Debra Silber, one of the founding members of Lambda Independent Democrats, became Brooklyn’s first openly gay or lesbian judge when she emerged victorious in the November 4th election for county-wide Civil Court. She joins District 15 School Board member Jill Harris as the borough's second openly lesbian or gay elected official and becomes the first to win a count-wide contest.
The story behind Silber’s race is as significant as her final victory. Silber emerged as an unchallenged Democratic candidate in the summer of 1997, a sign of the growing power of the gay and lesbian community in Kings County and of the Democratic County Committee’s commitment to a diverse judiciary.
"For Debra to have become a Democratic candidate for County-wide Civil Court with no primary opposition speaks for itself,” said Rodrick Dial, L.I.D. President. “What could have been a divisive and controversial primary race instead became an historic victory. That speaks to Debra’s clear qualifications for the office, and to the respect the lesbian and gay community now commands in Kings County. We commend County LeaderClarence Norman for his leadership in empowering lesbian and gay candidates in Brooklyn.”
A native of Brighton Beach, Silber has for years had a successful private law practice. In 1992 she was appointed by Mayor David Dinkins to serve on the city’s fledgling Civilian Complaint Review Board where she adjudicated cases of police misconduct until stepping down in 1996, the same year she received L.I.D.'s Brooklyn Lambda Award. She has served on the board of the Astraea Foundation and on Brooklyn’s Community Planning Board #2.
A longtime resident of Boerum Hill, she
lives with her life partner Carol, and their
toddler Rosalie. Silber will take the oath of office on January 8th. If you would like to attend the ceremony but have not received an invitation, you can request one by calling
212-439-7221.
Last Minute Gay Baiting Mars Bay Ridge Council Race
The hotly contested city council race to replace retiring Bay Ridge Councilmember Sal Albanese turned nasty in its final days as eventual winner – Republican/Conservative/Right-to-Life candidate Martin Golden – mailed thousands of unsigned flyers trumpeting his Democratic opponent Joanne Seminara’s support for gay and lesbian equality. Seminara, who ran with the backing of L.I.D. and Empire State Pride Agenda, lost by several thousand votes.
The flyer, which arrived in the mailboxes of an estimated 10,000 voters just days before the November 4 election, was headlined “Joanne Seminara: She doesn’t share our values.” In its opening paragraph, it proclaims:
"Joanne Seminara (Lehu) supported the introduction of the 'Rainbow Curriculum' in our public schools. This would have mandated the teaching of the gay and lesbian lifestyle to grade-school children. It’s no wonder that she’s endorsed by the Lambda Independent Democrats, the gay and lesbian Democratic organization and Empire State Gay Pride Agenda."
The anonymous flyer also made claims regarding homeporting, her commuinty board attendance record, and ended with a scathing personal attack on the use of her maiden name as a candidate.
L.I.D. made an all out effort in the race, providing volunteers and making one of its largest donations ever — $500 – to the Seminara campaign. In the end, however, the Giuliani coattails and the conservative tendency of the district worked against Seminara.
In a heartening post script to the campaign, Seminara’s father Joe, a well known community leader in the neighborhood, wrote a column in the November 14th edition of the Home Report and Sunset News. The elder Seminara called the flyer “inexcusable,” expressed resentment at the suggestion that endorsement by a lesbian and gay political club was an “implied mark of infamy,” and concluded:
"People who equate support by gay groups to political liability should heed the President’s reminder of last week that ‘being gay, the last time I thought about it, seemed to have nothing to do with the ability to read a balance sheet, set a bone, or change a spark plug ‘ or being a hero cop.
We are touched by Joe Seminara’s comments and proud to have played a major, visible role in the Seminara campaign.
Bill Granting Federal Workers Domestic Partnership Benefits Gains Brooklyn Backing
Four members of the Brooklyn congressional delegation were among the 15 original sponsors of a bill introduced in November by Rep. Barney Frank to make domestic partnership benefits available to federal employees.
Under the legislation, sponsored by Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Charles Schumer and Nydia Velazquez, the domestic partner of a federal employee (in a same or opposite sex couple) would be eligible for benefits in the same manner and to the same extent as the spouse of a federal employee. This eligibility would extend to retirement benefits, life insurance, health insurance and compensation for work injuries.
No official word has come from the White House on the matter, but days after the bill was introduced, the Washington Post reported that the President would “quietly” oppose the bill for budgetary reasons.
L.I.D. has written to Reps. Major Owens
and Edolphus Towns asking them to join their Brooklyn colleagues in sponsoring the bill. As Lambda Line went to press, however, neither had signed on, though the bill had gained 8 additional sponsors since its original
introduction.
Maine Activists Need Your Help - NOW
A statewide referendum to repeal Maine’s lesbian and gay nondiscrimination law (enacted only last May) is slated for February 10th, leaving activists in the state only two months to organize and finance a campaign. The issue is complicated by the fact that turnout will be hampered by mid-winter weather and by the difficulty of communicating to voters that they must vote “no” to preserve the nondiscrimination law.
Mainers narrowly defeated an anti-gay initiative in 1995, but that ballot measure was held in November along with other elections. This time, Christian fundamentalists, under the banner Concerned Maine Families, are widely considered to be better organized.
For a taste of the campaign rhetoric so far, here’s what Michael Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League had to say recently: “The (civil rights) legislation has threatened the civil liberties of business owners, parents and even charitable organizations that decline to celebrate homosexuality.”
This initiative holds significance beyond Maine. If voters repeal the nondiscrimination law, it could have a chilling effect on efforts here in New York to pass such a measure by sending a message to state legislators that voters actually oppose such legislation.
Contributions, made out to Maine Won’t Discriminate, can be sent to:
Volunteers are needed to ensure that patients trying to use the services of a Brooklyn OB-GYN clinic are not harassed by anti-choice demonstrators when they arrive for their appointments.
For information, contact Anne at 788-3069 or write to Brooklyn Pro-Choice Network at 285 Fifth Avenue, Box 439, Brooklyn, NY 11215.
L.I.D. Responds to Brooklyn Bridge Column
Some of you may have read James Bradley's column entitled "The Vanishing Ferris Wheel" in the December issue of Brooklyn Bridge magazine. Largely a deconstruction of the Brooklyn reform movement in general and Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (C.B.I.D.) in particular, Bradley acknowledges Lambda's growing influence but opines that "though liberal in its politics" L.I.D. is "more focused on identity than on reform," claiming that in 1997 the club "went along with the county machine, since Clarence Norman backed Lambda member Debra Silber for Civil Court judge."
Of course, nothing could be farther from the truth. L.I.D. has always judged candidates as individuals and evaluated every race by its own circumstances. This year alone, L.I.D. differed with the County Democratic Committee's endorsements for Mayor, Civil Court and the 38th Council District -- three of the most hotly contested battles on the September primary ballot.
In the first major battle of Clarence Norman's tenure as County Leader -- the 1991 primary for the 40th council district seat in Crown Heights -- L.I.D. backed eventual winner Una Clarke over Norman's choice.
L.I.D. takes its middle name very seriously -- Independent. We will continue to be a voice for progressive change, an open political process and justice and equality for lesbian and gay New Yorkers.
Schumer Introduces Hate Crimes Bill
Brooklyn Congressman Charles Schumer has introduced legislation which for the first time would make hate crimes against gays and lesbians a federal crime, as well as gender based hate crimes and crimes against the disabled. Borough Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Major Owens are cosponsoring the bill.
The "Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1998" would also remove the overly restrictive requirements the F.B.I. currently has to investigating and prosecuting hate crimes based on race, religion, national origin and color.
We applaud Rep. Schumer's leadership, thank Reps. Nadler and Owens for their support, and hope Reps. Vito Fossella, Carolyn Maloney, Edolphus Towns and Nydia Velazquez will join them in sponsoring this important legislation.