Outing the Politicians

Now that lomg-time Republican Majority Leader Joe Bruno has stepped down, gay rights advocates have a real chance at introducing a marriage equality bill and getting it passed. For years Bruno blocked the bill from even entering the floor of the New York State Senate for debate.

Tuesday’s election could result in Democratic majorities in both the State Assembly and Senate, which the LGBT community hopes will ease the passing of three key pieces of legislation: the Marriage Equality Act; the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which would make it illegal to discriminate against gender variant individuals; and the Dignity for All Students Act, to outlaw bullying in schools.

At the moment New York State recognizes same-sex and common law marriages from other states, although New Yorkers are unable to obtain same-sex marriages for themselves.

Here’s a summary of the stances of several Western New York incumbents and their opponents on these issues. First, the State Senate races:

• Bill Stachowski vs. Dennis Delano in the 58th District: Although a Democrat, Stachowski has not shown support for LGBT causes, even signing on to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The LGBT community is ambivalent about him. Some prefer the Stachowski stay in office, hoping the Democrat will eventually change his mind, as did Assemblyman Mark Schroeder, who initially signed on to DOMA but was later swayed and now fully supports marriage equality. Stachowski was expected to regain his seat easily; however, his Republican opponent, Delano, now leads Stachowski in the predominantly Democratic 58th District. Delano is essentially a blank slate. Few know where he stands on the issues. He may not even know himself where he stands on key topics. In turning Republican for a better chance at usurping the Democratic party machine, Delano joins such politicians as Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City and former gubernatorial candidate Tom Golisano.

• Dale Volker vs. Kathy Konst in the 59th District: Republican incumbent Volker, another politician who signed on to DOMA, leads Democratic challenger Konst.

• In the 60th District, Antoine Thompson is running unopposed—there are no Republican, Independent, or Conservative party candidates. Thompson has always been a strong proponent of LGBT causes.

• Republican Mary Lou Rath of the 61st District in Amherst is stepping down this year. Running for her spot are former boxer Joe Mesi and Erie County Legislator Mike Ranzenhofer. Democrat Mesi has received the endorsement of the Working Families Party, which has supported marriage equality. Mesi, who has the support of Golisano, currently appears to hold a slight lead over Ranzenhofer and may win by sheer name recognition. The demographics of the 61st District have shifted over the last decade. Amherst, traditionally a Republican stronghold, now has a younger, more Democratic, and ethnically diverse population.

Assembly races to take note of:

• Democrats Sam Hoyt and Mark Schroeder both have comfortable leads over their opponents and are outspoken supporters of the LGBT community.

• Francine DelMonte of the 138th District, however, tends to sit on the fence. Although DelMonte has signed on in support of GENDA and the Dignity Act, she has not supported for marriage quality. Observers believe that’s a compromise tactic to help her retain office in a conservative district. Her Republican opponent is Paula Banks Dahlke, to whom Golisano has contributed.

2009 may be the year New York joins California, Massachusetts, and most recently Connecticut in establishing marriage equality. For more information about these issues and where New York’s politicians stand on them, visit outspokenforequality.org or prideagenda.org.

—lucy yau