponsor of several trailblazing bills, most notably the NY Marriage Equality Act, a bill O’Donnell led to passage in the Assembly five times before it was finally signed into law in June 2011. He was also the prime sponsor of New York’s anti-bullying legislation, the Dignity for All Students Act, which was the first time trans protections were written into law in NY.

We fully expect Danny O'Donnell to bring his fierce brand of advocacy forward not just as a voice of LGBTQ New Yorkers, but for all New Yorkers as our next public advocate!

SDNYC PHONE BANK for DANNY O'DONNELL
DATE:  Every Thursday, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. (time)
LOCATION: O'Donnell for Public Advocate Headquarters, 2697 Broadway

Bring a friend, bring your phone (and a charger!), and sign up to get started. The campaign will  provide scripts, call sheets, and training. Whether you're a first-time phone-banker or a veteran, all are welcome to help make calls!

All phone banks will take place at Danny HQ (2697 Broadway). An organizer will be in touch to confirm the details with you after you sign up via the link below.  (Thursdays don't work for you?  No problem, sign up for any day!)
 

Sign up HERE for more details.
Or DONATE!

The Interim Public Advocate Race: Candidate Forum & Endorsement Meeting

2019 has started off with a bang:
Tish James is now the Attorney General of the state of New York.
Speaker Corey Johnson is pulling double duty as Acting Public Advocate.
And as per the City Charter, Mayor Bill de Blasio has called for a special election to elect an interim Public Advocate on Tuesday, February 26.

Candidates are gathering at least 3,750 petition signatures which are due to be turned in Monday, January 14, raising money and actively campaigning.  There could be as many as thirty candidates if all gather enough signatures.  The New York Times calls it "New York's Hottest Contest".

Who are the best candidates for LGBTQ New Yorkers?  We'll be hearing from candidates at an LGBTQ Forum on January 16th.  One week later, our members will endorse in the race at our January 23 meeting.  We've already sent questionnaires out to all candidates that have expressed interest in our endorsement.  (If you're a candidate seeking endorsement and we haven't heard from you, learn what you need to do!)

It's a big race, so we're having two separate events to best inform our members and the LGBTQ community.  

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LGBTQ CANDIDATE FORUM for PUBLIC ADVOCATE
DATE:  Wednesday, January 16, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30)
LOCATION: LGBT Center, 205 West Thirteenth Street, Room 301

The LGBTQ community demands the next Public Advocate know our issues, our community, and our needs.  To choose a candidate that can fill that role, we need to hear from them.  Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City joins forces with Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, and the Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club of Queens to host an LGBTQ-focused candidate forum Wednesday, January 16, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the LGBT Center, 205 West Thirteenth Street, Room 301.

Format and other details will be informed by the number of candidates participating.  We will have this information available by Saturday, January 12.  If you are a candidate who has not yet reached out for information, please let us know.

Join us next Wednesday!  For now, you can register in advance and RSVP on Facebook and help spread the word.

SDNYC JANUARY MEETING
& PUBLIC ADVOCATE ENDORSEMENT
DATE:  Wednesday, January 23, 8 p.m. - 9 p.m.
DETAILS:  The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, 208 W 13 St, New York, NY 10011
RSVP:  https://www.facebook.com/events/345128546275479/
If you are a candidate or want to vote in our endorsement meeting, find details: here.

We'll have candidates and campaign representatives speaking to you and answering your questions. Candidates seeking SDNYC endorsement will also submit responses to our candidate questionnaire which will be posted January 16 at sdnyc.org.

The meeting is free and open to members of the public so please share this invite with anyone who might be interested!  

Need to renew or want to join?  Just click below.  NOTE:  Current paid members as of January 5, 2019 (or renewing 2017/8 members) will be eligible to vote.

SDNYC 2019 MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION: 
Sign up and pay on our website: http://www.SDNYC.org/membership
    ● $35.00 -- Individual Membership
    ● $50.00 -- Family Membership (Maximum of 2 people per Family Membership)
    ● $13.00 -- Reduced Price Membership (People who are students, retired or disabled)