January 20, 2025 • 16 mins
The NEW Pride Agenda recently celebrated five years of advocacy and impact for LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers. In five years, NPA has made significant strides in advancing economic, health, and social justice for marginalized LGBTQIA+ communities. Following the 2024 election and looking forward to a new presidential administration, we speak with Interim Director Kei Williams about NPA's strategy to advance meaningful change. For more, visit newprideagenda.org.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Get Connected with Nina del Rio, a weekly
conversation about fitness, health and happenings in our community on
one oh six point seven Light FM.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thanks for listening to get connected. The New Pride Agenda
recently marked five years of advocacy and impact for lgbtqia
plus New Yorkers. In those years, NPA has made major
strides in advancing economic health and social justice for marginalized
lgbtqia plus communities. Following last year's campaign season and looking
(00:35):
forward to the new administration, what is NPA's strategy to
advance meaningful change. Our guest is Key Williams, Interim Director
of New Pride Agenda. Thank you for being on the show.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
You can find out more at New Pride Agenda dot org.
So the introduction to what New Pride Agenda is. Maybe
you could give me a more in depth explanation of
what is the organization's main goal? What do you do?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Yeah? So, New pred Agenda is a statewide advocacy and
education organization. We primarily focus on, I can guess name,
advancing the economic health and racial gender identity justice. The
needs of the marginalized community within the LGBTQAA individuals for
New York State, and we do that primarily for me
(01:24):
through two wheelhouses. We have our programming side where we
offer direct services such as a clothing closet, a food pantry,
community programs such as drop in center, but we also
do advocacy, and for me, those two things go hand
in hand with each other. That's advancing statewide policy initiatives,
that's advancing things at the local and city level as well,
(01:45):
but really taking a really wide stroke to making sure
that New Yorkers who are queer in trands really have
their voices represented and that their resource as well.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Let's talk a little bit about you too. So you
are the interim director of a New Pride Agenda. Where
do you come from? What is your work? All that stuff?
Your story a bit.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Yeah, So I'm originally from upstate New York. I'm from
Central New York and I've been living in New York
City for over a decade. But most of my work
really comes from grassroots organizing in the racial justice fair.
So I'm a founding member of Black Lives Matter, and
I've really done a lot of coaching of social movements
(02:23):
across different like issue spaces, so that's climate justice. I've
done background in right is obviously racial policing justice, and
then transitioned over into the LGBTQIA space of organizing with
the organization. But I've been here for three years, so
though I'm the interim director, I've actually served as director
of Programs previously to taking out this role.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I want to talk about New Pride agenda, but it
also occurs to me as you're talking about where you started,
where you grew up, that's a much more tends to
be sort of upstate New York, a much more conservative area.
So you're bringing also the perspective that maybe New Yorkers
aren't a familiar with right. This is an organization that
mostly focuses on New York State. You have an ear
(03:04):
or an eye to what so many other people are
living with that we don't really see in New York.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Yeah, And I think that's a really important thing to name, right,
And I think that's what makes New Predage and the
very unique in its positionality. Most people think of New
York City first, when you say you're from New York,
most people are like, what Borough or Manhattan? Right, And
it's like, No, there is a full state, and it
takes you eight hours to drive across it, and when
you're from central New York, it is a very rural
(03:31):
experience to grow up and as a player and trans
new Yorker. But it's really important as a state by
organization to have that lens because our state is huge,
and there are people who can't afford to live in
New York City. Everybody's not based in New York City.
We have a lot of you know, families or single
individuals who live across New York State, and so I
think it is a very unique perspective to have when
(03:54):
we're thinking about the types of initiatives that are championing
across the state for that very reason, and we deal
with that allot, right, we have with the New York
City Focus work that we undertake. But I think a
really good example was, you know, when we do some
of our advocacy work, it's like this already exists in
New York City. How do we get the rest of
New York to have that? That's something that we did
(04:15):
with all the time.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Well, let's talk about a couple of successes, one of
which impacts everybody in New York. So New Yorker's voted
last election to pass the Equal Rights Amendment for probes
of one on the ballot. What does that do? Why
is that important?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:29):
So proposition won.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
The New York City Equal Rights Amendment, as it's more
popularly called A prohibits discrimination based on a person's ethnicity,
national origin, age, disability, and sex, including their sexual orientation,
gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy or pregnancy outcomes, reproductive healthcare,
and bodily autonomy.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
That's a huge.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Range of protections that right get put into our state constitution.
But it was essential for us to work on that,
not just from the LGBTQI A lens, but understanding that
one thing about New York is that it prides itself
on being in this progressive, safe state for marginalized community members.
But all of our laws were kind of like piecemeal.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Right.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
We had the Agenda Law, we had the Human Rights
Law in New York City, but there was not anything
in the state constitution right that really protected everybody. So,
just thinking about it, in twenty twenty four, people could
be discriminated against not just for their gender identity or
their sexual orientation, but for their age right or for
their ethnicity, at a state constitutional level. We wanted to
(05:35):
make sure that those rights were put into the constitution
to help protect us regardless of who is in the
governor's office or who's in the presidential office, or what's
happening right at the Supreme Court level or federal district
court level. Right, it was really important to pass Proposition
one to ensure that New Yorkers had all their protections
(05:58):
secured in the constitution. And so the constitutional fight was
very interesting for a lot of different reasons, but primarily
we were undertaking kind of this readiness and also kind
of catching New York up to other states that had
already codified.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
These rights right within their constitution.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
It's essential to protect our fundamental freedoms, especially in this
era of you know, the whomens of different politicians who
might be in a specific place or not.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
One when that is specific to New York ahead of
a lot of states. Is the trans Equity Fund. That's
another success you have worked on.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Yeah, So we worked on champion what we call the
Lorena Bojas Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund, is named after
a trans elder who passed away actually from COVID to
really honor the fact that she was doing a lot
of resourcing, resourcing work of our community, right, And so
it was conceived out of a recognition that TG and
(06:54):
C or transgender gender nonconforming individuals face the most severe
performance of mistreatment. Right, yet we are profoundly underserved. Right.
So one of the data points that we talk about
in terms of advocating for the Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund,
which we called.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
TWEF, is that, yes, there are.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Funding our moneys in the state budget for LGBTQ communities,
but only about four cents on the dollar actually reaches
queer and trans organizations or quer and transserving communities, and
so we wanted to ensure that there was specific funding
that went to our communities, and that was us being
able to secure in twenty twenty three three million, so
(07:37):
we got a starting budget of three million dollars, which
is a combined gun contribution from both our governor and
our legislation, and that has grown over the past two
years to four point twenty five million specifically on TWEF,
and which twelfth helps organizations to do there's small grants,
right and again a statewide approach, and so there are
(07:58):
organizations that have been doing work like Pride centers, right,
most popularly most people think about LGBTQ service as going
through pride centers. Those works are also seeing an influx
of specifically queer and trands identifying individuals needing to resource them,
so we also support them, but we're also supporting smaller
organizations or organizations that do migrant services right or doing
(08:20):
like black and Immigrant led social change, which TEFF has
been able to allow people to fund.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
And so some of the things.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
That TWEF has been able to fund, you know, it's
like culturally competent healthcare services, workforce readiness initiatives. The Governor
actually helped to expand for a one million dollars contribution
and the Office of Mental Health directed towards you suicide
prevention programs, right. And it also helps us with really
carrying on the legislative advocacy in the legal services needs
(08:49):
of our community. But again, trans led and serving organizations,
we know need all of the fundy that they can
get because we primarily service those who live at the
margins and those who really you know, are rapidly involving
what do they need and so having funding that is
directly to transled trans serving organizations is very, very key
(09:13):
to having a like holistic approach to who's receiving funding
in our state budget.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Our guest is Key Williams, Interim director of New Pride Agenda.
They serve to educate members of the lgbtqia plus community
and allies as well as the general public about the
legal protections and rights of lgbtqia plus people. You're listening
to get connected on one I was six point seven
Light FM. I'mina del Rio. So we've talked about some successes.
(09:40):
The anti transagenda has just made some headway. States are
reevaluating gender affirming care for miners. December, the UK banned
puberty blockers for transgender miners. We're thinking about what might
happen with the administration that is coming in which has
been openly hostile towards trans people. How from your role,
(10:03):
what do you know about how the community is feeling
about the incoming president's agenda and the headwinds that are
coming your way. If you see it like that, yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
I mean we definitely see it in that way, right.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
So part of what our community have been really focusing on,
and as an advocacy organization, one of the things that
we are really reckoning with is that we've lived through
this experience before, We've lived through a very hostile administration before,
specifically tours the LGBTQ community hyper targeting are high throat
zeroing in en, queer and trans communities, right, and so
(10:35):
based on President Alec's campaign promises, we can expect and
anticification and expansion of tactics that we're used during this
first time. We have concerns about the attempt to roll
back anti discrimination protections and employment housing right, a range
of other critical areas. There's concerns that they'll drive to
Medicaid funding for providers of gender firming care or just
(10:59):
outright banning of gender firming care and federal health care programs.
We're also looking at some of the concerns that we
have obviously obviously around the undoing of Title nine protection
specifically for trans gender, non conforming and non binary students
that have been discussed as being you know, instituted on
that round of quote unquote day one, things that are
(11:21):
going to be undertaken, right, and so it's really clear
that there are there's a clear policy agenda that poses
for us an existential threat to the rights and well
being of the LGBTQ community.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
And one of the.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Things that we are really leaning on, even here in
a state like New York, is having a robust response
prepared on the state level.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
We know that that will be vital.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
To ensuring that LGBTQ people and their families will remain
safe as safe as our laws allow, right, And that's
where the role of an organization like New Pride Agenda
comes into play, because we're committed to working with our
community members and our elected officials to identify, strengthen, and
maybe even create new protections right necessary to secure New
(12:03):
York as a safe haven. So it's very very crucial
that you know, our elected leaders meet the impact of
communities where they are and that's like super super key,
and so yeah, we're looking forward to, you know, collaborating
both with the communities, but also one of the main
things is to defend the most sacred freedoms that we have,
(12:24):
which is by refusing complacency and complicity in the erosion
of our civil rights and the scapegoating right that you've
already kind of mentioned that we're seeing being targeted at
already marginalized.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Groups because you are focused primarily on New York who
have been some of your better champions in New York
state government and leadership and what can the state do better?
Speaker 4 (12:45):
One things for sure, I'm always going to take this
time to shout out Attorney General Tis James, who is
a huge champion. She was very really, really proactive, and
something that we experienced here in New York in twenty
twenty four was the Nasau County executive order ban against
transudent sports. Unfortunately that ban is standing right now because
it has to go through a legislative practice, but the
(13:07):
age was really reactive right and responsive to those like
immediate meets. We also get a lot of championing and
support from Senator Brad Hoyman, assembly Member Harry Bronson. Those
are members who you know are one are part of
our community, but also really take under that leadership of championing.
And again Governor Hoco, who is definitely you know again
(13:31):
she secured so much funding.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
For us through tweth right.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
So there are elected officials, leading representatives in New York
that understand the role that New York plays when it
comes to LGBTQ rights and LGBTQ protections. And we have that,
you know, the majority leaders to her cousins is a
great ally to our community. So it's for us in
New York. We are definitely supported by our elected officials
(13:56):
in every sense of the way, but there's so much
more that can be done. We can't be complacent, we
can't be his Complacency very quickly leads to complicitness. And
so I think one of the things that we continue
to urge is that many of us are you aware
that the lgbc Q movement is under attack across the
(14:16):
entire country, and we are also seeing some elected some
Democratic representatives in New York right who are being hostile
towards queer and trans youth and queer and trans family
and bodily autonomy as well. So as much as we
have our champions, we do have some others that we
feel like we need to step up right and really
like take the lead and not be afraid right to
(14:38):
really continue to uphold the fact that New York is
New York for a reason, right, and we are a
vanguard state for a reason. And when it comes to
freedoms and democracies, that line that we told you know
was a really thin one. And so those are the
things that we're concerned about when it comes to the powerholders. Yeah,
there are extremist politicians and other organizations that have grown
(14:59):
both and their attempts to dismantle New Year's reputation as
a beacon of acceptance and inclusivity. So it is essential
that we remain clear eyed and unified, you know, as
we've raised ourselves for the challenges ahead, and the LGBTQ
community is burdened by a various sense of intersecting political,
socioeconomic factors and the full breadth of which cannot be captured,
(15:24):
but neither can our impact be undone. Right, So those
are the things that we're balancing, and we need to
just make sure that we continue to make the efforts
that are needed to pass legislation, to expand protections and
to identify the essential needs of safeguarding our rights and
the well being of the LGBTQ community here in New York.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
There is so much more to learn. You can find
out ways to support and just get involved in the
issues at New Pride Agenda dot org. Our guest is
Key Williams. Thank you for being on Get Connected.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
This has been Get Connected with Nina del Rio on
one of US six point seven light Fm. The views
and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the
views of the station. If you missed any part of
our show or want to share it, visit our website
for downloads and podcasts at one O six seven lightfm
dot com. Thanks for listening.
Welcome to Get Connected with Nina del Rio, a weekly
conversation about fitness, health and happenings in our community on
one oh six point seven Light FM.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thanks for listening to get connected. The New Pride Agenda
recently marked five years of advocacy and impact for lgbtqia
plus New Yorkers. In those years, NPA has made major
strides in advancing economic health and social justice for marginalized
lgbtqia plus communities. Following last year's campaign season and looking
(00:35):
forward to the new administration, what is NPA's strategy to
advance meaningful change. Our guest is Key Williams, Interim Director
of New Pride Agenda. Thank you for being on the show.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
You can find out more at New Pride Agenda dot org.
So the introduction to what New Pride Agenda is. Maybe
you could give me a more in depth explanation of
what is the organization's main goal? What do you do?
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Yeah? So, New pred Agenda is a statewide advocacy and
education organization. We primarily focus on, I can guess name,
advancing the economic health and racial gender identity justice. The
needs of the marginalized community within the LGBTQAA individuals for
New York State, and we do that primarily for me
(01:24):
through two wheelhouses. We have our programming side where we
offer direct services such as a clothing closet, a food pantry,
community programs such as drop in center, but we also
do advocacy, and for me, those two things go hand
in hand with each other. That's advancing statewide policy initiatives,
that's advancing things at the local and city level as well,
(01:45):
but really taking a really wide stroke to making sure
that New Yorkers who are queer in trands really have
their voices represented and that their resource as well.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Let's talk a little bit about you too. So you
are the interim director of a New Pride Agenda. Where
do you come from? What is your work? All that stuff?
Your story a bit.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Yeah, So I'm originally from upstate New York. I'm from
Central New York and I've been living in New York
City for over a decade. But most of my work
really comes from grassroots organizing in the racial justice fair.
So I'm a founding member of Black Lives Matter, and
I've really done a lot of coaching of social movements
(02:23):
across different like issue spaces, so that's climate justice. I've
done background in right is obviously racial policing justice, and
then transitioned over into the LGBTQIA space of organizing with
the organization. But I've been here for three years, so
though I'm the interim director, I've actually served as director
of Programs previously to taking out this role.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I want to talk about New Pride agenda, but it
also occurs to me as you're talking about where you started,
where you grew up, that's a much more tends to
be sort of upstate New York, a much more conservative area.
So you're bringing also the perspective that maybe New Yorkers
aren't a familiar with right. This is an organization that
mostly focuses on New York State. You have an ear
(03:04):
or an eye to what so many other people are
living with that we don't really see in New York.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Yeah, And I think that's a really important thing to name, right,
And I think that's what makes New Predage and the
very unique in its positionality. Most people think of New
York City first, when you say you're from New York,
most people are like, what Borough or Manhattan? Right, And
it's like, No, there is a full state, and it
takes you eight hours to drive across it, and when
you're from central New York, it is a very rural
(03:31):
experience to grow up and as a player and trans
new Yorker. But it's really important as a state by
organization to have that lens because our state is huge,
and there are people who can't afford to live in
New York City. Everybody's not based in New York City.
We have a lot of you know, families or single
individuals who live across New York State, and so I
think it is a very unique perspective to have when
(03:54):
we're thinking about the types of initiatives that are championing
across the state for that very reason, and we deal
with that allot, right, we have with the New York
City Focus work that we undertake. But I think a
really good example was, you know, when we do some
of our advocacy work, it's like this already exists in
New York City. How do we get the rest of
New York to have that? That's something that we did
(04:15):
with all the time.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Well, let's talk about a couple of successes, one of
which impacts everybody in New York. So New Yorker's voted
last election to pass the Equal Rights Amendment for probes
of one on the ballot. What does that do? Why
is that important?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:29):
So proposition won.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
The New York City Equal Rights Amendment, as it's more
popularly called A prohibits discrimination based on a person's ethnicity,
national origin, age, disability, and sex, including their sexual orientation,
gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy or pregnancy outcomes, reproductive healthcare,
and bodily autonomy.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
That's a huge.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Range of protections that right get put into our state constitution.
But it was essential for us to work on that,
not just from the LGBTQI A lens, but understanding that
one thing about New York is that it prides itself
on being in this progressive, safe state for marginalized community members.
But all of our laws were kind of like piecemeal.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Right.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
We had the Agenda Law, we had the Human Rights
Law in New York City, but there was not anything
in the state constitution right that really protected everybody. So,
just thinking about it, in twenty twenty four, people could
be discriminated against not just for their gender identity or
their sexual orientation, but for their age right or for
their ethnicity, at a state constitutional level. We wanted to
(05:35):
make sure that those rights were put into the constitution
to help protect us regardless of who is in the
governor's office or who's in the presidential office, or what's
happening right at the Supreme Court level or federal district
court level. Right, it was really important to pass Proposition
one to ensure that New Yorkers had all their protections
(05:58):
secured in the constitution. And so the constitutional fight was
very interesting for a lot of different reasons, but primarily
we were undertaking kind of this readiness and also kind
of catching New York up to other states that had
already codified.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
These rights right within their constitution.
Speaker 4 (06:15):
It's essential to protect our fundamental freedoms, especially in this
era of you know, the whomens of different politicians who
might be in a specific place or not.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
One when that is specific to New York ahead of
a lot of states. Is the trans Equity Fund. That's
another success you have worked on.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Yeah, So we worked on champion what we call the
Lorena Bojas Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund, is named after
a trans elder who passed away actually from COVID to
really honor the fact that she was doing a lot
of resourcing, resourcing work of our community, right, And so
it was conceived out of a recognition that TG and
(06:54):
C or transgender gender nonconforming individuals face the most severe
performance of mistreatment. Right, yet we are profoundly underserved. Right.
So one of the data points that we talk about
in terms of advocating for the Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund,
which we called.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
TWEF, is that, yes, there are.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Funding our moneys in the state budget for LGBTQ communities,
but only about four cents on the dollar actually reaches
queer and trans organizations or quer and transserving communities, and
so we wanted to ensure that there was specific funding
that went to our communities, and that was us being
able to secure in twenty twenty three three million, so
(07:37):
we got a starting budget of three million dollars, which
is a combined gun contribution from both our governor and
our legislation, and that has grown over the past two
years to four point twenty five million specifically on TWEF,
and which twelfth helps organizations to do there's small grants,
right and again a statewide approach, and so there are
(07:58):
organizations that have been doing work like Pride centers, right,
most popularly most people think about LGBTQ service as going
through pride centers. Those works are also seeing an influx
of specifically queer and trands identifying individuals needing to resource them,
so we also support them, but we're also supporting smaller
organizations or organizations that do migrant services right or doing
(08:20):
like black and Immigrant led social change, which TEFF has
been able to allow people to fund.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
And so some of the things.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
That TWEF has been able to fund, you know, it's
like culturally competent healthcare services, workforce readiness initiatives. The Governor
actually helped to expand for a one million dollars contribution
and the Office of Mental Health directed towards you suicide
prevention programs, right. And it also helps us with really
carrying on the legislative advocacy in the legal services needs
(08:49):
of our community. But again, trans led and serving organizations,
we know need all of the fundy that they can
get because we primarily service those who live at the
margins and those who really you know, are rapidly involving
what do they need and so having funding that is
directly to transled trans serving organizations is very, very key
(09:13):
to having a like holistic approach to who's receiving funding
in our state budget.
Speaker 2 (09:18):
Our guest is Key Williams, Interim director of New Pride Agenda.
They serve to educate members of the lgbtqia plus community
and allies as well as the general public about the
legal protections and rights of lgbtqia plus people. You're listening
to get connected on one I was six point seven
Light FM. I'mina del Rio. So we've talked about some successes.
(09:40):
The anti transagenda has just made some headway. States are
reevaluating gender affirming care for miners. December, the UK banned
puberty blockers for transgender miners. We're thinking about what might
happen with the administration that is coming in which has
been openly hostile towards trans people. How from your role,
(10:03):
what do you know about how the community is feeling
about the incoming president's agenda and the headwinds that are
coming your way. If you see it like that, yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
I mean we definitely see it in that way, right.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
So part of what our community have been really focusing on,
and as an advocacy organization, one of the things that
we are really reckoning with is that we've lived through
this experience before, We've lived through a very hostile administration before,
specifically tours the LGBTQ community hyper targeting are high throat
zeroing in en, queer and trans communities, right, and so
(10:35):
based on President Alec's campaign promises, we can expect and
anticification and expansion of tactics that we're used during this
first time. We have concerns about the attempt to roll
back anti discrimination protections and employment housing right, a range
of other critical areas. There's concerns that they'll drive to
Medicaid funding for providers of gender firming care or just
(10:59):
outright banning of gender firming care and federal health care programs.
We're also looking at some of the concerns that we
have obviously obviously around the undoing of Title nine protection
specifically for trans gender, non conforming and non binary students
that have been discussed as being you know, instituted on
that round of quote unquote day one, things that are
(11:21):
going to be undertaken, right, and so it's really clear
that there are there's a clear policy agenda that poses
for us an existential threat to the rights and well
being of the LGBTQ community.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
And one of the.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
Things that we are really leaning on, even here in
a state like New York, is having a robust response
prepared on the state level.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
We know that that will be vital.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
To ensuring that LGBTQ people and their families will remain
safe as safe as our laws allow, right, And that's
where the role of an organization like New Pride Agenda
comes into play, because we're committed to working with our
community members and our elected officials to identify, strengthen, and
maybe even create new protections right necessary to secure New
(12:03):
York as a safe haven. So it's very very crucial
that you know, our elected leaders meet the impact of
communities where they are and that's like super super key,
and so yeah, we're looking forward to, you know, collaborating
both with the communities, but also one of the main
things is to defend the most sacred freedoms that we have,
(12:24):
which is by refusing complacency and complicity in the erosion
of our civil rights and the scapegoating right that you've
already kind of mentioned that we're seeing being targeted at
already marginalized.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Groups because you are focused primarily on New York who
have been some of your better champions in New York
state government and leadership and what can the state do better?
Speaker 4 (12:45):
One things for sure, I'm always going to take this
time to shout out Attorney General Tis James, who is
a huge champion. She was very really, really proactive, and
something that we experienced here in New York in twenty
twenty four was the Nasau County executive order ban against
transudent sports. Unfortunately that ban is standing right now because
it has to go through a legislative practice, but the
(13:07):
age was really reactive right and responsive to those like
immediate meets. We also get a lot of championing and
support from Senator Brad Hoyman, assembly Member Harry Bronson. Those
are members who you know are one are part of
our community, but also really take under that leadership of championing.
And again Governor Hoco, who is definitely you know again
(13:31):
she secured so much funding.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
For us through tweth right.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
So there are elected officials, leading representatives in New York
that understand the role that New York plays when it
comes to LGBTQ rights and LGBTQ protections. And we have that,
you know, the majority leaders to her cousins is a
great ally to our community. So it's for us in
New York. We are definitely supported by our elected officials
(13:56):
in every sense of the way, but there's so much
more that can be done. We can't be complacent, we
can't be his Complacency very quickly leads to complicitness. And
so I think one of the things that we continue
to urge is that many of us are you aware
that the lgbc Q movement is under attack across the
(14:16):
entire country, and we are also seeing some elected some
Democratic representatives in New York right who are being hostile
towards queer and trans youth and queer and trans family
and bodily autonomy as well. So as much as we
have our champions, we do have some others that we
feel like we need to step up right and really
like take the lead and not be afraid right to
(14:38):
really continue to uphold the fact that New York is
New York for a reason, right, and we are a
vanguard state for a reason. And when it comes to
freedoms and democracies, that line that we told you know
was a really thin one. And so those are the
things that we're concerned about when it comes to the powerholders. Yeah,
there are extremist politicians and other organizations that have grown
(14:59):
both and their attempts to dismantle New Year's reputation as
a beacon of acceptance and inclusivity. So it is essential
that we remain clear eyed and unified, you know, as
we've raised ourselves for the challenges ahead, and the LGBTQ
community is burdened by a various sense of intersecting political,
socioeconomic factors and the full breadth of which cannot be captured,
(15:24):
but neither can our impact be undone. Right, So those
are the things that we're balancing, and we need to
just make sure that we continue to make the efforts
that are needed to pass legislation, to expand protections and
to identify the essential needs of safeguarding our rights and
the well being of the LGBTQ community here in New York.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
There is so much more to learn. You can find
out ways to support and just get involved in the
issues at New Pride Agenda dot org. Our guest is
Key Williams. Thank you for being on Get Connected.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
This has been Get Connected with Nina del Rio on
one of US six point seven light Fm. The views
and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the
views of the station. If you missed any part of
our show or want to share it, visit our website
for downloads and podcasts at one O six seven lightfm
dot com. Thanks for listening.
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