Equality New York (EQNY) is a statewide advocacy organization working to advance equality and justice for LGBTQI New Yorkers and their families.

Equality NY Fund is a non-profit statewide organization that organizes and educates LGBTQI people, their allies, and their community and political leaders.

Equality NY PAC is a political action committee dedicated to supporting candidates for public office in New York State who are committed to the civil rights and needs of the LGBTQI community.

EQNY emerged from ongoing conversations among advocates from the varied communities in our diverse movement and our shared recognition that LGBTQI New Yorkers need a statewide political voice, trusted convener and community organizer, and leader to support policy for our communities. As New Yorkers, we are proud of the progress we have made in this state for LGBTQI people and our families. But we also know that it has taken a lot of work to get here, there is still more work to be done, and we must remain vigilant against those who would try to chip away at the rights we have already secured.

We hope that EQNY, EQNY PAC, and EQNY Fund can be a forum in which to turn conversations into action, spur political change, and bring more people together in a diverse, inclusive, and respectful dialogue about our movement.

We invite you to be part of this conversation. To borrow a phrase, we are stronger together.

EQNY is a proud member of Equality Federation, working with state advocacy organization across the country to pursue justice and equality for LGBTQI people.

EQNY builds a social and political voice for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, and Instersex communities of New York State. We work with leaders from all around New York in an intentionally collaborative, inclusive, diverse, and respectful way.

We aim to advance LGBTQI protective policy, convene and organize LGBTQI leaders, people, and organizations, and elect candidates who support the various needs of our diverse community throughout the state. The EQNY PAC endorses candidates and makes financial contributions to candidates who are worthy of our community’s support.

The LGBTQI communities of New York are diverse in many ways, therefore no single agenda can represent all LGBTQI New Yorkers.

EQNY aims to bring a diverse set of voices to the table, and seeks to implement mechanisms by which those who choose to be involved can inform EQNY’s decisions and priorities.

Achieving full protections for our trans communities is a high priority in a state where most other legal protections are provided.

We live at intersections of multiple identities and concerns. We believe that LGBTQI issues are those challenges that LGBTQI people face whether or not their gender or sexuality are the root cause of those issues. Racism, class, and economic issues are central to supporting LGBTQI people.

EQNY will be an efficient organization that seeks to support other organizations and efforts throughout the state. Partnerships will provide value and work towards building a powerful voice for LGBTQI people and organizations.

New York is a large state with different lived experiences in different areas of the state. An LGBTQI state organization of must represent all of these areas, being careful not to over represent the New York City region.

New York prides itself on leading the country in support for LGBTQI people. But each and every right and protection gained has been the result of hard work over prolonged campaigns.

As with all communities, legal and lived equality are not equivalent, and so these “wins” have varying degrees of effects on the daily lives of New Yorkers depending on personal and familial status, geographic location, race, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and so on. Finally, no movement for civil and social equality and equity has been left unchallenged; many of our opponents strive to turn back the clock.

For all of these reasons, New York’s LGBTQI communities deserve an efficient and effective statewide voice to:

• Consistently build good relationships with government and hold our elected officials accountable
• Provide a watchdog function to ensure our rights continue to expand and stay protected
• Enable LGBTQI people to come together to address issues, concerns, and challenges with greater strength
• Impact elections to ensure the greatest number of pro-LGBTQI politicians hold office throughout the state

Bryan Ball
President, Stonewall Democrats of WNY

Gabriel Blau
Co-Founder

Kristen Browde

Jason Cianciotto, MPA

Sean Coleman
Founder and Executive Director of Destination Tomorrow

Michael Czaczkes, MPA

Michael Donnelly

Carol Ebersole
Human Rights Campaign, WNY Coordinator

Brian K. Esser, Esq.

Clifton Garmon
Senior Policy Analyst, VOCAL-NY

Darra Gordon
COO, Hetrick-Martin Institute

Honorable Matt Haag
Member, Rochester City Council; Associate Vice-President of Clinical, Research and Academic development at the University of Rochester Medical Center

Desma Holcomb

Emily M. Jones

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum
Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah

Bruce Kogan
former President Stonewall Democrats of Western New York

Cole Ledford

Michael J. Mallon

Luis F. Mancheno
Clinical Teaching Fellow, Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Cathy Marino-Thomas
Emeritus Board President – Marriage Equality USA

Matthew McMorrow
PAC Treasurer, Co-Founder

Ari Moore

Julian J. Moore

Mitch Nowakowski
Vice President of Polical Action, Stonewall Democrats of WNY

Adrian Ogle

Eunic Ortiz

Kaylan Pedine

Greg Rabb
President of the Jamestown City Council in Chautauqua County

Jimmy Rivera
Board Member, Stonewall Democrats of New York City

Seth M. Rosen

Allen Roskoff
President, Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club

Christopher Sardella

Robin Scott

Frank Selvaggi

Daniel Shad

Bill Shea

Dylan J. Stein

Jeffrey S. Trachtman
Partner, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Alan Van Capelle

Ari Ezra Waldman

Mel Wymore
Executive Director of TransPAC

Patrick Yacco