State of the State Demonstration

Please post a comment here if you are going to the event, and if you want to car pool. At our last LITAC meeting, it was decided that we should move forward with the idea of demonstrating in Albany at Governor Cuomo’s “State of the State” Address in January. Similar to the State of the Union speech that the President makes each year, the Governor addresses the State Assembly and the State Senate and outlines the work which was started in the previous year as well as his plans for the coming year. It is held in the “Egg” (Performing Arts Center) of the Empire State Plaza, a building we have spent time in each year during the “Equality and Justice Day" that Pride Agenda runs. We have finally received the date of the speech; it will be held on Wednesday January 7th, 2015. Our plan is to peacefully demonstrate in the Mall area which is indoors. The various government officials walk through the Mall to get to their seats in the Egg. Our hope is to position ourselves along the path to the EGG and make it clear to Republicans and Democrats alike that we will no longer patiently wait for our state civil rights. We will send a strong message that they must pass the Gender Expression Non-discrimination Act known as GENDA. We believe that this will probably be the first time a GENDA-specific demonstration will be held for a gathering of the Legislative groups. We will be sending out an alert to other Trans advocacy groups around the state to join with us and demonstrate. Please make your arrangements to attend the State of the State GENDA Demonstration on Wednesday January 7th . Your voice and help are needed! In Trans Pride, Juli Juli Grey-Owens Executive Director Long Island Transgender Advocacy Coalition