Meeting Information:

DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 2017
TIME: 6:30 - 7:30 pm
LOCATION: The LGBT Center, 208 W 13th Street, Manhattan

As you may have seen reported in the press earlier this week, NYC Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez recently endorsed Ruben Diaz, Sr.’s campaign to represent City Council District 18 in the Bronx.

Rodriguez is running for reelection to represent Council District 10 in Manhattan and received SDNYC’s endorsement in late July. Prior to voting to endorse Rodriguez, SDNYC’s Membership reviewed his response to our Club’s 2017 candidate questionnaire, in which Rodriguez answered “no” to the following question: “Have you or would you in the future, endorse or financially support any candidate for public office or current elected official with a track record of working against LGBT equality?”

Rodriguez’s endorsement of Diaz, Sr. is inconsistent with his response to this question. As has been well documented, Diaz Sr. has consistently worked against the LGBT communitythroughout his tenure in NY politics and he is continuing to espouse discriminatory, bigoted and misogynistic points of view as candidate in the Council District 18 primary election.

Therefore, pursuant to the Club’s Bylaws, we will be reviewing SDNYC’s endorsement of Rodriguez at a special meeting scheduled for this Thursday, August 17th from 6:30-7:30 at the LGBT Center in Manhattan.

At Thursday’s meeting eligible SDNYC Members** will have the opportunity to vote on whether or not the Club should withdraw its endorsement of Rodriguez. In the event the number voting Members attending the meeting does not constitute a quorum, the Members of the SDNYC Board will hold a vote to determine whether or not to withdraw the Club’s endorsement. The Club’s endorsement decision will be shared on SDNYC’s website, Facebook page and twitter feed shortly after ballots are counted and confirmed.

Please email us with any questions in advance of Thursday’s meeting and we hope you will join us as we review this important endorsement decision.

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*SDNYC Bylaws:
The Bylaws state that the Club may review whether to withdraw its endorsement if “new information is revealed regarding a candidate that is inimical to the purposes of the Club,…the candidate publicly changes a position on an issue of importance to the Club, or it becomes apparent that the Membership was not fully informed about the candidate’s positions on issues of importance to the Club.” (The full text of SDNYC’s constitution and bylaws is available on our website.)

**Eligibility to Vote at SDNYC's Meeting on August 17th:

Individuals who have been dues paying Members of SDNYC in 2016 or 2015, are eligible to vote at the August 17th meeting so long as they have paid the Club's 2017 dues before casting their ballot (payment can submitted online in advance or in person at the August 17th meeting).
Individuals who were not dues paying Members of SDNYC in 2016 or 2015, must have paid the Club's 2017 Membership dues on or before May 20th to be eligible to vote at the August 17th meeting.

To pay 2017 dues and find out more about becoming a Member visit:
www.SDNYC.org/membership