Statement by Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle

January 7, 2009 - “Today, for the first time ever, New York has a pro-LGBT Majority Leadership in the State Senate. We congratulate Senator Malcolm Smith, the new Senate Majority Leader, and look forward to working with him to pass legislation that will bring equality to LGBT New Yorkers and our families.

LGBT New Yorkers and our allies should be proud today. We now not only have a Senate Majority Leader who supports our issues, but one that has stated a number of times that he will help us find the support needed to pass crucial bills like marriage equality, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act and the Dignity for All Students Act.

Our community now has more work to do. Today we know that we have supportive leadership, but we also know that we do not yet have the votes that we need to pass some of our most important bills. In the months to come, LGBT New Yorkers and our allies will be working in districts across the state to build the support that will allow us to bring these bills to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as possible.”