Sen. Shirley Huntley Now Says She Supports Marriage Equality

On Monday, State Senator Shirley L. Huntley announced her support for marriage equality in New York State.

Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Queens) made her announcement in support for marriage equality on the same day that three other state senators, who had each voted against legalizing same-sex marriage two years ago voted, also reversed course, The New York Times reported. The senators said that their constituents’ thinking had evolved on the this important stepping stone toward full LGBT civil rights had evolved.

The Times described the move as "significantly" improving the odds that New York state legislature will pass a law that legalises marriage equality, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Citizens in New York state stand on the cusp of charting a new course for LGBT civil rights nationally, and the state itself is on the verge of becoming the largest state in the nation to allow gays and lesbians to wed.

Meanwhile, Sen. Huntley made her announcement less than two months after a daring civil disobedience protest against her and her legislative office by two LGBT civil rights activists, Iana Di Bona and Alan Bounville, who are members of Connecting Rainbows.

Four Activists Were Arrested at Sit-In at St. Vincent's Hospital

This morning, NYPD arrested four activists, who protested the closing of St. Vincent's Hospital. Politicians, on whose watch the hospital closed, remain at-large.

Watch a YouTube video of the protesters, as they were taken into police custody. While they were being put into the back of the police van, the activists shouted : "Land-lock St. Vincents ; Trauma 1 now !"

A group called Hands Off St. Vincent's held a sit-in Tuesday morning at the shuttered medical center. At approximately 10:30 a.m., four activists were arrested. It is not known how many other activists took part at the demonstration.

Among the protesters, who were arrested, were LGBT civil rights activists Iana Di Bona and Alan Bounville. Following is the statement from a press release, which was distributed to the media, by one of the group's members :

New York, NY – On February 8, at 10:30 am, four former patients and impassioned community members entered the building at the location of the closed down Saint Vincent's Hospital. These activists then sat on the ground, unfurling a banner that read, "Guilty : Neglect !" and began to chant - refusing to move. Saint Vincent's personnel closed off that section of the building - currently operating as a Credit Union - and refused entry to members of the credit union as well as persons employed within the building. Two hours after their arrival, the four activists were arrested and taken away by the police.

For 284 days, 1.3 million New Yorkers have been without a hospital in the West Village. Since St. Vincent’s illegal closure on April 30, 2010, the community has been laden with false promises, patronized with a bogus needs assessment and forced, with tragic consequences, to seek emergency or medical care at already overcrowded uptown or East-side hospitals.

“Everyday that passes is critical,” said Iana Di Bona, one of the arrested activists, “Our elected officials have the ability to turn things around, yet they do nothing. It is so important to speak out and to continue to pressure and hold them accountable to service the needs of our community.”

Commitment for a New Village Hospital by the people of the West Village and all of New York City has not wavered. Any politician not actively working to get a new hospital is a target. That is a promise the St. Vincent’s Hospital Community Activists intend to keep.

Before the sit-in took place, it appears that the activists held a "peoples trial" of politicians, on whose watch St. Vincent's closed. According to the description of the YouTube video, an unidentified Hands Off member made the following statement : "We hold the elected officials responsible for betraying their very own constituency."

On her blog, the artist and political commentator Suzannah B. Troy broke the news of the activists getting arrested at St. Vincent's. Ms. Troy made the observation that Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn recently pushed through a new smoking ban in public parks as a sign of their concern for public health, but Ms. Troy questions their commitment if politicians have made no commitment to save city hospitals from closing.

Chalking Gillibrand American Equality Bill

Adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Please contact: Louis Flores (646) 400-1168 louisflores@louisflores.com

October 24, 2010 -- New York, NY – On Tuesday, October 26, at 6 p.m., LGBT New Yorkers and allies will gather outside 780 Third Avenue in Manhattan, to write chalk messages on the sidewalk outside Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s legislative offices.

Date : Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Time : 6:00 p.m.
Location : 780 Third Avenue, btwn. 48th / 49th Streets

Register to attend at : http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=101087546628080

Bring Your Own Chalk.

October 26 will mark the 30th day that a vigil called QueerSOS! has been continually held outside Sen. Gillibrand’s campaign office at 15 West 26th Street. In the month that has passed, the Honourable Senator has not said when she will introduce the American Equality Bill. Tuesday night’s chalking party at 780 Third Avenue is to encourage Sen. Gillibrand, who supports the extension of civil rights to LGBT Americans, to introduce the American Equality Bill.

Other actions sprouting up in support of the American Equality Bill :

* Since September 27, 2010, a vigil called QueerSOS! has been held outside Sen. Gillibrand’s campaign office at 15 West 26th Street in Manhattan. The vigil participants have been requesting that the Honourable Senator file the American Equality Bill. For more information, please visit : http://www.queersos.com/blog.html

* The East Village blog of The New York Times published photographs of the activist, Iana Di Bona, writing chalk messages in support of the American Equality Bill on St. Mark’s and First Avenue. See : http://eastvillage.thelocal.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/spreading-a-message-of-equal-rights/

* LGBT Americans are turning to social media power of FaceBook and have created a group, which people are joining to learn more about the American Equality Bill. See : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=278882199073

* Another American Equality Bill group has been organized in San Francisco. See : http://www.aebnow.com/

* A group of LGBT Americans in Ohio has been formed, and they have created a page on FaceBook to organize support for the American Equality Bill. See : http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Equality-Bill-AEB-ColumbusOhio-Team/118120201581299

About the American Equality Bill :

The American Equality Bill would amend all existing civil rights laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” It would end de jure discrimination in vast areas of life, such as : employment, housing, credit, public places and facilities, and all programs operating with federal funding. It would also cover school discrimination and bullying, adoption, and all federal health programs.

About Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand :

Sen. Gillibrand has said that she supports the inclusion of sexual orientation into the 1964 Act. To view Sen. Gillibrand's statement on this topic, listen to the following video at minute 7:43 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnZWFfwx4mg

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Wear Purple Day DIE-IN at Sen. Gillibrand's Campaign Office

Oct. 20 Wear Purple Day HOMOPHOBIA KILLS DIE-IN Outside Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's Campaign Office

Alan Bounville and Iana Di Bona hold a DIE-IN demonstration on West 26th Street, across the street from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign office. Alan and Iana read some of the names of LGBT Americans, who have died because of hate, bullying, and discrimination.

Call Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Ask her to introduce the American Equality Bill. The American Equality Bill will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act. Call : 1 (212) 688-6262.

Waiting for Sen. Gillibrand's Leadership on LGBT Civil Rights

American Equality Bill Message to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and to all LGBT People and Allies

Our message to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand : file the American Equality Bill to add ''sexual orientation and gender identity'' to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. File it today -- so we can start organizing to pass it tomorrow.

Call Sen. Gillibrand. Ask her to introduce the American Equality Bill. The American Equality Bill will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act. Call : 1 (212) 688-6262.

Sen. Gillibrand Ducking the American Equality Bill

Solemn LGBT Civil Rights Message to Sen. Gillibrand - Introduce American Equality Bill

Alan Bounville talks about his plan to begin a water fast, set to begin on Election Day. Alan's demand, which he is making on behalf of QueerSOS and on behalf of LGBT persons, is that Sen. Gillibrand introduce the American Equality Bill or similar legislation, that will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Sen. Gillibrand - Vigil for LGBT Civil Rights

Vigil outside Kirsten Gillibrand's Office in NYC for LGBT Civil Rights - QueerSOS

Call Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Ask her to introduce the American Equality Bill. The American Equality Bill will add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act. Call : 1 (212) 688-6262.

In this video, made on October 18, 2010, Alan Bounville was celebrating his birthday by continuing a vigil for LGBT civil rights.Three days before this video was made, Mr. Bounville, was arrested for holding vigil outside Sen. Gillibrand's campaign office. All Alan was doing was holding a vigil for LGBT civil rights. Please call Sen. Gillibrand, and ask her to introduce the American Equality Bill. Dial : 1 (212) 688-6262.

Kirsten Gillibrand's LGBT Rights Records

Vigil outside Kirsten Gillibrand's Office in NYC for LGBT Civil Rights - QueerSOS

On Sunday, Oct. 17, Iana Di Bona, was holding a vigil across the street from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign office, demanding that Senator Gillibrand file an LGBTQ civil rights bill that would add sexual orientation and gender identity into the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For more information, visit : http://www.queersos.com/

Gay Activist Arrested Outside Sen. Gillibrand's Office

LGBTQ Activist Arrested Outside Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's Campaign Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 16, 2010
Media Contact: Iana Di Bona: (718) 309-8598 iana.dibona@gmail.com

New York, NY – LGBTQ activist Alan Bounville was arrested on the evening of Friday, October 15 at Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's campaign office on 15 W 26 Street.

Bounville and fellow activist Iana Di Bona have been holding a vigil there since September 27. The vigil, entitled QueerSOS!, demands that Senator Gillibrand file an LGBTQ civil rights bill that would add sexual orientation and gender identity into the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Bounville was arrested on the charge of erecting a structure in relation to two fabric banners used to communicate the vigil's message: "How long do LGBTQI people have to wait for civil rights?" and: "It's time to extend every basic right and freedom to every member of America's LGBT community," quoting the Senator's own words one year ago.

Di Bona and Bounville have sat vigil outside of Senator Gillibrand's office for 19 days, the most recent four of which have extended into 24 hour vigils. While this work is exhausting, Di Bona said, "Our sacrifice is nothing compared to 30 million LGBTQI people not having their rights. Being out here is an honor. We demand full equality now and wait out here only until the Senator files an LGBTQ civil rights bill."

Bounville is slated to be arraigned in the morning at 100 Centre Street.

For more information regarding the vigil, please visit www.queersos.com