Speaker Christine C. Quinn
April 2011
LGBT and HIV/AIDS Community Report
Dear New Yorker,
Spring is here and it's been a busy year already for the LGBT community.
In February, the NYC Council, together with the NYC Department of Education and advocates around the five boroughs, successfully launched another year of Respect for All (RFA), our year-round effort to combat bullying and harassment in city schools by engaging students, faculty and staff in meaningful activities about diversity and acceptance.
- Watch the RFA Press Conference Remarks: http://goo.gl/ZRr3I
- Watch advocates talk about RFA.
- Advocates Video Part 1: http://goo.gl/DvO9n
- Advocates Video Part 2: http://goo.gl/AEUY3
Last month, with the help of City Council and Mayoral funding, SAGE cut the ribbon on the nation's first ever LGBT center for seniors! You can listen to remarks from that very special day at http://goo.gl/pOeoi .
I also had the opportunity to be a guest on the weekly news-hour show GAY USA, where I spoke about LGBT issues and other current events affecting New Yorkers. You can listen to the podcast at http://goo.gl/5b4TH .
And finally, we've been busy preparing for this year's NYC Council LGBT Pride Celebration on Tuesday, June 12th. It's shaping up to be our best Pride celebration yet, so please be sure to mark your calendars! Details about this and other important upcoming events are listed below.
If you have any questions about this latest report, please don't hesitate to contact our LGBT and HIV/AIDS Liaison Carlos Menchaca at cmenchaca@council.nyc.gov .
Thanks and I look forward to seeing you at our Pride Celebration in June!
Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Speaker
NYC Council
EVENTS
SAVE THE DATE!
NYCC LGBT Pride Celebration
Peter Cooper Union - The Great Hall
7 East 7th Street at Third Avenue
Program begins at 5:30 p.m.
Doors open at 4:45 p.m.
To RSVP early, send an email to eventscoordinator@council.nyc.gov with your name the number of guests you will be bringing. Please include their name and email address.
Register for 'Equality and Justice Day', May 8 by the Pride Agenda
This annual advocacy day in Albany features a rally at the Capitol, workshops, caucuses, and visits with elected representatives. It's also the largest statewide gathering of our movement, helping us strengthen our ties and build the coalitions so critical to advancing our goals.
In years past, thousands of activists have converged on Albany to lobby and rally for passage of the Marriage Equality Act, Dignity for All Students Act, and Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA).
As we gather for the first time since the historic passage of New York's Marriage Equality Act, this year we'll thank legislators who voted the marriage bill into law and focus on building support for transgender non-discrimination and the essential health and human services our community needs.
Register here: www.prideagenda.org/ej12
Pride Agenda presents the Trans Reality Panel:
Why Transgender Equality and Justice is Important
Looking to learn more about issues facing the transgender community and what you can do to help? Join us for an informative and inspiring evening with individuals and organizations working to effect positive change for transgender New Yorkers and the entire LGBT community.
Tuesday, April 17th
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
St. John's Lutheran Church, 81 Christopher Street, New York City
Feel free to tweet your questions for the panel in advance to @prideagenda and their co-sponsors, Swish @SwishPride , a group whose mission is to "educate, activate and network straight allies and LGBT advocates to work together for equality for all people." Use the hash tag #SwishNightsOut. The panel will be followed by an interactive Q&A session and refreshments by Grey Dog Cafe.