Pride in the Pulpit — Congratulations!

Dear Friends,

Congratulations on winning a long aspired victory! This is not easy work and I commend all of you for your perseverance. On the day of the marriage vote my perseverance was wavering. So, just before we knew it would go to the floor – in a moment of complete physical and emotional exhaustion – I pushed three chairs together in our conference room and laid down as the sounds of the office buzzed around me. At one point, a phone banker walked in and draped her scarf over me as everything became a soft echo. Suddenly, familiar words began to fill the air and pulled me out of my exhausted state: “this little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” One of my co-workers was watching a video of marriage equality supporters singing by the Senate chambers. Many of those voices were yours. To this day, I am still in complete awe over how quickly so many of you sprung into action and clearly demonstrated that people of faith support marriage equality. Friday’s vote was the result of years of changing hearts and minds—hearts and minds that you played a part in changing. I am proud to know you and work with you. Thank you for all that you do. Please take the time to thank your senator if he or she voted yes.

There is still work to be done for LGBT equality and justice. Transgender New Yorkers are still fired from their jobs and denied housing simply for being who they are. This is an injustice that can no longer go on. And we need to protect this marriage victory. Everything we do today builds what tomorrow looks like. Thank you for creating a tomorrow where we are closer to a New York where everyone’s light can shine on regardless of who they are. I look forward to continuing this work with you.

In Peace,

Kate McDonough
Lead Organizer
Empire State Pride Agenda
16 West 22nd St, New York, NY 10010
212-627-0305 ext. 107
212-627-4136 (Fax)
kmcdonough@prideagenda.org