STONEWALL DEMOCRATS of Western New York

PO Box 857, Buffalo, NY 14205 Website: www.stonewalldemocratswny.com

June 5, 2009

OFFICERS Dear Candidate:

Bruce Kogan Stonewall Democrats of Western New York is the GLBT Democratic Voice in WNY
President
working to elect Democrats who are supportive on GLBT and other progressive issues
Matt Bova important to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
Vice President
Community Outreach
As a candidate, we are interested in your candidacy and would like to provide you with
Jeffrey Tooke the opportunity to engage in our process for endorsement by Stonewall Democrats of
Vice President WNY. As you may know, an endorsement from Stonewall Democrats of WNY is
Party Outreach
important to many local GLBT community members as they decide whether to
Ronald Groth volunteer for particular campaigns and as they prepare to head for the polls to cast their
Treasurer vote. We are interested in the election not only as members of the GLBT community
Bryan Ball
but as taxpayers, parents of school children and as residents of the City and surrounding
Secretary region.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Please complete and return the enclosed questionnaire to us by June 19, 2009 so that
we may consider your candidacy for endorsement at our next regular meeting on June
Bruce Kogan
Legislation & Lobbying
23, 2009. In addition, you will be asked to appear in front of the organization during
the meeting on June 23rd, please contact David Granville or Jeffrey Tooke to schedule a
Larry Adamczyk
Nominating Cmte
time for your interview.

David Granville &

Jeffrey Tooke
The completed questionnaire should be returned to us via fax at (800)557-3981 by the
Endorsements/GOTV due date above or regular mail to:

Attention: Endorsement/GOTV Committee

Stonewall Democrats of WNY
PO Box 857
Buffalo, NY 14205

Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact us at
the numbers below.

Thank you. We look forward to receiving your completed questionnaire for

consideration for endorsement by Stonewall Democrats of WNY.

Sincerely,

David Granville Jeffrey Tooke

Endorsement/GOTV Committee VP Democratic Party Outreach
(716)440-0423 (716)912-8557
STONEWALL DEMOCRATS of Western New York
PO Box 857, Buffalo, NY 14205 Website: www.stonewalldemocratswny.com

2009 ENDORSEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE – COUNTY LEGISLATURE

Name:

Campaign Address:

Daytime Phone: Evening Phone:

Fax Number: E-mail:

Office Sought:

Party Affiliation:

Before you continue, please understand that:

 Stonewall Democrats of WNY may publicize your responses in press releases and voters’ guides, on our web
site, and via other channels of communication. Stonewall Democrats of WNY will also identify candidates
who fail to respond to this questionnaire.
 Stonewall Democrats will hold you publicly accountable for actions inconsistent with your responses during
your campaign and if elected during your term in office.
 Stonewall Democrats of WNY will not consider endorsement of any candidate if they support any state or
national version of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) legislation.
 Stonewall Democrats of WNY will not consider endorsement of any candidate if they advertise on any
homophobic website, including, but not limited to, politicswny.com/politicsny.net

Please submit you typewritten responses to the following questions on a separate sheet.

1) Why are you seeking this office?

2) Why are you seeking the endorsement of the Stonewall Democrats of WNY?
3) What three issues do you consider to be most important to the people served by the office you seek? For
each issue:
a) Provide an example of specific action(s) you have previously taken--either as a public official or as a
private citizen--to bring about positive change relative to this issue; and
b) Specify what additional action(s) in regard to this issue you intend to propose if elected to the office you
seek.
4) What three civil rights issues do you perceive to be the most important to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender (GLBT) community? For each issue:
a) Provide an example of specific action(s) you have previously taken--either as a public official or as a
private citizen--to bring about positive change relative to this issue; and
b) Specify what additional action(s) in regard to this issue you intend to propose if elected to the office you
seek.
5) Stonewall Democrats of WNY strongly believes that candidates have a responsibility to provide voters with
truthful, fair and clean campaigns for public office and to conduct themselves in a manner conducive to a
civil, issue-oriented debate with their fellow candidates. Will you sign a written pledge to conduct your
campaign accordingly?
6) If endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of WNY, will you list the endorsement on all applicable campaign
literature (i.e., all literature listing any other endorsements)?
7) If endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of WNY, will you attend a GLBT community forum to introduce
endorsed candidates?
8) Please describe how you will eliminate prejudice in your own office if elected.
9) Please describe how your election to this office would be a benefit to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender community.
10) What are you doing or what will you do to advocate for greater GLBT representation and
empowerment at the ballot box and in elected office locally?
11) A) Would you seek endorsement of or advertise on any homophobic websites, including, but not
limited to, politicswny.com/politicsny.net?
Yes No
Explanation:

B) Have you advertised or intend to advertise on such websites for your election/reelection?
Yes No
Explanation:

Although the office you seek has no direct authority in local or state legislative matters, if elected you will have
the ability to indirectly influence the region’s local, state and federal elected officials. Please indicate your
support or opposition for:

Legislation/Issue SUPPORT OPPOSE

GENDA (A.5710/S.2406): Prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or
expression; defines "gender identity or expression" as having or being perceived as
having a gender identity, self image, appearance, behavior or expression whether or not
that gender identity, self image, appearance, behavior or expression is different from
that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that person at birth; further
includes offenses regarding gender identity or expression within the list of offenses
subject to treatment as hate crimes.
Dignity For All Students Act (A.3661/S.1987): Enacts the "Dignity For All Students Act";
authorizes the commissioner of education to establish policies and procedures affording
all students in public schools an environment free of harassment and discrimination
based on actual or perceived race, national origin, ethnic group, religion, disability,
sexual orientation, gender or sex; requires reporting harassment and discrimination to
such commission; makes exemptions.
Marriage Equality Bill: The domestic relations law is amended by adding a new section
to read as follows: A marriage that is otherwise valid shall be valid regardless of
whether the parties to the marriage are of the same or different sex.
S 1835/- Equal access to Family Courts for domestic partners (Duane):Provides that
orders of protection may be entered against any member of the same family or
household; expands the definition of "members of the same family or household", for
purposes of issuance of orders of protection and temporary orders of protection and
the concurrent jurisdiction of family courts and criminal courts, to former spouse
whether or not living together and unrelated persons who continually or at regular
intervals reside in the same household or have done so in the past, and persons who are
or have been in a dating or intimate relationship whether or not they have ever lived
together.
A.3496/S.1571 - Dignity For All Students Act: Enacts the "Dignity For All Students Act";
authorizes the commissioner of education to establish policies and procedures affording
all students in public schools an environment free of harassment and discrimination
based on actual or perceived race, national origin, ethnic group, religion, disability,

Stonewall Democrats WNY – County Legislature Questionnaire, page 2

 sexual orientation, gender or sex; requires reporting harassment and discrimination to
such commission; makes exemptions.
A 4978/S 2800 (2008) - New York State Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
(Maltese/Seminerio): Makes a marriage absolutely void if contracted by two persons of
the same sex.

Please indicate whether you would sponsor, co-sponsor, vote for and/or vote against the following proposed county
legislation:

COUNTY LEGISLATION SPONSOR COSPONSOR VOTE FOR VOTE

AGAINST
County GENDA - Gender Non-Discrimination Act:
Prohibit discrimination based on gender identity
or expression; define "gender identity or
expression" as having or being perceived as having
a gender identity, self image, appearance,
behavior or expression that is different from that
traditionally associated with the sex assigned to
that person at birth
County Domestic Partnership Legislation: To
provide legal status for domestic partnerships and
to extend provisions of laws that currently apply
to spouses or next-of-kin to domestic partners.
County Bereavement Leave for domestic
partners: Provide that bereavement leave be
granted to individuals involved in same-sex
relationships on the same basis as those granted
to employees who are married.

I attest that this questionnaire represents my opinion of the issues on this questionnaire:

Candidate’s Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: ______________________

Please complete the attached issues surveys, sign below and return questionnaire, surveys and your résumé by
fax to (800)557-3981 by June 19, 2009.

Stonewall Democrats WNY – County Legislature Questionnaire, page 3