STONEWALL DEMOCRATS of Western New York

PO Box 857, Buffalo, NY 14205

Website: www.sdwny.org

February 26, 2012 Hon. Michael Gianaris Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Chair New York State Democratic Party 111 Washington Avenue, Suite 207 Albany, NY 12210 Dear Senator Gianaris, I write you in your capacity as the Chair of the New York State Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and my own role as the president of the Stonewall Democrats of Western New York (SDWNY.) The Stonewall Democrats of WNY are the Democratic voice of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning/queer (LGBTQ) community in the counties of Western New York. We work for the advancement of the LGBTQ community through supporting pro-equality candidates, elected officials and legislation which will seek to advance, protect and establish the full equality of LGBTQ people under our laws. We share the same progressive values you have so courageously fought for and supported during your own career, and that is why I write you on behalf of a troubling, emerging issue concerning the 2012 elections here in Western New York. This past week, the Erie County Conservative Party endorsed Charles M. Swanick, a former county legislator, for the Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti. Mr. Swanick, who is now a registered Democrat, began his legislative career as a Democrat, and became a Republican in order to give power to county legislative Republicans and himself. As the attached article from The Buffalo News shows, Mr. Swanick, in asking to for endorsement from the Conservative Party, stated his opposition to abortion (except in cases of rape or incest), same-sex marriage and gun-control As a candidate running on a platform opposed to equal rights for New Yorkers, Mr. Swanick is an unfit candidate for public office, and the Stonewall Democrats of Western New York strongly discourage any support from the Democratic Party for Mr. Swanick. The reason I am a Democrat, and why I fight for Democratic principles, is our great partys history of supporting all peopleall classes, ethnicities, sexualities, gender, gender identity, religion, creed or otherwise. In recent years, the Democratic Party in New York State has played major roles in the advancements of the civil rights movementguiding and aiding the passage of the Dignity for All Students Act and the Marriage Equality bill. Without Governor Cuomos advocacy and fierce support, as well as the New York State Senate and Assembly Democratic conferences, we would not have civil marriage equality here in New York. Here in Western New York, we are incredibly proud of our freshman Senator Timothy Kennedy (D-Buffalo) and the work he did to bring about the

passage of Marriage Equality, and his advocacy for the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA.) As a Democrat who is a Democrat for the progressive, people-centered values our party fights for, and on behalf of a Democratic organization made up of hundreds such as myself, I strongly oppose any support for Mr. Swanick by the Democratic Party. Mr. Swanick is a candidate who does not share or promote the basic human dignity of all people, nor the values of the Democratic Party. With his past political career Mr. Swanick has displayed a tremendous disloyalty to Democratic values, and for these reasons I write you to ask he not be supported by our party, in any way, should he ask for our support. Should you have any questions for me or regarding my concerns, please do not hesitate contacting me. Again, I thank you for your continued dedication toward advancing and supporting the civil rights movement and the Democratic Party. Yours in equality,

Bryan Ball Stonewall Democrats of Western New York, President P.O. Box 857 Buffalo, NY 14215

Bryan_Ball@sdwny.org
(716) 541-5557

CC: Sen. Neil Breslin, NY DSCC, Co-Chair Sen. Jose Peralta, NY DSCC, Co-Chair Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, NY DSCC, Co-Chair Jay Jacobs, New York State Democratic Chair Shelia Comar, NYS Democratic Executive Committee, Chair Charlie King, NYS Democratic Committee, Executive Director Governor Andrew Cuomo Erik Bottcher, Office of Gov. Cuomo, Special Assistant for Community Affairs Leonard Lenihan, Erie County Democratic Committee, Chair