The NYS Gay and Lesbian (and Bisexual :) Civil Rights Bill (which would provide protection against discrimination in employment, housing, public accomodations, educational institutions, and financial credit availability) has been stalled yet again. Although the Assembly version of this bill (A3346-B) has passed, Senate Republicans continue to block this bill's progress. The Pride Agenda originally thought that this legislation (S-2236-B) would go directly to the Senate floor after it made it through the Judicial Committee, but Senator Lombardi (R) unexpectedly flagged the bill into the Finance Committee to determine the "financial impact" of this bill; in reality, it's the kind of stalling tactic that Senate Republicans have used for years. As of today, this bill is not on the Finance Committee Agenda. However, even if it is placed on the agenda, we are still one vote shy of passage. (A rule of thumb - the Democrats support this bill, and the Conservative or generic Republicans don't.) IF WE DON'T GET THIS THROUGH THIS SESSION (which ends in June) WE WILL HAVE TO START OVER AGAIN! Write or call your Senator and ask what his/her vote will be on this crucial issue. Tell him/her we can no longer afford _not_ to have this crucial legislation. If your Senator is not on this list, please write to Chairman Lombardi and implore him to put this bill on the agenda. Queer Nation Albany, NY is considering holding an action on May 8th (if the Legislature is in session that day) to put pressure on the Finance Committee to not only put this bill on the agenda, but to pass it. If you are interested in attending an action, please let me know! If you don't know who your Senator is, call Pride Agenda at 518 433- 0134 or 212 727-1291 and ask (Pride Agenda may offer to send you some postcards; this is OK, however, if they ask you to join, they have more than enough money right now). The Senate Finance Committe Members: Lombardi, Tarky R SD 49 Syracuse and other parts **Committee Chair** of Onondaga Co. Rm. 913 Marchi, John J R-L SD 24 Staten Island Rm. 416 Goodman, Roy M R-L SD 26 NYC east side of ManhattanRm. 708 Stafford, Ronald B R-C SD 45 Plattsburgh, Warren, Washington, Essex, Clinton, Frankin Co's, part of St. Lawrence Co. Rm. 502 Present, Jess J R SD 56 Bemus Pt., parts of Chautaugua & Catteraugus Co's. Rm. 503 Levy, Normak J R SD 8 Merrick, part of Nassau Co.Rm. 811 Johnson, Owen H R SD 4 W Babylon, part of Suffolk Co. Rm. 310 Trunzo, Cesar R SD 4 W Babylon, part of Suffolk Co. Rm. 711 Bruno, Joseph L R SD 43 Brunswick, Rensselaer Co. and parts of Columbia & Saratoga Co. Rm. 409 Kehoe, Paul R-C SD 53 Wolcott, Wayne Co. & parts of Ontario & Wayne Co. Rm. 307 McHugh, John M R-C SD 46 Watertown, Jefferson, Oswego & parts of St. Lawrence Co.Rm. 814 Mega, Christopher J R-C SD 23 Brooklyn Rm. 509 Velella, Guy J R-C SD 34 Bronx, parts of Weschester & Bronx Co. Rm. 902 Volker, Dale M R-C SD 59 DePew, Livingston Co. & parts of Wyoming & Erie Co. Rm. 609 Tully, Michael J R SD 7 Roslyn Hgts, part of Nassau Co. Rm. 707 Halperin, Donald M D SD 18 Brooklyn Rm. 918 **Ranking Minority Member** Galiber, Joseph L D-L SD 31 Bronx Rm. 414 Gold, Emmanuel R D-L SD 13 Forest Hills, parts of Queen **Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate**Co. Rm. 313 Leichter, Franz S. D-L SD 28 NYC Rm. 517 Nolan, Howard C D SD 42 Albany Rm. 809 Perry, John D D SD 54 Rochester Rm. 410 Mendez, Olga A. D-L SD 30 NYC, part of Bronx Co. Rm. 302 Stachowski, William T D SD 57 Buffalo Rm. 508 Oppenheimer, Suzi D-L SD 36 Marmaroreck, parts of Westchester Co. Rm. 515 Quattrociocchi, Ralph D-C SD 55 Rochester Rm. 615 Connor, Martin E D-L SD 25 NYC Rm. 415 Key: R = Republican D = Democrat L = Liberal C = Conservative SD = Senate District Address Format: The Honorable ___(insert Senator's name)___ Rm. _(insert Room. #)_, Legislative Office Building The State Senate Capitol Albany, NY 12247 Remember to include the bill's number (A-3346-B for the Assembly version, S-2236-B for the Senate version) in any correspondence or communication. Thanks for your time, Aimee Tweedie Queer Nation Albany tweeda@rpi.edu