Mayoral hopefuls discuss gender-affirming care, Rikers, and more at LGBTQ forum

Reposted from Gay City News coverage by Matt Tracy. Full article available here.

With just three months remaining until the Democratic primary, six candidates vying to become the next mayor of New York City gathered at The Church of the Village on March 27 to participate in an LGBTQ mayoral forum jointly hosted by four political clubs and organizations.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, former Assemblymember Michael Blake, City Comptroller Brad Lander, Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, Queens State Senator Jessica Ramos, and former City Comptroller Scott Stringer were on hand for the forum, which was moderated by Juan Manuel Benítez, a local journalism professor at Columbia University who previously worked with NY1. 

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Eric Adams, and Brooklyn Assemblymember Zellnor Myrie were invited to participate but did not attend. 

The Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, NYC Pride and Power, and Equality New York jointly hosted the forum. There were occasional interruptions during the event, but the night went on relatively smoothly nonetheless. 

The earlier portion of the forum addressed the status of gender-affirming care, which is under threat in the wake of the Trump administration’s late-January executive order vowing to cut off federal funding for institutions providing gender-affirming care to individuals 19 years of age or younger. In New York City, several hospitals responded to that executive order by canceling appointments and restricting care. Federal courts have blocked that executive order, but candidates who participated in the forum emphasized the need to come up with contingency plans.

Read the full article here

LGBTQ+ Mayoral Forum

New York City is the heart and home of the modern LGBTQ+ movement, and after decades of advocacy, our community has achieved significant victories to advance the rights, protections, and opportunities for LGBTQ+ people. Nonetheless, there are significant ongoing and emerging challenges that many in our community continue to face. It is essential that any candidate for public office, especially NYC Mayor, be responsive and connected to our community and our issues.

Join us in person or on Zoom on March 27th from 7-9pm as we hear from candidates running in the Democratic Primary for Mayor of New York City about their positions, plans, and policies on issues important to the LGBTQ+ community. Moderators will select from a list of questions submitted in advance by community members. Please fill out this form to submit a question!

RSVP here to attend in person at the Church of the Village, or register to watch on Zoom. You must RSVP to attend in person, as space is limited. Doors open at 6:30, event begins at 7:00pm. Venue is ADA accessible (entrance on 13th St).

Hosted by NYC Pride & Power, Stonewall Democrats of NYC, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, and Equality NY.

Moderators:

Juan Manuel Benítez (Emmy Award-Winning Journalist and University Professor) & Sean Coleman (Founder and Executive Director, Destination Tomorrow)

Candidates:

  • Adrienne Adams (Invited, not confirmed)

  • Eric Adams (Invited, not confirmed)

  • Michael Blake

  • Andrew Cuomo (Invited, not confirmed)

  • Brad Lander

  • Zohran Mamdani

  • Zellnor Myrie

  • Jessica Ramos

  • Scott Stringer

Please contact nyc.lgbtq.forum@gmail.com with any questions.

The SDNYC 2025 Endorsement Process

For over 35 years, Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC has played an important part in municipal, state, and federal elections to ensure that candidates for public office are responsive to LGBTQ+ issues and aligned with the values and priorities of our community. As we approach the June 2025 primary, SDNYC will again:

  • Invite candidates to fill out questionnaires on issues important to the LGBTQ+ community

  • Invite candidates to appear before our membership for endorsement votes

  • Support our endorsed candidates in the primary election

Our endorsement process timeline:

  • Monday, March 10th - Questionnaires published

  • Friday, April 4th - Questionnaires due

  • Wednesday, April 9th - Questionnaire responses posted online and sent to SDNYC members

  • In Person Endorsement Meetings - Candidates are invited to speak to our members, followed by a vote

    • Wednesday April 16th - City Council Candidates

    • Wednesday April 23rd - Borough President, District Attorney, Comptroller, Public Advocate, and Mayoral Candidates

ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERS TO VOTE ON ENDORSEMENTS

  • Individuals who are 2025 SDNYC Members in good standing will be eligible to vote. If you have not paid membership dues in the year 2025, please do so here.

  • Per the SDNYC Constitution and By Laws, new members (individuals who were not dues paying members of SDNYC in the previous two years) must have paid the Club's 2025 membership dues 90 days before the club endorsement vote

  • Individuals who have been dues paying members of SDNYC in 2023 or 2024 are eligible to pay the Club's 2025 dues up to the day of the endorsement meeting to receive a ballot (payment can submitted online here).

  • Ballots will be emailed the evening of the endorsement meetings to all dues paying members.

Please email us any questions at stonewalldemocraticclubnyc@gmail.com

Thank you for being involved in this important process for our community!

SDNYC Elects Our 2025 Executive Board

The Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC is pleased to share our newly elected 2025 Executive Board. We are thrilled to have such a dynamic leadership lead who will continue to work with SDNYC members and the wider LGBTQ+ community to keep fighting for our rights. Want to get more involved in SDNYC? Become a member, sign up for eblasts, and join us March 26th for our next General Meeting at 6:30 PM at the LGBT Center on 13th Street.


Democrats in Senate Successfully Block Anti-Trans Legislation

Last night, Democrats in the United States Senate successfully blocked transphobic legislation S9, a bill that cruelly targeted trans youth by attempting to tamper with Title IX to restrict participation in sports. The Stonewall Democrats of NYC previously called on leaders in Congress to reject the bill, and rallied with trans leaders and LGBTQ organizations locally and nationally to encourage Democrats to hold the line and demonstrate that the our party stands with transgender Americans. 

In response to the vote, leaders from SDNYC’s executive board commented:

Gabriel Lewenstein, President of the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, said, “Despite the dire political climate and attempts to divide us, tonight’s vote gives us hope. Democrats are united against hate and bigotry, and we have the power to stop loathsome bills and protect our communities. The Stonewall Democrats of NYC are proud that every single New York Democrat in the House and the Senate voted to stand with the trans community. Thanks to the leadership of Senator Chuck Schumer, the entire Senate Democratic Caucus united in defense of the LGBTQ community and sent a powerful message to trans youth: you belong, and we will keep fighting to protect you. 

Melissa Sklarz, Executive Vice President of Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, and, as District Leader in AD 30, Part B, Queens, the only out elected trans official in New York City, said, “As a transgender New Yorker, I am grateful to Senator Chuck Schumer, and the Democratic conference in the Senate for voting no on another vile, reactionary, mean-spirited culture war item that does nothing to help improve the lives of Americans. These are terrible times for transgender Americans and my concern is it will get worse - and that all of us will be at risk. This victory today in the Senate is a moment to build on and to empower our trans community to go forth and keep fighting.”