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Public
Employee Press Political
Action 2009 LAGIC to lobby in Albany April 28
DC
37s Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee is organizing members to bus to Albany
April 28 for Equality and Justice Day, the annual mass lobbying effort of the
Empire State Pride Agenda advocacy group.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
members of DC 37 have participated for years in the annual trek to lobby state
legislators, and this is the second time that the union has sponsored the trip,
said LAGIC Chair Judith Arroyo. The grassroots lobbyists will focus on three bills
that would protect LGBT youth, recognize same-sex marriage and end discrimination.
The
Dignity for All Students Act would ensure that public schools have an environment
free of harassment and discrimination based on race, national origin, ethnic group,
religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and
expression) and sex. The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act would outlaw
discrimination against transgender people. The marriage equality bill would give
gay marriage partners the same rights and protections as married heterosexuals.
The
state Assembly has passed the bills, and this year the group hopes to convince
the Senate to approve the legislation.
We are simply trying to gain
equal rights, said Arroyo, who is the president of United Federation of
Nurses Local 436.
There are certain rights that married couples have
simply because they are married, she explained. If a married person
is injured on the job, gets Workers Comp and dies, the spouse continues
to receive the benefit. But not in a domestic partnership.
Equality
and Justice Day Albany, April 28 | Return
by April 10 to DC 37 LAGIC, c/o Judith Arroyo, 125 Barclay Street, New York,
NY 10007.
I want to fight for equality and justice in Albany on April 28. I
want to leave from:
Brooklyn
Bronx
Manhattan
Queens
Staten Island
Name ____________________________________________________ Address
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________
Phone (home) ________________ (work) ___________________ Local
____________________________________________________
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