Public Employee Press

DC 37 celebrates diversity
LAGIC Opens Gay Pride Month

In its continuing celebration of diversity and recognition of the individual rights of its members, DC 37 opened Gay Pride Month on June 2 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and silent auction, sponsored by LAGIC, the union's Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee and Locals 371 and 1549.

Eddie Rodriguez, president of DC 37 and Local 1549, Anthony Wells, president of Local 371, Carmen Charles, president of Local 420, and Santos Crespo Jr., president of Local 372, joined LAGIC Chair Valentin Colon, president of Local 1930, to greet members and former City Comptroller John Liu. LAGIC supports pride events, said Colon, who noted that each borough will have its own gay pride parade. The committee launched two programs: a fundraiser for LAGIC pins to be sold at the July AFSCME convention in Chicago, and a membership drive to build a New York City chapter of Pride @ Work, a labor movement group that LAGIC helped start.

"We stand in full support of LAGIC," said DC 37 Associate Director Henry Garrido. "There is a right-wing attack to repress the rights of those who believe different from ultraconservatives. That is reflected in the effort to end same-sex marriage, as well as the attack on unions in the Harris v. Quinn case before the Supreme Court."

"We need to stand on the side of justice and human rights and dignity," he said, "and continue labor's fight to improve and protect the rights of all."

— Diane S. Williams