A January City Council hearing has reignited the controversy over a domestic partnership law in New York City. LID joined City Council Member Tom Duane and a number of groups citywide in opposing Intro. 884A at the hearing. The bill, introduced by Antonio Pagan, would simply perpetuate the City’s currently-existing Domestic Partnership registry, first established under executive order by David Dinkins.
Intro. 884A was heard before the Council’s Government Operations Committee, chaired by Brooklyn's Mary Pinkett, who represents Ft. Greene and Clinton Hill. It carries no guarantees for domestic partners of city employees. Thankfully no action was taken by the Committee at the hearing, however, the bill currently has a number of Brooklyn co-sponsors including Ken Fisher, Sal Albanese, Una Clarke, Martin Milave-Dilan, Mary Pinkett, Victor Robles, Anthony Weiner and Lloyd Henry.
L.I.D. prefers Intro. 30, a much more expansive bill first introduced in 1990 by then-member Carolyn Maloney. That bill would set up a registry, alternative proofs of domestic partnership modeled on the State’s Braschi decision (that granted tenant succession rights in rent-regulated apartments to domestic partners), and full parity of benefits to domestic partners of city employees whenever marriage is used. In defiance of logic, that bill, has never had a hearing before the City Council. Currently there is no domestic partnership law on the books in New York City.
Intro. 30 is the ideal piece of legislation that the Council must pass. Before that, however, the Council must at least hold a hearing on the bill. Brooklyn Councilmember Steve DiBrienza, who chairs the Council’s General Welfare Committee, has already responded to this request favorably. He is being held up by the Council’s leadership, however.
The political reality is that the City Council will vote only once on domestic partnership, so we must ensure that the bill considered is the most far-reaching. Join LID in insisting that the Council hold hearings on Intro. 30 by mailing the 2 postcards enclosed to City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, who has kept Intro. 30 away from a hearing for 7 years, and to Council Member Mary Pinkett, who chaired the January hearing on Intro. 884A and does not accept L.I.D.’s concerns about the legislation as valid.
Non-Discrimination, Bias Bills Pass Assembly
The last few weeks saw the two keystone lesbian and gay bills pending before the state legislature once again breeze through the Assembly, followed by a surprising announcement from Gov. George Pataki that he'd be inclined to sign the lesbian & gay nondiscrimination bill if it reached his desk.
Nondiscrimination legislation passed for the fifth straight year by a vote of 90-55, with all Brooklyn lawmakers voting "yes," except usual opponents Peter Abbate and Joseph Lentol. Roger Green and Dov Hikind were absent. We are particulary pleased with the "yes" votes of Brooklyn's two newest legislators, William Colton and Joan Millman.
Pataki's announcement comes just weeks after his political mentor, Sen. Alphonse D'Amato announced he'd sign on as a sponsor of federal anti-discrimination legislation. The Governor's statement will, hopefully, put pressure on the state senate to consider the legislation. Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA) counts 29 votes for the bill in the Senate, 2 shy of the needed 31. Brooklyn's Seymour Lachman is among those still counted in the uncommitted column.
The "bias bill," which would outlaw crimes of violence which are intended to deprive individuals and groups of the exercise of their civil rights because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or sexual orientation, passed by a vote of 104-41. All Brooklyn Assemblymembers voted for the bill, except N. Nick Perry, who was absent.
Albanese Capitulates on
St. Pat's Parade
In a particularly disappointing move, Brooklyn Council Member and Mayoral candidate, Sal Albanese, announced in a Daily News article on March 13th that he plans to march in the Manhattan St. Patrick’s Day parade in an honored place in the march line. The honor comes since Albanese is a recipient of the Emerald Society’s (the organization of Irish police officers) law enforcement man of the year award. This comes despite his recent televised claim on Gay Cable Network that he had no plans to march this year.
The St. Patrick’s Day march has long been a subject of controversy in the lesbian and gay community since its organizers, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, has steadfastly refused to let the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization (ILGO) march in the parade, declaring the event is “private” with Roman Catholic roots. Courts have upheld their right to exclude ILGO, but many politicians have steadfastly refused to march.
Particularly galling is Albanese’s claim that he has not marched in the last two St. Patrick’s Day parades simply to avoid the controversy. Of note: none of the other Democratic mayoral candidates, Fernando Ferrer, Ruth Messenger, or the Rev. Al Sharpton plan to march in the 1997 parade.
Millman Victorious in 52nd
Aided by the endorsement of LID, Joan Millman, won the February 18th special election in the 52nd Assembly District. She replaces the late Eileen Dugan in Albany representing all or parts of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, Park Slope, Sunset Park and Red Hook. We are delighted that such a good and reliable friend will take the place of Assemblywoman Dugan, who was one of the state’s most outspoken leaders on lesbian and gay issues.
Although she’s already taken her place in Albany, Millman’s swearing-in ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 23rd at I.S. 293 on Butler Street (Court Street) from 1-4pm. Although she has no district office yet, her address in Albany is:510 Capitol, Albany, NY 12248, 518-455-4426.
Silber Endorsed by
Victory Fund
We are happy to report that LID member and Civil Court candidate Debra Silber, was endorsed by the national Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. Not only will this endorsement give Debra’s judicial race national exposure, but it will also provide Victory Fund members an opportunity to support Debra’s race financially.
Ruling Throws Congressional Districts Into Question
A federal court in Brooklyn has declared the mostly Latino 12th Congressional District unconstitutional because race and ethnicity were the dominant factors used to draw the lines. The 12th C.D. has been held by Democrat Nydia Velazquez since 1992 and includes parts of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Lower East Side in Manhattan.
The three-judge federal panel said its ruling is in accord with recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions striking down minority majority districts in Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina that were found to violate the 14th Amendment’s protection of equal treatment for all. Those districts, like Velazquez’s, were drawn to meet the requirements of the federal Voting Rights Act and attempted to enfranchise minority communities.
The ruling is expected to lead to new boundaries for many of New York City’s 14 congressional districts. The federal order does not require an immediate special election, but orders the State Legislature to reconfigure the district by the 1998 elections. The Legislature has until July 30 to approve a plan, which Gov. George Pataki must sign. If the deadline is not met, the court could appoint its own experts to redraw the districts. Velazquez has said she will appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
L.I.D. backed Velazquez in her bitter 1992 primary against Rep. Stephen Solarz, a nine-term incumbent, who chose to run in the district after his own seat was carved up in the reapportionment process.
News In Brief
This year's Lunch With Lambda, scheduled for Sunday, May 18th, will honor five distingished individuals and groups.
Former LID President, George Waffle, will be awarded the prestigious Peter Vogel Award for his work on behalf of the club and the lesbian and gay community of Brooklyn. A special Lambda Service award will be given posthumously to longtime board member and tireless volunteer, Clyde Moss. Brooklyn Lambda awards will be given to: Katherine Kennedy, for her superb organizing with the Good Schools Coalition; Congressman Ed Towns for his commitment to civil rights and courage in opposing the anti-gay federal “Defense of Marriage Act;” and Shades of Lavender, a Brooklyn-based organization providing AIDS and health education to women primarily in communities of color.
Look for your invitation in the coming weeks.
ESPA Lobby Day a Success
Representatives from L.I.D .participated on March 5 in a well-attended Lobby Day in Albany, sponsored by the Empire State Pride Agenda. LID President Rodrick Dial and Corresponding Secretary Renee Cafiero joined over 200 constituents from across the state in pressing our state legislators on the sexual orientation nondiscrimination bill that has languished in the Republican-controlled state Senate for years; to support the hate crimes bill which stiffens penalties for bias-related crimes; to oppose the anti-gay marriage bill that would prohibit same sex marriages in New York and refuse to recognize legal same-sex unions in other states; and to support an Assembly initiative to earmark $2 million in the 1998 budget for mental health services targeted to the lesbian and gay community.
L.I.D. met with State Senator Marty Markowitz and Assembly Member Jim Brennan, newly-elected Assembly Members William Colton and Joan Millman, as well as Assembly Member Rhoda Jacobs and Senator Vincent Gentile.