Dear Friends:

The Pride Agenda had two big goals with this year’s elections for the NYS Assembly and State Senate and I am enormously happy to report to you that together we accomplished both last night!

The first was to make sure that no Assemblymember who voted for marriage equality legislation in 2007 and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination this year lost last night.  None did.

The second was to replace two anti-LGBT State Senators with pro-LGBT State Senators and, by doing so, put in place a new Majority Leadership in the State Senate that is committed to working with us on our issues.  We did that.

In Queens, Democrat Joseph Addabbo beat the incumbent Serphin Maltese, who is the lead sponsor of the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act” and a longtime homophobic member of the State Senate.  In Suffolk County, Democrat Brian Foley beat 36-year incumbent Caesar Trunzo, who is also a sponsor of DOMA.

You should take pride in these incredible accomplishments here in New York State.  None of this could have happened without your hard work building support for our issues where you live and your support of the Pride Agenda.

With hope,

Alan Van Capelle