New York Governor Cuomo Recognizes 50th Anniversary of Pride Month

Pride Month is finally here! And this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. To commemorate this extra special Pride Month, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released the following statement: Pride is a special month for the LGBTQ community and for all New Yorkers, and with the Empire State hosting WorldPride this year on the 50th anniversary of Stonewall we have a lot to celebrate and commemorate.

From the passage of marriage equality and GENDA to our nation-leading efforts to end the AIDS epidemic and our ongoing fight with the Trump administration over critical protections for transgender individuals, New York has been a leader in the fight for LGBTQ justice.

This progress has been staggering, but we will not rest until each and every New Yorker—regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity—has the rights and freedoms they deserve.

Today New York State still has archaic, discriminatory laws on the books that stifle the liberties of the LGBTQ community. It is appalling that a same-sex couple must leave their home state—a state that stands for diversity, inclusion, and tolerance—to conceive a child through surrogacy. It is repugnant that someone accused of a violent crime against an LGBTQ person can use their own homophobia or transphobia as a legitimate legal defense.

Yesterday I stood shoulder to shoulder with New Yorkers who have been let down by New York's antiquated laws and launched a campaign to fight these injustices. The ban on gestational surrogacy must be lifted and the "gay and trans panic" legal defense must be struck from the books once and for all before the end of this legislative session. New Yorkers cannot afford to wait.