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The Empire State Pride Agenda has endorsed sixteen candidates for the 2005 primary elections on September 13. When deciding whether to endorse in a particular race, the Pride Agenda considered a range of factors, including whether the endorsement would: further the Pride Agenda's Public Policy Agenda; contribute to the election of an LGBT candidate; allow for coalition building with strategic allies; result in significant community or capacity building within the LGBT community; allow for specific public education on an issue of importance; or have the potential to influence the outcome of an election. Specific endorsements are based on responses to the Pride Agenda candidate questionnaire, an examination of a candidate's voting record (in the case of incumbents), his or her public acts and statements, and consultations with other organizations throughout New York State, including local LGBT organizations. Our policy is to endorse incumbents who have demonstrated their strong support for issues important to the LGBT community. Candidates seeking open seats are evaluated based upon the criteria above as well as the viability of their campaign. Unless otherwise indicated in the voter guide descriptions, endorsed candidates took positions that were in agreement with the Pride Agenda's Public Policy Agenda. These included: prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and expression; protecting students from bias harassment; the unrestricted right to reproductive freedom, including abortion; and the right of same-sex couples to legally marry. In fact, with the exception of one unendorsed candidate who supported only civil unions, every candidate who even returned a questionnaire to the Pride Agenda supported our right to marry. Many elected officials who are friends of the LGBT community are not profiled in the voter guide because they have no primary opposition and are not on the September 13 primary ballot. These candidate races will be profiled in the Pride Agenda's General Election Voter Guide issued in October. Additional primary endorsements could also occur before then and would be based upon criteria listed above. Check back for updates closer to Primary Day. The Pride Agenda
urges everyone to volunteer, contribute to, and vote for these deserving
candidates on Tuesday, September 13, 2005. Those wishing to volunteer
their time with the Pride Agenda on Primary Day or on campaigns
leading up to the primary should contact Elizabeth Bullard at 212-627-0305.
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