In America,
equal access to civil rights should be sacrosanct. Yet hundreds of thousands of Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) New Yorkers are denied those rights every day. It is high time that we commit to fully embracing
all of our neighbors.
GLBT issues are dear to Paul's
heart. Growing up in 1970s and 1980s New York, Paul saw
dozens of family friends and neighbors die of AIDS, including his Bar Mitzvah
tutor, his favorite teacher at P.S 41 and many of his parents' friends. This experience inspired Paul's work as an
organizer and activist. Paul helped build
from the ground up an international non-profit that brings access to HIV/AIDS
treatment and services to over 40,000 orphans in Africa, and educates thousands
of New York youth on sexuality and health issues. For several years running, Paul has led one
of the largest teams at AIDS Walk New
York.
Despite widespread support for
equality Sheldon Silver refused to even allow a vote in the Assembly on
Marriage Equality legislation for many years.
Still today, Silver and Bruno's closed door still does not open for GLBT
New Yorkers.
As your Assembly member, Paul will
fight for:
- Full Marriage Equality - Thousands
of New York
families are being denied the many basic rights that go along with marriage. This casts a shadow of shame on our
state. It is not only an insult to GLBT
New Yorkers, but it is bad social policy.
The state has a compelling interest in encouraging stable families, and
we are failing.
- Inclusive Non-Discrimination Laws
- Non-discrimination legislation that excludes parts of our community, however
well-intentioned, is doomed to fail. Splitting
our coalition is the wrong symbol and the wrong policy. Paul will fight to include Transgender New
Yorkers in all non-discrimination legislation.
- Services for GLBT Youth - One third
of homeless youth in New York City
are GLBT youth. Yet the largest
providers of city and state funded services for homeless youth do not provide
welcoming environments for these clients - driving many GLBT youth back on the
street. This encourages prostitution,
spreads HIV and other diseases, and is cruel and discriminatory. Paul will fight for legislation to ensure
that any recipient of city or state funds for homeless services provide a
welcoming environment for all clients.
