David Paterson accepts award from transgender rights group

The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund honored former New York Gov. David Paterson at its Sixth Anniversary Benefit at the Chelsea Art Museum in Manhattan on Monday, May 23.

Here is a video of Paterson's acceptance speech in its entirety.

Paterson signs Dignity for All Students Act into law

Let's hope the students who called each other "maricones" on the Brooklyn-bound L train between First Avenue and Lorimer Street earlier this afternoon will learn something from the Dignity for All Students Act.


On the same day New York City’s 1.1 million public school students returned to the classroom, Gov. David Paterson signed a long-awaited anti-bullying bill into law at the LGBT Community Center in lower Manhattan.

The Dignity for All Students Act, which specifically bans harassment and discrimination against students based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, color, weight, national origin, ethnicity, religion or disability, requires New York State school districts to adopt anti-bullying policies. The law also mandates each district to appoint at least one staff member in each school to implement anti-bullying techniques and methods. And DASA further mandates administrators report incidents of bullying or bias-based harassment to the New York State Department of Education.

Paterson recalled how he hit a classmate in the face with a metal lunch box after he repeatedly bullied him. He was suspended from recess for a month, but Paterson, who is the country’s first legally blind governor, said DASA goes a long way to protect New York State’s students from the same bullying he experienced.

"We are going to make sure that whether its expression or non-expression... that every student in this state is going to get an unparalleled opportunity to be educated in an environment that is safe and secure and encouraging their long-term success," he said.

State Sen. Tom Duane, who sponsored DASA in the state Senate, agreed. "This is a huge, huge step for schools throughout New York State," he said.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn; New York City Councilmembers Daniel Dromm and Jimmy Van Bramer; New York City Comptroller John Liu; Ross Levi, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda; state Assemblymember Danny O’Donnell, who sponsored the bill in the state Assembly; Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union; Melissa Sklarz, director of the New York Trans Rights Organization; Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers; and Pauline Park, chair of the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy, were among the elected officials and activists who joined Paterson on stage as he signed DASA into law.

"Children cannot learn if they don’t feel safe," said Quinn. "Children cannot walk from one classroom to another classroom in their building and dwell on the test that it is the second classroom if their walk down that hallway was walking the gauntlet. They simply cannot get in their chair and digest what they are being taught, take it in and process it when half of their brain is focused on the fear they have about leaving that seat to go to the cafeteria or to the next classroom."

California, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont and Washington have anti-bullying laws on the books. Colorado, Maine, Minnesota and the District of Columbia have adopted non-discrimination laws that include LGBT-specific protections for students, but classroom bullying remains a serious problem.

As EDGE previously reported, Massachusetts lawmakers revisited the issue after Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, an 11-year-old student from Springfield, committed suicide in April 2009. His classmates harassed him because they thought he was gay.

Levi highlighted a Massachusetts Department of Public Health study that found 40 percent of gay, lesbian and bisexual high school students will attempt suicide-compared to 10 percent of their heterosexual classmates.

"Preventing bias-bullying and harassment is literally a matter of life and death," he said.

Ninety-three percent of LGBT students in New York State who responded to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s National School Climate Survey in 2007 regularly heard "dyke," "faggot" and other homophobic comments from their classmates. The same study found 91 percent of LGBT students in Texas schools, 74 percent of students in Arizona schools and 97 percent of students in Michigan students experienced identical verbal harassment.

As EDGE previously reported, the New York City Department of Education unveiled a new initiative earlier this year that encouraged school administrators to combat classroom bullying and harassment in the classroom. Officials announced a similar plan at the start of the 2008-2008 academic year, but some activists expressed skepticism-especially after Mayor Michael Bloomberg vetoed the Dignity in All Schools Act the New York City Council overwhelmingly passed in 2004.

Duane, who first introduced DASA in the state Senate shortly after his election in 1999, said its passage is long overdue.

"No student should ever feel afraid to go to school. No student should ever have to try and learn while they are in fear," he added. "No child should have ever live with that, but children’s academic performance will improve if they have confidence from their school."

DASA is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2012.

Paterson keeps up appearances

Embattled Gov. David Paterson did not step-down on Friday as this blogger and several others had speculated, and his schedule today clearly sends a powerful message to those who continue to urge him to resign.

Paterson is scheduled to hold a forum on the budget at Brooklyn Borough Hall later this morning. The governor is slated to speak at a symposium on the proposed Sugared Beverage Tax in Albany this afternoon before he meets with New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan and members of the New York State Catholic Conference in the Capitol at 3 p.m. Paterson is also scheduled to attend the Irish Legislators Society's annual Legislators' Dinner at the Capital District Irish Cultural Center.

A governor's schedule is not normally newsworthy, but it certainly indicates Paterson is doing everything he can to shift focus away from his ongoing travails. The fact remains, however, the concurrent scandals in which he finds himself are the story. And his eventual resignation remains almost certainly inevitable.

New York awaits Paterson's possible resignation

Will (and when will) embattled Gov. David Paterson resign?

Peter Kauffmann's resignation only heightened speculation the governor would step-down. And an Albany source told Boy in Bushwick in an e-mail at 3:30 yesterday afternoon Paterson's resignation would happen within the hour. It obviously didn't materialize, but the Wall Street Journal reported an emergency meeting of Paterson's New York City staff will take place in Midtown Manhattan later today.

An exit strategy is almost certainly in the works, and former State Comptroller H. Carl McCall seemed to imply that in comments he made to the Times before he attended a meeting with the Rev. Al Sharpton and other black and Latino politicians and city leaders in Sylvia's in Harlem. Paterson is increasingly unable to govern the state, which remains in desperate need of executive leadership that will effectively tackle the mounting budget deficit, a sluggish economy and other serious problems. And his resignation seems almost inevitable.

Paterson's office told journalists late yesterday afternoon the governor will be in New York City and has no public schedule. These schedules are often subject to change. And one can easily read between the lines and conclude Paterson may announce his resignation after members of his staff end their emergency meeting.

Stay tuned...

New York Times reports Paterson ordered two aides to call woman in domestic violence case

The plot suddenly thickens in the ongoing saga surrounding Gov. David Paterson.

The New York Times reported earlier tonight he directed two aides -- press secretary Marissa Shorenstein and state employee Deneane Brown -- to contact the woman whom David Johnson allegedly assaulted and dissuade her from appearing in court on Feb. 8. This report comes less than four days after Paterson suspended his election campaign. And these latest revelations will certainly increase calls for his resignation -- even before he serves the remaining 305 days of his term.

Shorenstein is the contact on a press release the governor's office sent out earlier tonight about St. Vincent's. The rather obvious question, however, is indeed whether Paterson will resign (and when.) One contact speculated it could happen as early as this weekend, but the fact remains Paterson is an increasing distraction for a state that continues to face extremely serious problems. It is time for the governor to end this saga once and for all.

Paterson ends election campaign

Is today’s announcement the end of the Gov. David Paterson saga?

Something tells me his decision to end his election campaign marks only the beginning of what could prove a long and painful ordeal for the Empire State. State Sen. Bill Perkins [D-Harlem,] a long-time Paterson ally, told WNYC’s Brian Lehrer earlier this morning he feels the governor will eventually step-down.

“It’s time for honestly and I believe that David Paterson knows better than anyone else how this investigation will end,” he said. “He knows what’s being investigated and he knows what’s at stake. He knows what he did, who he talked to. He knows under whose order the state troopers contacted this woman. If the investigation turns out the way many expect, his resignation is almost inevitable.”

Ironically, Paterson became governor nearly two years ago after his predecessor resigned amid a prostitution scandal. The fact he has been able to overcome numerous personal obstacles in his life remains an inspiration to an untold number of New Yorkers. The allegations that continue to swirl around Paterson, however, provide yet another reminder New York State government remains seriously broken.

Paterson stressed he plans to serve out the rest of his term—308 days. Events, however, may certainly dictate a far different outcome.

Monday morning wrap-up: Saints, Palin and Paterson

A broken pipe in the basement caused quite the scene here in Bushwick over the weekend, but a steady stream of news kept this news junkie entertained as he eagerly awaited the return of running (hot) water.

Voulez vous le bon temps rouler! I certainly did not follow each play in the Super Bowl, but the New Orleans Saints' come-from-behind victory against the Indianapolis Colts remains nothing short of breathtaking. This win is surely a shot in the arm for the Crescent City as it continues to regain its footing after Hurricane Katrina. And Americans will undoubtedly continue to rejoice with Who Dat nation in the coming days and weeks.

On a decidedly less festive note, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gave a rousing speech to Tea Partiers in Nashville over the weekend. I am certainly not a Palin fan; nor have I ever described her in favorable terms outside of the fact she looks great for a mother of five and for her appearance on Saturday Night Live alongside Tina Fey. And the steady stream of sound bites of Palin's speech that the Sunday morning talk shows played sparked the predictable tweets.

"With all due respect to Sarah Palin, what the hell does she know about foreign policy?," one read in response to the former Alaska governor's assertion the White House should declare war against Iran. "You can't see Iran from Alaska after all..."

I guess crib notes qualify her to run for president in 2012. Perhaps New York Gov. David Paterson may have some new found time on his hands, however, if rumors of his possible resignation pan out.

Stay tuned...

Paterson calls for marriage vote

Governor David Paterson has issued a proclamation that calls for the state Senate to hold a special legislative session on Tuesday to tackle marriage for same-sex couples, the growing budget deficit and other issues.

"There is never a wrong time or inconvenient time to debate human rights legislation because it's always the right time," Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, said in a statement. "As long as a group of New Yorkers are being denied equal rights, addressing issues like marriage equality must always be a priority. Support for providing equal rights to LGBT New Yorkers has always been bipartisan, and we expect that this bill will be no different."

Cathy Marino-Thomas of Marriage Equality New York was more blunt in remarks she delivered at a rally last night in Union Square.

"We need to insist that Albany get off its ass and pass legislation that will protect the families of New York State," she said.

The obvious question remains whether lawmakers will actually vote on the marriage bill--or anything else for that matter. Stay tuned...

LGBT organizations weigh in on Spitzer

With New York appearing to take a collective sigh of relief over Gov. Eliot Spitzer's resignation earlier today, LGBT organizations have echoed many in the state in expressing their optimism to work with incoming Gov. David Paterson.

Empire State Pride Agenda executive director Alan Van Capelle praised the former state Senator's record on LGBT rights as he pointed out Paterson's support of hate crimes legislation and the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act of 2002.

"David Paterson’s leadership is a story of commitment to civil liberties and human rights," Van Capelle said in a statement posted on the Pride Agenda's Web site. "He believes in equality and justice for all New Yorkers and has demonstrated this time and time again—in both words and actions."

Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, agreed.

"We know we can count on him to continue his decades-long commitment to winning full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender New Yorkers," he said.

Paterson supports marriage for same-sex couples at a time when activists across the state have looked to a Democratic take-over of the Republican controlled state Senate in November in hopes of securing passage of a marriage bill next year. It remains to be seen whether this effort will succeed, but it appears as though LGBT activists have followed the apparent lead of state Democrats in their efforts to quickly move forward from this tumultuous period. In many ways, it appears as though they want Spitzer to become an after thought with upcoming local, statewide and national elections. He became a significant distraction in the coming days (and arguably since he took office in January 2007), and partisans (and arguably some LGBT activists in New York and around the country) are quietly happy to see him go.

The saga will continue to evolve, but the collective consensus is arguably to begin to move forward. Stay tuned...