1.
Do you think same-sex couples should be
allowed to legally marry?
2.
If you answered no on question one, what
mechanisms (e.g., civil union, domestic
partnership, etc.) do you think should be
available to support lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) families? Would you
sponsor bills to create these mechanisms?
3.
Would you support legislation that allowed
same-sex couples to marry?
4.
Can you envision any circumstance where
you would support legislation such as the
so-called "Defense of Marriage Act"
or a similar federal or state Constitutional
amendment that defines marriage as only
between one man and one woman or otherwise
bars same-sex couples from having equal
access to marriage?
If
yes, describe the circumstances in which
you would support such a measure:
5.
The Attorney General of NY has opined that
marriage commity laws require New York to
respect the legal marriages of same-sex
couples from other jurisdictions like Canada.
A number of localities, state programs,
businesses, employers and labor unions have
followed this advice. Do you believe New
York should respect and honor the marriages
of same-sex couples from jurisdictions where
such marriages are legal?
6.
While current law might prohibit discrimination
based on gender identity and expression
in areas like housing, public accommodations,
credit, education and employment, there
is no specific statute outlawing such discrimination
in New York. Do you support legislation
like the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination
Act (GENDA) to prohibit discrimination based
on gender identity and expression?
7.
Do you support transgender New Yorkers having
equal health care insurance coverage for
things like hormone treatments, appropriate
routine medical care and screening, and
gender-confirming surgery?
8.
New York State currently provides funding
for community based organizations providing
health and human services to the LGBT community
in areas involving youth, seniors, substance
abuse, and mental health. The Pride Agenda
administers a Network of over fifty of these
CBO's that advocate for and administer these
funds. Do you support specific state funding
for community-based programming related
to LGBT health and human service programs
beyond HIV / AIDS and would you continue
to include this funding in your executive
budget?
9.
Do you support an increase in funding for
the treatment and prevention of HIV and
AIDS and the implementation of age-appropriate,
medically accurate HIV/AIDS and sex education
curricula in schools?
10.
Do you support initiatives to strengthen
the enforcement of human rights laws, such
as ensuring sufficient funding for the State
Division of Human Rights to fulfill its
duty to investigate complaints in a fair
and timely manner, and earmarking funds
to educate employers and the public at large
on state human rights laws like the Sexual
Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA)?
11.
Do you believe that state relief programs
such as workers compensation and accidental
death benefits for police and firefighters
should be fully inclusive of same-sex partners
/ spouses?
12.
While spouses do not have to pay taxes on
health insurance provided through their
husband or wife's employer, domestic partners
are taxed on health benefits that they acquire
through their partner. Do you support making
domestic partner health benefits exempt
from state taxation just as spousal health
benefits are?
13.
Do you believe that the State of New York
should only do business with companies that
extend to domestic partners of their employees
the same benefits (such as health insurance
and bereavement leave) that are extended
to spouses?
14.
Do you support legislation that would allow
localities to do business only with companies
that extend to domestic partners of their
employees the same benefits that are extended
to spouses?
15.
Currently, New York allows only married
couples and couples legally sharing a child
access to Family Court for an order of protection
from domestic violence. In this way, New
York currently offers to least protection
from domestic violence in the nation. Do
you support legislation to allow unmarried
couples, including same-sex domestic partners,
to have access to NY Family Court for things
like orders of protection?
16.
Do you support the allocation of public
resources to organizations that discriminate
on the basis of sexual orientation, such
as the Boy Scouts of America, Inc.?
17.
Do you believe that youth in juvenile justice
and other facilities operated by the Office
of Children and Family Services should be
protected from discrimination and bias harassment
based on sexual orientation, and gender
identity and expression?
18.
Do you support legislation to ensure that
students are protected from discrimination
and bias harassment based on sexual orientation,
and gender identity and expression in school,
including teacher training on how to handle
bias-based harassment, and student curriculum
on respect for diversity?
19.
Many small employers who want to offer health
coverage for the domestic partners of their
employees cannot find an insurance company
that will sell them such coverage, with
insurance companies refusing to sell domestic
partner coverage to employers with fewer
than 50 employees. Do you feel insurance
companies should be required to sell domestic
partner insurance policies on the same basis
as spousal insurance coverage?
20.
Do you support legislation to allow domestic
partners to make medical decisions for partners
who are unable to do so for themselves?
21.
Do you support legislation that prohibits
employers who provide funeral leave to employees
from denying leave on the same basis to
same-sex committed partners?
22.
Do you support legislation that would allow
employees to use sick time to care for a
sick family member, including domestic partners?
23.
Do you support a woman's unrestricted right
to reproductive freedom, including abortion?
What
restrictions, if any, would you place on
this right (parental consent requirements,
a ban on so-called "partial birth abortions,"
etc.)?
24.
What would you do to address the abuse of
"party drugs" like crystal methamphetamine
within the LGBT community?
25.
What actions will you take to help achieve
adoption of measures to benefit New York's
LGBT community, including items described
in questions 1 through 22 above? (E.g.,
recruit co-sponsors for legislation, advocate
with legislative leadership and / or the
Governor on LGBT issues, attend or organize
rallies, forums or press conferences, etc.)
26.
What methods will you use to stay apprised
of the concerns of the LGBT community (e.g.,
hold an annual town meeting with the LGBT
community, assign a staff person to act
as liaison to the LGBT community, etc.)?
27.
Why are you seeking the endorsement of the
Empire State Pride Agenda?
28.
Why should members of the lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender community support
your candidacy?
Signature
of Candidate or Designee: By typing in your name,
you state that you have answered all the
questions truthfully and to the best of
your knowledge.
