Statement on The Murder of Alex Pretti in Minnesota

The murder of Alex Pretti is tragic and horrifying- and painful proof that no one is safe under a fascist regime.

The federal government is murdering dissenters in broad daylight. It is kidnapping and murdering immigrants and people of color on sight. It is threatening to investigate everyone from government leaders to the wife of Renee Good, who was executed by ICE just weeks ago. It is closing health care centers for women and trans people. It is trying to stamp out all opposition to its power.

In the face of this authoritarian evil, the only option is to resist. We must unite, protect others, and keep fighting for a different future.

As a club, and as individuals, the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City is committed to taking action, holding our leaders accountable, and working for a city, nation, and world that is safe and just for all. After the murder of Alex Pretti, Senate Democrats vowed they would not pass the proposed budget bill to fund ICE. SDNYC urges all members of Congress to push in every way they can to stop ICE and prevent further horrors from occurring on American streets.


STONEWALL FOREVER

2026 marks SDNYC’s 40th year - and our advocacy, activism, and energy for LGBTQ rights is every bit as urgent now as the day we were founded. All the progress we’ve achieved - from HIV funding to trans rights to marriage equality - is under threat from a bigoted and authoritarian federal government, and we need bold leaders at every level of government and civil society who are ready to stand up for our community.

Join us at our 2026 Annual Event, Stonewall Forever, where we’ll celebrate our community, our allies, and honor some of the true gems of our movement at the forefront of forging a better future for LGBTQ New Yorkers.

January 29th, 2026

6:30-9:30
Housing Works Bookstore
126 Crosby Street

We are proud to recognize the pathbreaking and impactful work of LGBTQ leaders:

Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Manhattan Borough President

Mateo Guerrero
Trans Justice & Leadership Director
Make The Road New York

Nadia Swanson
Director of Advocacy & Global Programs
Ali Forney Center

Tickets and Sponsorships available at SDNYC.ORG/40th

December Action Meeting: Urge Gov Hochul to Sign LGBTQ Legislation

Governor Hochul has until Dec. 31st to sign or veto hundreds of bills. Among them are four pieces of legislation that help protect and defend LGBTQ people from discrimination. Join SDNYC on Zoom Wednesday at 6:30 to briefly learn about the bills below and tools YOU can use to help ensure the Governor knows how important these issues are to our community. Register for the meeting here. 


SDNYC Urges Governor Hochul To Sign:

  • The Freedom to Read Act ( Simone A7777 / May S1099) would fight school districts across NYS that have tried to ban books with LGBTQ content by requiring statewide regulations that make sure library collections are vibrant and inclusive. 

  • Shield Law 2.0 (S.4914-B (Hoylman-Sigal)/A.5480-C (Bronson)) will strengthen, and fill gaps in, our state's shield laws to ensure that New York State will not be complicit in hostile states' and the Trump Administration's efforts to investigate, prosecute, or punish those who seek, provide, and facilitate reproductive health care and gender-affirming care in New York.

  • New York Health Information Privacy Act: (S.929- Hinchey /A.2141 - Rozic) will help New Yorkers to know whether the hospital in their area provides the care they need prior to admission and would assist the State in identifying care deserts where particular types of care are completely unavailable. It takes on new urgency as hospitals began denying gender-affirming care in response to Trump’s anti-trans executive orders; community members, families, and advocates have been desperately seeking information about which hospitals are denying care.

  • The Hospital Transparency Act (A.3862/S.3486)(S.929 (Krueger)/A.2141(Rosenthal)) will give New Yorkers more control over their electronic health information, like Fitbit, smartwatch, and period tracking app data, and make it harder for hostile states or the federal government to use those data to investigate, prosecute, or punish people who seek, provide, or support access to health reproductive health care and gender-affirming care in New York.

SDNYC Constitution and By-Laws - Proposed Amendment

Over the last four months the SDNYC Constitutional Review Committee, composed of members of the SDNYC Full Board and Members, has read through the existing documents governing our club and considered changes and updates to better reflect our current values, operations, and needs. The Committee shared the proposed changes with the SDNYC Full Board for review and comment. 

Per the SDNYC Constitution, Article X, "Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by the Board ... and submitted to the Secretary. To become effective, any amendment so proposed must be approved and adopted thereafter by two-thirds of the members present at two meetings of the Club that shall be at least one week apart.” 

SDNYC Members will be asked to vote for the first of two times at the Membership Meeting Dec 10, with the ballot remaining open for 24 hours. Any questions or comments can be submitted to stonewalldemocraticclubnyc@gmail.com

Full Changes Proposed Here

Summary of Changes:

  • Updates terminology included in club purpose to reflect diversity of the  LGBTQ+ movement 

  • Standardizes and clarifies language and roles for At Large vs Executive Board Members

  • Clarifies responsibilities of Club Officers 

  • Reduces in time new Members must have paid dues to vote from 90 to 60 days 

  • Removes language requiring in person votes to reflect post-pandemic electronic voting norm

  • Adjusts rules for the SDNYC Tenured Board, including removal of clause for new Tenured Board Member, and adds requirement to attend four Board meetings over previous 12 month period year to vote 

  • Removes SDNYC Board of Governors 

  • Clarifies rules governing endorsements in ranked choice elections, assigned to committee 

  • Amends and adds to club Code of Conducts and adds process for resolving complaints or concerns