September dates!

On September 16, LGBTQ in 2021 is hosting a free seminar by the NYC Campaign Finance Board, geared towards first-time candidates and campaign staff. This seminar provides an overview of some of the expectations and demands of running for city office.

RSVP today, and click here to learn more about LGBTQ in 2021.

Presidential Debate Watch Party
DATE: Thursday, Septemeber 12
TIME: 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
WHERE: Macri Park, 462 Union Ave, New York, New York 11211
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/639326686588783/

Join us in Williamsburg for the third Democratic presidential primary debate with our friends from Lambda Independent Democrats!

The following candidates will appear on stage together: 

  • Former Vice President Joe Biden

  • Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey

  • South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg

  • Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro

  • Sen. Kamala Harris of California

  • Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota

  • Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas

  • Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont

  • Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts

  • Andrew Yang, entrepreneur

SDNYC September Meeting
DATE: Wednesday, September 25
TIME: 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

On September 25th at 8pm at the The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City | SDNYC will hold our monthly meeting. Details to come!

We'll have brief community updates, including a look at the coming political/legislative calendar, and more. This meeting is free and open to members of the public so please share this invite with anyone who might be interested!

National Trans Visibility March!
DATE: Saturday, September 28
More Information: https://transmarchondc.org/home-2/
Donate: https://transmarchondc.org/sponsorship/

Call to Action from the Organizaers:


Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Communities experience marginalization, stigma, discrimination, and structural discrimination more than any other minority community in the world. Until recently, our existence was not counted, and our visibility was suppressed. Although the current administration has intentionally rolled back efforts to prevent inclusion our communities in the US census, individuals from the trans and gender non-conforming communities have mobilized and issued a call to action to dismantle the social structures that have oppressed us and disenfranchised our communities. Today, we stand together in solidarity, determined now, more than ever, to fight for equal rights to employment, education, housing and financial security, physical safety and security, and health parity.



Together we will deconstruct the policies, laws, and systems that have jeopardized the health and safety of our families and ourselves. Together we will call out and stand against anyone who discriminates, or initiates acts of violence against one of us. Because when they discriminate against one of us, it affects all of us. Today, recognizing our diversity, we speak out and demand our rights with one voice. The time has come for us to ignite and initiate change at every turn. The time has come for us to amplify our voices in the Nation’s capital, our local communities, and other cities across the globe. The time has come for us to march on the streets of Washington, DC and other metropolitan areas.

Join us on Saturday, September 28, 2019 as we march in solidarity in support of equal rights and inclusion for our community. Family, March With Us…to demand justice for the lives that were taken through senseless murders. Family, March With Us…and demand financial equity and employment opportunities for. Family, March With Us…to fight for health equity. Family, March With US…and demand OUR inclusion in the US Census. Family, March With Us…to show the World that our lives matter, that our health matters, that our present and future matters, that our voices matter, that our minds matter, that our feelings matter. Family, March With Us….to show the world that NO DECISIONS ARE MADE ABOUT US, WITHOUT US!!!

2020 is approaching!

The road to the White House leads straight through New York. As candidates come to NYC, we hope you'll help spread the word about meet-ups, rallies, or public events via our Facebook Group. (Senator Warren is having a rally in Washington Square Park Monday 9/16!) We'll also make sure to share news, like the LGBTQ-focussed issues forum in October. SDNYC will not have an endorsement vote until January, but we encourage you to start talking about your candidates now!

Democratic Debates Tonight and Tomorrow Night!

Tonight ten candidates will make their case to voters as they hit the debate stage in Miami. According to NBC, they will have 60 seconds to answer questions and 30 seconds to respond to follow-ups. There will be no opening statements, but they will have a chance to deliver closing remarks. The debates will air at 9 p.m. on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo. The second debate, between ten more candidates, is Thursday.

Are you watching tonight and tomorrow?

Here are some locations to watch with other Dems: https://www.facebook.com/pg/sdnyc/events/

2019 Primary: Vote Melinda Katz

For the Tuesday, June 25 Democratic Primary SDNYC members voted to endorse Melinda Katz to be the Democratic Nominee for Queens District Attorney. SDNYC has endorsed Katz in previous races, beginning when she ran for Assembly against the establishment party candidate. In every race since, Katz has asked for our support, and showed through her actions why we should support her. We have endorsed her successful runs for Assembly, City Council and Queens Borough President, and she has always come through for our community.

From her first term in the Assembly, Melinda proudly sponsored and voted in favor of the Sexual Orientation Non Discrimination Act (SONDA), which made sexual orientation a protected class in the state of New York. She also voted in favor of making HIV status a protected disability, and was one of the deciding votes and a cosponsor of hate crimes legislation that included sexual orientation as one of the protected groups. As Borough President, Melinda secured funding for numerous LGBTQ+ organizations and allies in Queens, including the Queens LGBT Center, Ali Forney Center, Planned Parenthood of Queens, Queens LGBT Network, and AIDS Center of Queens County. This of course is a fraction of her overall record as a progressive legislator and Borough President.

Melinda has detailed plans for how she plans to reform the office after nearly three-decades with the same D.A. (all of which can be read at her website www.katz4da.com). She has pledged specifically for our community to:

  • Ensure LGBTQ+ victims and defendants alike are treated with respect and have their rights protected by her office and law enforcement.

  • Convene a LGBTQ+ Rights Advisory Board to address specific concerns of the LGBTQ community, including bullying, threats, and employment or housing discrimination.

  • Make hate crime prevention and prosecution a top priority.

  • Decline to prosecute sex workers and protect victims of human trafficking, while prosecuting human trafficking and sexual assault.

  • Ensure all defendants are identified by the pronouns they choose in court documents.

  • Advocate at the local, state, and federal level for the rights and protections for the LGBTQ+ community.

  • Diversify the District Attorney’s office so that it truly represents Queens and hire an LGBTQ+ liaison.

The District Attorney’s Office is one of the most important government institutions in our system. As an Assembly Member, Council Member and the Borough President, Melinda has built coalitions borough-wide, and has best the experience to run and belatedly bring a complex organization into the 21st Century.

Based on her record and policy proposals for our community, SDNYC members endorsed Melinda Katz for Queens D.A. this Tuesday.

This Week's Pride Events!

Yes, there are many events to attend this week, but first take a few minutes for progress.  

We have a real chance to get bills passed in Albany that will make walking down the street safer for Trans women of color, stop the use of condoms as evidence, and help victims of human trafficking.

With just a quick call you can help rid New York of the "Gay/Trans Panic" Defense, make it easier for LGBTQ New Yorkers to start a family, and get benefits veterans wrongly discharged for their sexual orientation or gender expression.

Click the links above and then start planning the rest of the week, as there is a lot going on!

TONIGHT:  New York City Council Pride Event!
TIME:  6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
WHERE:  The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
RSVP: Email pride2019@council.nyc.gov

Tonight join New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and the Council LGBT Caucus for a Pride Celebration hosted by Tamron Hall, with special honorees and performances from the cast of The Prom and The Cher Show.  RSVP via the email above!

WEDNESDAY:  Pride Month Celebration co-hosted by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and Councilmembers Daniel Dromm and Jimmy Van Bramer
TIME:  5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
WHERE:  Queens Borough Hall, 120-55 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens, NY 11424
RSVP: http://queensbp.org/rsvp

Join Queens Borough President and Councilmembers Daniel Dromm and Jimmy Van Bramer for a special night honoring leaders in Queens with special performances!

SUNDAY, June 23: Street Co-Naming Ceremony in Honor of Adelaide Connaughton
TIME:  11 a.m.
WHERE:  71st Road and Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, NY

Please join Councilmember Karen Koslowitz on Sunday, June 23 as a street is dedicated in memory of  lifelong community activist, Adelaide Connaughton. Adelaide was a long time Democratic and LGBTQ political leader, a member of both our board and other organizations, and partner to SDNYC friend and community leader Lynn Schulman. 
 

Can SDNYC register 500 voters during Pride?
We've gotten voter registration forms in the hands of about 200 people thus far, but we have more to go to meet our goal to register 500 voters during PRIDE!

ONE BRONX PRIDE with SDNYC 
DATE:  Sunday, June 23  
LOCATIONS & RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1160308837484120
March and celebrate One Pride with SDNYC!

NOON:  WE MARCH! Look for the SDNYC banners and join us!  Details and location to come on the Facebook event!  It's a quick march, and we'll be working the crowd making sure everyone attending is registered to vote!  Afterwards, come to the Street Festival!

1 p.m. - 4 p.m.:  Visit our table at the One Bronx Pride Festival! Stay with us and help us send messages to elected officials, get folks to update their voter registration, and just chat politics!

HARLEM PRIDE with SDNYC 
DATE & TIME:  Saturday, June 29, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.  
LOCATION:  Twelfth Avenue and 135th Street, New York, NY
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2296583460665683

It's the tenth anniversary of Harlem Pride!  Visit our table and help us send messages to elected officials, get folks to update their voter registration, and just chat politics!

NYC PRIDE MARCH with SDNYC 
DATE & TIME:  Sunday, June 30, 1 p.m.
LOCATION:  30th Street between Madison and Park Avenues
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2392746734071875

Join SDNYC and special guests as we march in the spirit of Revolution & Evolution, 50 years after the Stonewall riots.  Wristbands are required, so RSVP to the Facebook event (or keep an eye out for future emails) for more details!

PS:  SDNYC Pride volunteers at tables and marches will receive the 2019 SDNYC tee.  We hope you'll be at an upcoming event to claim yours!