I received the following unsolicited letter from Governor Mario Cuomo 
of New York.  I assume it was sent to all members of the Empire
State Pride Agenda, our statewide lobbying group.
						
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						July 13, 1993

Dear Friend, 

In many ways, 1993 was a landmark year for the lesbian and gay 
community with the passage in the Assembly of two of my program 
bills, Civil Rights and Bias Crimes.

As a leader in the efforts to secure passage of the Civil Rights Bill, 
the Empire State Pride Agenda deserves credit for a lobbying strategy
that led to this year's unprecedented level of support in the 
legislature.  Unfortunately, the Senate's failure to pass the bill -
or even permit the Legislative process to ensure that bills of 
critical public importance are considered, debated and passed.

Like most New Yorkers, I believe that it is a basic human right to be
free from discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, 
housing, education and public accommodations.  It is past time, frankly,m 
for us to acknowledge as a matter of law, the simple truth and fairness
that no one should be denied a job or a home - and that no one should 
be a target of bias violence - simply because of his or her sexual 
orientation.

We must commit ourselves anew to the struggle against ignorance and fear,
hatred and bigotry.  There is still much to be done.  Discrimination
on the basis of sexual orientation still exists; violence against lesbians
and gay men still exists; and AIDS and the discrimination it engenders
still exists.  Let us not rest until lesbian and gay people achieve full
participation in our society.

					Sincerely, 


					Mario M. Cuomo