In the News:

Task Force applauds New York Assembly and
      Empire State Pride Agenda for historic marriage vote
Task Force in the News: Massachusetts marriage
      special edition
From the Long View podcast: LGBT elders
      choose battles carefully
Celebrating Leather Pride
Bay Dance at Fire Island Pines!

Task Force applauds New York Assembly and Empire State Pride Agenda for historic marriage vote

By a vote of 85 to 61, the New York State Assembly late last night passed a bill sponsored by Gov. Eliot Spitzer to extend to same-sex couples the freedom to marry. Only two other legislative chambers — both houses of the California Legislature — have passed similar legislation in the past. The bill now moves to the state Senate, where Republicans hold a narrow majority. The leader of the Senate, Joseph Bruno (R/C-Rensselaer-Saratoga), has said he personally would not support the bill, and said it was “not a priority in the Senate.” The session is slated to end tomorrow.

“This great day for New York and the nation shows that when the courts fail us — as they did so appallingly in New York last summer — we can and will press on to win marriage equality through the state legislatures.”
— Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman

[ Read our full statement ]

Task Force in the News: Massachusetts marriage special edition

“This was the focus of our national community. Frankly, a loss today would have been very demoralizing.”
— Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman, as quoted in The New York Times following the Massachusetts vote on same-sex marriage

Task Force staffers were quoted in numerous media stories related to the Massachusetts Legislature’s rejection last week of a proposed state constitutional amendment banning marriage equality for same-sex couples.

Photo: “Victory” summed up the outcome of last week’s Massachusetts constitutional convention. Credit: TakeMassAction

[ Read the articles on this topic and other political goings-on ]

From the Long View podcast: LGBT elders choose battles carefully

In this week’s episode of From the Long View: LGBT Elders and Experts Speak, Barbara Satin (pictured), a founder of GLBT Generations and interim program director for the Institute for Welcoming Resources, discusses the magnificence of life after 60, why trans people choose their battles carefully, developing a culture of respect for aging, the importance of educating service providers around LGBT-specific issues and the relevance of the welcoming church movement.

From the Long View is a five-part podcast featuring members of the first-ever National LGBT Aging Roundtable, convened earlier this year by the Task Force. For photos, transcripts and downloadable MP3s, check out www.theTaskForce.org/podcast. A new episode is posted weekly.

[ Listen to the interview or read the transcript now ]

Celebrating Leather Pride

On Sunday, June 17, the Task Force was at Folsom Street East in New York City, the largest outdoor event of its kind on the East Coast. The Task Force has an established partnership with the leather community and sexual freedom activists around the country. Each year the Task Force recognizes a leader in the community with the Leather Leadership Award, presented at Creating Change. As Pride season marches on, so does the Task Force. Look for our signature pink tent this weekend at Denver and San Francisco Pride. Come visit us!

Photo: Folks enjoyed Folsom Street East this past weekend.

Bay Dance at Fire Island Pines!

Mark your calendar: Bay Dance, Saturday, June 30, at 226 Bay Walk, Fire Island Pines

Task Force Leadership Council members are invited to attend this benefit for the New York City Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, compliments of thepinesfireisland.com. To RSVP for your free tickets, please e-mail Janice Thom, director of special events, at jthom@theTaskForce.org.

[ Learn more about the Bay Dance! ]

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