Public Employee Press

DC 37 celebrates Gay Pride Month

DC 37 gay and lesbian activists opened Gay Pride Month by holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 8 at union headquarters. The group planned to march in the annual New York City Gay Pride Parade on June 24, after this issue of PEP went to press.

“One of the strengths of DC 37 is its diversity, and the union makes that diversity work,” said Judith Arroyo, chair of the Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee and president of United Federation of Nurses and Epidemiologists Local 436, at the ceremony. As a new chair, Arroyo said she hoped to increase LAGIC’s visibility and activism.

“The committee has accomplished a lot and I’m looking forward to working with them in coming efforts,” said DC 37 Program Director Frances Curtis.

The guest speaker was Jessica Terrazas, who coordinates the Pride in Our Unions Campaign of the statewide advocacy group Empire State Pride Agenda.

Terrazas discussed the group’s three principal campaigns: fighting for legislation to grant gays and lesbians the right to marry, combating gender discrimination and securing the passage of the Dignity for All Students Act, which would protect high school students from discrimination because of gender, race or sexual orientation. A competing state bill, the Safe Harbors Act, does not include protections for sexual orientation.

“It’s important that we are out at work,” Terrazas said. “It’s about telling our story. That’s how we are going to build support. It’s important that we are visible. Go public!”

The opening ceremony also included an acapella performance by singer Charlotte Eley and a talk by DC 37 Rep Isabel Santos, a LAGIC founder.

“The ’80s and ’90s were still difficult times for the gaylesbian and transgender community,” Santos said.

“We had local union presidents who were supportive and we finally got to the point where the committee was recognized. But day in and day out, we are still struggling.”