The unexpected announcement last weekend that New York's statewide LGBT group, Empire State Pride Agenda, would close down next year was shocking, both for its shortsightedness and arrogance. Empire State Pride Agenda officials cited fulfillment of a 25-year campaign for equality in the state that was concluded in October when Governor Andrew Cuomo used his executive powers to extend a long-standing anti-discrimination bill to transgender people. But we doubt that full equality has been achieved in New York for LGBT people, nor is it anywhere. State laws protecting LGBTs �" and California has some of the nation's strongest �" are great, but alone do not promise equality. We see that regularly when same-sex couples or LGBT individuals must sue for their rights in discrimination cases, family matters, and workplace issues. And, while Empire State Pride Agenda said it would continue its political action committee during elections, it's the day-to-day legislative battles and other spheres of influence that will be greatly diminished because of the lack of a statewide LGBT group in New York. The organization said it would leave it to other LGBT groups to carry on aspects of its policy work, but many of those nonprofits are probably not in a position to tackle the increased responsibilities on a statewide level, both financially and structurally.
In California, we know first hand how vital a statewide LGBT group is. Back in the dark days of the AIDS epidemic, activists and others formed the Life Lobby, which persuaded state legislators to increase funding and decrease stigmatization for people living with the disease. That organization eventually ceased operations, and the state was poorer for it. Thankfully, some of those people came back under a new banner, California Alliance for Pride and Equality. It took on not only health care issues, but also a broader spectrum of rights. After a few years, it became Equality California when then-Executive Director Geoff Kors and the board determined that a rebranding was needed. EQCA mirrored other statewide groups not only in terms of its name, but also its mission.
More recently, with the passage of many state laws aimed at benefiting or protecting LGBT rights, and the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide, some, including us at times, have wondered if EQCA was still relevant, especially during a period of leadership struggles after Kors departed several years ago. But, as we reported last week, since Rick Zbur came on board as executive director just over a year ago, EQCA has revitalized itself, reversing a downward trend. It's done that in two ways: by focusing on implementation of laws that were signed, and by increasing efforts for coalition building, working with other communities with similar interests, such as immigration and access to health care. And it has shored up its budget, too.
These days, LGBT issues are often tied to global concerns (we are everywhere) and EQCA criticized the three out members of Congress who voted last month in favor of tougher screening of Syrian refugees. The vote clearly was a response to the Paris terrorist attacks but if the U.S. clamps down on accepting refugees, LGBTs will be affected; there are already far too few places for them to safely reside and Zbur pointed out Syrian refugees include a disproportionate number of queer people. EQCA recognized that, and also called out straight Democratic members from California. The agency also signed on to a friend-of-the-court brief in support of President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans programs, which allow some undocumented immigrants temporary legal residence in the U.S.
On health care, EQCA has received foundation support for increasing awareness about PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, the once-a-day pill that has shown to prevent HIV if taken as prescribed. That is to be commended, as more doctors need to learn about PrEP so it can be prescribed to patients who want it.
In short, there are many actions statewide LGBT organizations can and should do. We suspect that Empire State Pride Agenda board members may have had difficulty raising funds to continue their work, or lacked recruitment of fellow New Yorkers to join the board. But in no way does the closure of Empire State Pride Agenda mean that it's "mission accomplished," as one state lawmaker opined. Just because you have the laws on the books does not mean the job is done. Often it's the exact opposite: the job of enforcement is just beginning. It's one thing for a goal-focused group like Freedom to Marry to declare success and close shop; it's entirely another when a statewide LGBT group thinks it's work is over because the governor signed an executive order.
We're certainly glad that EQCA has chosen the opposite path, and that it remains important to LGBTs and supportive straight allies.