Upstate NY Unifies Against Exclusion

Contributed by Phyllis Frye

In meetings held between the Syracuse city council and the PRIDE Celebration Committee, language to include Bisexual and Transgendered persons in the proclamation was rejected for political reasons by the council.

For the past two years, the PRIDE Committee of Syracuse, comprised of Gay and Lesbian groups in the area, has sought and recieved a proclamation from the city councilor's noting the importance of and the recognition deserved by the Gay and Lesbian communities and their contribution to the diversity and economy of the Central New York area.

This year, when the same committee applied for the proclamation, they added the words Bisexual and Transgender to the proclamation in areas that would include them along with the Gay and Lesbian Communities in the body of the proclamation.

The committee was advised by the Democratic councilors who were asked to introduce the proclamation for a council vote, the same way as they have in the past two year, that the inclusion of Bisexual and Transgender in the content would not be able to pass the council vote and even if it did, it would be used next year during the elections by the Republican minority of the council, as a "weapon" to be used to acquire more seats and a majority of the council.

They noted that this would in turn effect the entire GLBT community if the Republicans gained the majority because of their threat to overthrow the Fair Practicies Law in the City of Syracuse, which presently protects the employement of Gays and Lesbians in the city.

Facing these scare tactics, and in a courageous move by the committee for inclusion of the Bisexual and Transgender, the PRIDE Committee of Syracuse decided to withdraw the proclamation unless it was inclusive and noted the Bisexual and Transgender Communities.

Over the past years, work by the Transgender group EON, Inc. and their open participation in PRIDE Parades and Gay and Lesbian activities have formed a closer understanding of all the communities and a commitment from all the GLBT leaders to be inclusive and form a community that encourages diversity and unity. The withdrawal of the proclamation for PRIDE Week, represents a courageous and sacrificial committment to Diversity, Inclusion and Unity by the Gay and Lesbian groups forming the PRIDE Committee.

Past President of EON, Inc., Angela Brightfeather, recognizes the work, love and understanding that has brought the GLBT communities together over the past years and notes that leaders in the Gay and Lesbian communities have taken a progressive and inclusive stance with the Bisexual and Transgender communities, including them in the language and content of most all activities held in this area of New York. Groups such as GLASS and The Stonewall Committee have made every effort to include all GLBT people in all activities and committees. The attempt by the Democratic councilors of the City of Syracuse to exclude Bisexual and Transgender people has failed in all respects because now the entire GLBT community will recognize that it is our unity that they truly fear.

The intent to divide and conquer the GLBT communities has now been brought out into the light of day for all to see and this will not be tolerated any longer. The tendency for the future will be for the GLBT communities to "galvanize" their efforts to make stonger bonds of unity in the future to protect all the rights of all the people.

Please note: Recognition and thanks for this action by the PRIDE Committee can be forwarded to HarryRFJ@AOL.com Attn: Mr. Harry Freeman Jones