The 2009 legislative session is almost here. We need you to make sure your Assemblymember supports marriage equality and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act when these bills come before them again in the coming months. The Assembly passed the marriage bill for the first time by a vote of 85-61 in June 2007 and the GENDA bill by a vote of 108-34 in June 2008.

Your Assemblymembers need to hear from you as we once again ask them to act on these crucial bills.

Click here to see the Pride Agenda’s legislative scorecard, which will show you how your Assemblymember voted last time on either the marriage bill or the GENDA bill. Not sure who your Assemblymember is? Click here to find out.

You can send the letter below with a couple clicks of your mouse. Feel free to edit the letter to add a personal note.

Subject: Please co-sponsor and vote for marriage equality & GENDA 2009

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

As the 2009 legislative session begins, two very important bills will once again be up for a vote in the Assembly. I ask that you support and co-sponsor both the marriage equality bill and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) in 2009.

The marriage equality bill would grant same-sex couples equal access to the 1,324 rights and responsibilities that come with a New York State marriage license. These rights include vital protections for the tens of thousands of same-sex couples who are raising children in New York State. In June 2007, the Assembly passed the marriage bill by a vote of 85-61. I hope that I can count on your vote this year when the bill again comes up for a vote.

The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) would ban discrimination against transgender New Yorkers by adding gender identity and expression to the New York State Human Rights Law. This would make it illegal to fire someone from their job or kick them out of their home simply because they are transgender. GENDA passed in the Assembly in June 2008 by a vote of 108-34. Please also support this important bill when it comes before you this year.

Both of these bills are vitally important to LGBT New Yorkers. I will be following the progress of these bills--and your action on them--very closely throughout the year.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]