Subject: ESPA Invite Date: Mon, 9 Sep 96 23:31:48 -0000 From: Jess Lebr—n Below find a letter addressed to the Empire State Pride Agenda, an = organization claiming to represent over 1,000,000 gay and lesbian New = Yorkers. This letter asks that EPSA rescind its invite to have Mayor = Rudolph Giuliani speak at its annual awards dinner October 3, 1996. = Additionally, the letter calls for a town hall meeting between the = Mayor and the gay and lesbian public(to be arranged by leaders of the = community and ESPA and to take place this last week in September). = Seriously consider adding your name and or your organization's title = as an endorsement to the letter. Please respond by 9/13/96. Thankyou. Gay & = Lesbian Advocates For Change = 237 West 18th Street, #1FE = New York, New York 10011 = 212-206-7086(ph/fax) or 718-739-2012 _______________________________________________________________________= ___________________ September 7, 1996 Mr. Dick Dadey Executive Director Empire State Pride Agenda 611 Broadway Room 907A New York, NY 10012 Dear Mr. Dadey: We as leaders, activists, and representatives of New York=B9s = Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered communities request that you immediately withdraw your invite to = Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to speak at your October 3, 1996 annual = awards dinner. A cursory glance at the Mayor=B9s record clearly reveals a = political vision and praxis contrary to the spirit and efforts of = Lesbian and Gay New Yorkers for fairness and equality: * Giuliani appointed conservatives Ninfa Segarra and Irene = Impellizzeri to the NYC Board of Ed. Their votes andefforts resulted = in the diminishment of the enlightened and inclusive Rainbow = Curriculum. They axed curriculun sections on AIDS prevention and = sexual orientation. * Giuliani dishonors our pride celebrations by interfering with = parade routes and organizer plans. He accuses us of =B3desecrating=B2 = St. Patrick=B9s Cathedral and marches some select blocks past it. *Giuliani claims marriage is a =B3traditional institution that = should remain that way=B2 and publicly opposes the right of same-sex = marriage. *Despite continued exclusion of Irish Lesbians and Gay men from the = annual St. Patrick=B9s Day Parade, Giuliani marches alongside the = small-hearted AOH organizers. *The Mayor not only refused to remove from the Civilian Complaint = Review Board New York=B9s infamous homophobe, the Rev. Ruben = Diaz, but defended his bigotry by stating Diaz was entitled to his = =B3religious moral theology=B2. He even awarded him a city citation. *Through cutbacks, closures and his =B3restructuring=B2 plans for = DAS, the Mayor had significantly threatened the health and welfare of = New Yorkers living with AIDS. *Giuliani has yet to respond to requests by the NYC Gay & Lesbian = Anti-Violence Project for support in apprehending Esat = Bici, the escaped murderer of Queens gay resident Julio Rivera. *The Mayor eliminated the city=B9s Office of Lesbian and Gay = Concerns. Such an official who ignores the legitimate concerns of New = York=B9s Lesbian and Gay communities by refusing to engage in real = dialogue and who panders to the religious right deserves to be = challenged and critiqued. Therefore, we are shocked and perturbed at = the honor extended by ESPA to a mayor of such bankrupt and cynical = political posturing. Life in this city cries out for a renewed political perspective. = To replace the world of sound bites, photo-ops and cliches, we need a = politic rooted in compassion, inclusiveness, and genuine dialogue. Responding to this challenge, and to rise above the political = mediocrity that threatens to stifle our hopes and efforts for equal = justice, we ask ESPA to join us in coordinating a genuine town hall = meeting. There, Mayor Giuliani can meet, hear, and dialogue with = Lesbian and Gay New Yorkers who, though denied equality and fairness, = continue to passionately work for a just city for all. Sincerely, Brendan Fay Coordinator 718-739-2012 cc:Board of Directors Mayor Rudolph Giuliani Leaders of the Lesbian/Gay Community _______________________________________________________________________= ___________________ Gay & = Lesbian Advocates for Change is a grassroots activist collective committed to fairness and = equality for Lesbians and Gay New Yorkers. For further info contact Brendan Fay at 718-739-2012 or Jes=FAs = Lebr=F3n at 212-206-7086