Dear Supporter:
As you may know, yesterday the New York State Senate failed to pass a bill
that would allow same-sex couples the right to marry.
I am saddened that the State Senate has missed this opportunity to finally
acknowledge the civil rights of New York's LGBT citizens and guarantee marriage
equality for all New Yorkers. I am particularly disappointed in those Queens
State Senators, including my own, who voted in opposition to this bill.
Many, including Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell, Assemblymember Deborah
Glick, Senator Tom Duane, and our own Assemblymember Cathy Nolan, fought hard to
pass this legislation. They, and those who voted yes, deserve our thanks.
Following the vote yesterday, I and my fellow Council Member-Elect Danny
Dromm released this statement below which I'd like to share with you. Rest
assured, this fight is not over, and I will continue to be a forceful advocate
for equal rights for New Yorkers and residents of the 26th Council
District.
Sincerely,
Council Members-Elect Van Bramer,
Dromm
Extremely Disappointed By Queens State Senators
Who Voted Against Marriage
Equality
Not Representative Of Borough That Just Elected 2 Openly
Gay Officials
SUNNYSIDE AND JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS – Council
Members-elect Danny Dromm (25th District) and Jimmy Van Bramer
(26th District), who made history last month by becoming the first
openly gay elected officials in the borough of Queens, voiced deep
disappointment with the five Queens State Senators who voted against marriage
equality this afternoon.
Dromm and Van Bramer also applauded the two Queens Senators who voted
for marriage equality – Senate President Malcolm Smith and Senator Toby Stavisky
– for their courage and leadership. Dromm and Van Bramer expressed
particular disappointment with the two Senators who represent them, Hiram
Monserrate (Dromm) and George Onorato (Van Bramer), who voted no.
Council Member-elect Van Bramer said: “Today was an opportunity to
celebrate and honor our diversity, to take a stand for human rights and human
dignity,” said Council Member-elect Jimmy Van Bramer. “Two members of the Queens
delegation – Senators Smith and Stavisky – embraced this vision. But sadly, five
other Queens Senators voted to deny a basic civil right to their own
constituents. Their views are not representative of a diverse, inclusive borough
that just elected two openly gay elected officials for the first time.”
Council Member-elect Dromm said: “I’d like to thank Senators Smith and
Stavisky for being on the right side of history today. But Senators Addabbo,
Huntley, Monserrate, Onorato and Padavan sent a deeply troubling message today
that members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities are
second-class citizens. Their votes underscore the need to elect more progressive
and open-minded Senators in Queens.”
OurLIC CALENDAR
