[Blog/Commentary] [USA] Equality & Justice Day at NY Capitol on May 8

[Stephanie Stevens]

Bilerico, USA


Equality & Justice Day at NY Capitol on May 8

Filed By Drew Cordes | April 29, 2012 1:00 PM


Tuesday, May 8, is Equality & Justice Day at the New York State
Capitol in Albany. It's an annual event where LGBT people and our
supporters lobby and rally for equal rights, and obviously getting as
many supporters as possible is important. It's tempting for us
LGBT'ers (and even more tempting for legislators) to rest on our
laurels a bit after our recent victories. After all, New York has
marriage equality now, and equality and the recent EEOC ruling was a
big step for trans equality. This attitude can be a slippery slope.

The EEOC ruling is not hard-and-fast law, as Bil's earlier post on
Barney Frank's statement
<http://www.bilerico.com/2012/04/frank_trans_people_now_have_more_rights.php>
elucidates. Additionally, the EEOC ruling applies only to employment.
Housing, credit, medical care... those arenas remain untouched.

With elections coming up, the lawmakers who voted for marriage
equality last year, especially the GOP supporters, may feel like they
have already granted the LGBT community our favor. Many don't want to
"stick their neck out" again for us. It's important to keep the
pressure on. And it's important for the LGB members of our community
not to leave trans people behind in the fight for equal rights. Trans
people are not a bargaining chip. Equal rights for most is not equal
rights.

Equality & Justice Day will center on the Gender Expression
Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which will ensure that transgender
people are included in the New York State human rights law. The event
will feature lobbying, workshops, caucuses, and a rally at 1 p.m.
Preregistration is open till Friday, April 27, at the Empire State
Pride Agenda's website, but same-day registration is available at the
event. It's a Tuesday and most people will be at work, so if you can't
make it for the whole day, take a half-day or an extended lunch break
for the rally at 1 p.m., in West Capitol Park, which does not require
registration. The rally is where the media will be, so a good turnout
will maximize its impact.

Be counted. Make your voice heard. Your actions matter.


http://www.bilerico.com/2012/04/equality_justice_day_at_ny_capitol_on_may_8.php