26 THE QUEENS COURIER • MAY 31, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Assembly hopeful unveils LGBT rights platform
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com/@jenna_bagcal
State Assembly hopeful Catalina Cruz
unveiled on May 24 plans to support the
LGBT community in Jackson Heights,
Elmhurst and Corona, including passing
legislation protecting gender identity and
expression under human rights law.
Th e candidate for State Assembly in
District 39 held a roundtable discussion
with LGBT representatives from these
neighborhoods. Following the discussion,
Cruz created a plan that would off er protection,
education and resources to members
of the community.
Her top priority in the initiative was
passing the the Gender Expression Non-
Discrimination Act (GENDA), which
would legally protect gender identity and
expression. Th is piece of legislation would
ensure that people in the LGBT community
would receive equal healthcare and
health insurance, while ensuring the “cultural
competency” of health and social service
providers.
In addition to passing GENDA, Cruz’s
plan includes banning conversion therapy,
protecting LGBT students from bullying
and providing comprehensive sex education
in schools.
“Our LGBT community is part of the
fabric of who we are. Th ey are our family,
friends and neighbors. Although our
city and state have made some great strides
towards advancing LGBT rights, much
more remains to be done to achieve true
equality and ensure the protections and
services they deserve. Our campaign’s
LGBT platform is craft ed by the community,
for the community. And with these
critical policy reforms and initiatives, we
can begin to address the many inequalities
and injustices that still exist for LGBT families
and individuals,” Cruz said.
Th e initiative is central to her campaign
platform in which she works to combat
“discriminatory practices in the workplace,
in housing and in public accommodations.”
Activists, representatives from
organizations and members of the community
who were involved in the discussion
praised Cruz’s eff orts to address
the community’s issues and fi nd concrete
solutions.
“As the struggle for true equality continues,
we need leaders in Albany with the
strength to bend the arc toward justice,”
LGBT activist Brendan Fay said. “New
York’s LGBT community continues to face
discrimination in many forms and I’m
proud to support Catalina’s plan because
it will address those challenges head-on.”
Other facets of Cruz’s plan include
teaching LGBT history in schools and fi nding
“culturally competent” social service
providers. Th e plan highlighted the importance
of including of key moments in the
gay right movement and important fi gures
in the community. Educators would
be provided with the appropriate material
to teach students of all ages.
Nicolas Cortez, a member of the Sadie
Nash Leadership project, expressed his
appreciation for Cruz emphasizing LGBT
history in schools.
“As a trans teenager, I’m especially
pleased to see Catalina Cruz’s plan focus
on incorporating LGBT history as part
of our education, and making our classroom
environments safer by tackling bullying
and harassment. She’s a real advocate
for our LGBT community and I know she
will fi ght for true equality when she goes to
Albany,” Cortez said.
In addition, the initiative also included
a plan to help the aging LGBT population
live safe and comfortable lives, by fi nding
them supportive housing, making those
houses “senior friendly” and restoring benefi
ts to LGBT veterans who may have lost
them due to their sexual orientation.
Cruz is challenging new Assemblywoman
Ari Espinal, who was elected in an April
special election, in the September statewide
primary.
Photo courtesy of Catalina Cruz
Catalina Cruz holds a roundtable discussion ahead of rolling out her platform to support the LGBT
community in Queens.
Union fl ips support to Ramos in state Sen. race
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com/@jenna_bagcal
Aft er initially supporting incumbent
state Senator Jose Peralta for re-election,
a local union announced on May 25
announced that it’s switching sides and
backing his challenger, Jessica Ramos, in
the Democratic primary.
Th e United Auto Workers Union
Region 9A endorsed Ramos, the Jackson
Heights resident running against Peralta
for New York’s 13th Senate District.
Peralta is a former member of the
Independent Democratic Caucus (IDC).
Th e IDC, which irked many rank-andfi
le Democrats for aligning with state
Senate Republicans to keep the GOP in
control of the chamber, recently reunited
with the Senate Democratic Conference.
According to her campaign website,
she has been a staunch advocate
for labor unions and workers’ rights in
Albany. In addition to labor, Ramos supports
such issues as MTA reform, rent
reform laws, funding public schools and
immigrant rights.
“Jessica Ramos has been on the front
lines fi ghting for working people in New
York for decades, and the United Auto
Workers Union Region 9A is proud to
endorse her campaign for State Senate.
Jessica is from our community, and she
shares our values. Jessica is a labor champion
who has advocated for good union
jobs and fought to preserve benefi ts for
workers across the state. New York’s
working families need a state Senator
who will fi ght for fair wages, aff ordable
housing and fully funded public schools
— and Jessica is the leader we need,” said
UAW Region 9A director Julie Kushner.
According to their website, the UAW
Region 9A represents 50,000 active
and retired members throughout New
England, Puerto Rico and the eastern
part of New York state, including New
York City and Long Island. In addition
to Ramos and Peralta, the organization
has given their support to other local
Queens politicians in the past, including
Councilmen Jimmy Van Bramer and
Daniel Dromm.
Th e Senate hopeful expressed her
gratitude for the UAW endorsement,
emphasizing the importance of supporting
all aspects of labor and workers’
rights.
“Th e United Auto Workers Union
Region 9A help drive this city’s economic
engine, and I’m proud to have
their endorsement today. Every day,
the UAW fi ghts for strong wages, good
healthcare and essential job protections
for its hardworking members. In
Albany, I will continue to be a tireless
advocate for labor — and I’m deeply
honored to have the UAW in our corner
as we work to build a true Democratic
majority in Albany,” Ramos said.
Ramos also has endorsements from
dozens of organizations and individuals
including New York City Comptroller
Scott Stringer, Councilmen Costa
Constantinides and Jimmy Van Bramer,
Tenants PAC, Th e People for Bernie,
TrueBlue NY, Empire State Indivisible,
NOIDCNY, the Jim Owles Liberal
Democratic Club, John Leguizamo and
the Himalayan Democratic Club.
Th e primary between Ramos and
Peralta is scheduled for Sept. 13, with
the winner advancing to the November
general election.
Photo courtesy of Jessica Ramos
Jessica Ramos received an endorsement from the United Auto Workers Region 9A.
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