(MINEOLA, N.Y.) – Nassau County Legislature Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker (D – Plainview) – a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ+ community throughout his eight years of service as a Nassau County Legislator – joined with transgender rights advocates outside the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building on Saturday, June 29.
There, civil liberty advocates, parents of transgender youth, and LGBTQ+ community members and their allies protested the Blakeman administration and Republican Legislative Majority’s approval of a measure that prohibits the leasing of County parks facilities to any team that permits transgender female athletes to participate on women’s sports teams – an action that has been denounced by New York State Attorney General Letitia James as “blatantly illegal.” The rally occurred on the eve of the 55th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising – an event widely considered the start of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
“County Executive Blakeman and the Republican Majority on the Legislature passed a law that is repugnant, unconscionable, and downright disgusting. As my colleagues on the Minority Caucus expressed our outage at this illegal effort, we were emboldened, inspired, and empowered by all of you,” Deputy Minority Leader Drucker told protestors. “I have every confidence that, with the enshrinement of GENDA in New York State law, this unfounded, patently illegal will be overturned.”
“The bill that passed on June 24 is the sentiment of narrow and closed-minded people who can never accept the basic human rights notion that the freedom to live our individual, unencumbered lives is undeniable and worth of every ounce of our fiber to preserve it,” Deputy Minority Leader Drucker continued. “I implore you to take pen to paper or fingers to keyboard keys and contact every Legislator you can think of to let them know that you are watching, the world is watching – and history is watching.”
PHOTO CAPTION (LEFT TOP PHOTO) – Deputy Minority Leader Drucker addresses protestors on Saturday, June 29.
PHOTO CAPTION (RIGHT TOP PHOTO) – Deputy Minority Leader Drucker with transgender rights advocate Juli Grey-Owens on Saturday, June 29.
PHOTO CREDITS – Office of Deputy Minority Leader Arnold W. Drucker