Hi, friends!
This past weekend, I had a great time at New York City Pride with some of my close friends and colleagues, including Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou.
Check it out:
This Pride Month, I have been thinking a lot about the concept of allyship. As a New York State Senator, being a good ally means more than showing support for my LGBTQ+ friends and attending Pride - it also means championing legislation that will make it easier for queer New Yorkers to thrive.
Earlier this year, I supported the repeal of the Walking While Trans law, a bill that was passed as “anti-loitering” legislation in 1976. The law’s vagueness enabled NYPD officers to harass and arrest trans people, particularly women of color, at alarmingly high rates — simply for existing in public spaces.
I am proud to have played a part in the repeal of this archaic legislation, and I will continue to do the work necessary to eliminate anti-LGBTQ+ policy here in New York State.
While we have made a lot of progress in getting rid of discriminatory legislation - both at home and on the federal level - in the decades since the first Pride, there are still many bad actors hoping to turn back the clock on LGBTQ+ rights.
Throughout the country, GOP-controlled state legislatures are targeting transgender high school students simply for participating in sports programs. Senate Republicans are likely to vote down The Equality Act, legislation to grant civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ Americans.
My promise to you is that I will do everything in my power to resist these efforts here in New York State, and to use my place as a legislator to support and uplift all members of the LGBTQ+ community. After all, that’s what true allyship looks like.
Thank you for reading,
Alessandra
Paid For By The Committee To Elect Alessandra Biaggi
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