Public Employee Press


DC 37 CELEBRATES ITS DIVERSITY

LAGIC
Fighting for a safe and affirmative environment

BY MIKE LEE

Union LGBTQ activists and allies gathered on June 3 at union headquarters in lower Manhattan for the DC 37 Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee's annual pride celebration, kicking off this year's Gay Pride Month.

LAGIC, formed in 1990, has long stood at the frontlines of union efforts to support the LGBTQ members in the labor community by affirming their dignity and promoting a safe, non-homophobic workplace and fighting for equal rights, which culminated in last year's U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of marriage equality.

While the LGBTQ community has made great strides in pushing forward an agenda of equality and tolerance, much more needs to be done.

Yolanda Pumarejo, co-chair of LAGIC and executive vice president of SSEU Local 371, spoke about the committee's work.

"There is a lot of history with this committee," she said. "I can think of several issues that we helped accomplished not just for our community but for the membership as a whole here in this union." She added, "Because we have had so many victories recently - such as marriage equality - people assume we should lay back. But we cannot because there are people suffering, and we must stand at the forefront of the progressive movement."

LAGIC Co-Chair Valentin Colon, president of New York Public Library Guild Local 1930, spoke about the threat posed by the presumptive Republican Party presidential candidate, Donald Trump.

"It is very important that we get the vote out in this upcoming election," he said, warning the audience. "If we lose the White House, there will be a domino effect. There will be a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Next there will be an attack on the labor movement, then the LGBT community, and following that on African Americans."

Allies speak out

Local 154 President Juan Fernandez followed, adding his voice to the call to fight against the reactionary forces lining up behind Trump's campaign. "We need to stand together, and fight for all our rights," he said. "We must win this election."

Also stressing the importance of unity in the upcoming national elections,
DC 37 Associate Director Oliver Gray told the audience, "In the midst of what confronts us, what we all can count on is our union. It is a place where we understand each other, and work together as a single community." In a show of unity and support, along with Fernandez, Local 420 President Carmen Charles, Local 768 President Fitz Reid and Deborah Pitts, president of Local 1113, also attended the event.

Afterward, the crowd was entertained by the rhythm and blues singer James Bradley, and they participated in a silent auction.