STONEWALL DEMOCRATS of Western New York

PO Box 857, Buffalo, NY 14205 Website:

www.sdwny.org

OFFICERS DATE
Bryan Ball Ross Levi
President
Empire State Pride Agenda, Executive Director
Kitty Lambert 16 West 22nd Street, Second Floor
Vice President, New York, New York 10010
Community Affairs

Bruce Kogan Dear Mr. Levi,

Vice President,
Party Affairs
I write to discuss the situation our Western New York community finds itself in,
Ronald Groth regarding our anti-LGBT NYS Senator William Stachowski. As you know, Sen.
Treasurer Stachowski (Senate District 58) was one of the no votes which denied New
Thomas Peglowski
Yorkers our Marriage Equality late last year. The 58th Senate District contains
Secretary Western New York’s largest concentration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender citizens. Quite naturally, the community sought an opponent to
restore equality and decency back to the office of the 58th Senate District.

That candidate is Sean Cooney. From the moment Mr. Cooney, a Buffalo area
attorney, made known his plans to run in the Democratic primary, the LGBT
community rallied around his candidacy, without hesitation. Sean has been a
constant and powerful ally, friend and advocate for LGBT rights for many years,
long before his decision was made to run for this office. LGBT community
leaders, activists, youth and participants of all walks of life know Sean from the
front lines of the civil rights movement. From candle light remembrance vigils, to
marriage equality rallies, to testifying in front of area government in favor of
equal rights laws, Sean Cooney has been there fighting the fight with us. When
elected to the New York State Senate, Sean will be one of one of our fiercest
advocates on the issues important to the LGBT community—such as the Gender
Non-Discrimination Act, the Dignity for All Students Act and Marriage Equality.
In the Senate, Sean will continue the staunch, equality-minded advocacy he has
worked on for years, hand-in-hand with the LGBT community.

The Stonewall Democrats of Western New York were

proud to endorse such a true progressive and independently
minded candidate. At our February general membership
meeting, we were filled over our capacity. We interviewed
all Democratic candidates running for the 58th District
excluding the incumbent who did not respond to us. We
listened to Mr. Cooney, attorney Michael Kuzma and Erie
County Legislator Tim Kennedy. Mr. Kuzma was
supportive of LGBT issues, and Mr. Kennedy was also,
though he advertises on a local political website which
promotes anti-LGBT, woman and minority hate speech.
However, when it came time for the membership to vote,
every single person in the room raised her or his hand for
Sean Cooney. There was a feeling of true empowerment and elation that we have
such an incredible candidate in Sean to restore equality to the office of the New
York State 58th Senate District. For so long, our state Senator has ignored
our equal rights. With Sean Cooney, we can fight the good fight and win back
dignity for the 58th District.

In Western New York, we are ready for the challenge of electing our champion
Sean Cooney to the New York State Senate. With the win of NYS Senator Jose
Peralta in Senate District 13, we have begun to change the Democratic votes who
denied the LGBT community marriage equality last year. With Sean Cooney, the
58th District can do the same, and restore dignity and equality to the New York
State Senate.

Sincerely,

Bryan Ball
Stonewall Democrats of Western New York