Empire State Pride Agenda closing down operations
State's top LGBT organization will continue to operate its PAC to maintain gains in equality
The top LGBT rights organization in New York state has announced it will “wind down” operations in 2016, after 25 years of advocacy, citing fulfillment of its major priorities and initiatives.
In a press release issued Saturday Empire State Pride Agenda announced the decision to stop its major operations, after the Boards of Directors of the Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation and the Empire State Pride Agenda, Inc., its policy and educational arms, voted unanimously to shut down operations in the coming year. However, the organization did note that it would maintain its political action committee, in order to keep up a political presence and ensure that lawmakers do not attempt to reverse political and policy gains for the LGBT community.
In a “frequently asked questions” post on its website, Empire State Pride Agenda acknowledged the fundraising challenges that itself and fellow nonprofits can encounter, but also stressed that their decision was “mission-driven,” rather than a question of financial problems. Specifically, the group pointed to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s recent executive action, which introduced new regulations to protect transgender New Yorkers from discrimination in housing, employment, credit, education and public accommodations. The group has also been credited with successfully adding similar protections based on sexual orientation to the state’s nondiscrimination laws, introducing anti-bullying initiatives in schools, and legalizing same-sex marriage in New York.
“We have accomplished amazing victories as an organization and as a community since our founding in 1990,” Nathan Schaefer, the Pride Agenda’s Executive Director, said in a statement. “The strides we have made toward equality and justice have been nothing short of extraordinary. It has been a true honor for me to lead this organization during a time of great advancement for our community. I am particularly grateful for the Pride Agenda’s exceptional staff, many of whom will undoubtedly move on to apply their talents to other fronts of the LGBT rights movement.”
The organization said that as it transitions to close down its operations, it will consider which programs or initiatives should continue and will work to successfully transition or hand off those programs or initiatives to partner organizations that are dedicated to achieving full and permanent LGBT equality.
Cuomo issued a statement praising the organization’s accomplishments, saying the group’s impact “will be felt for generations to come.”
“New York would not be the State it is today without the Empire State Pride Agenda,” Cuomo said. “Over the years, this organization has made a difference in — and no doubt saved — countless lives. … I am honored beyond words to have fought alongside the Pride Agenda and watched its successes over the years.”
But some LGBT activists and allies questioned the decision to close shop when there is still more work to be done to achieve full equality in the Empire State.
State Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan) told The New York Times that the decision “seems premature,” noting that the State Senate has not passed a single piece of LGBT legislation since 2011, due in part to Republican control of the State Senate, which has been aided by six conservative Democrats who have used their power to block progressive legislation, including any LGBT-related bills. Hoylman told the Times that he hopes a new political group takes over where Empire State Pride Agenda left off.
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