LGBT Rights and Protection

"After a 17-year struggle by Democrats in the State Assembly and advocacy groups such as the Empire State Pride Agenda, the historic Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, or SONDA was adopted into law. SONDA is the first step in bringing state law into the 21st century with regard to LGBT rights in housing, employment, public accommodations, education and credit. I will work in congress to make sure that all of our citizens have equal economic, civil and legal rights regardless of sexuality, gender or gender preference." - Yvette Clarke

Marriage Equality

Clarke was proud to support the mayor of New Paltz, who bravely performed gay marriages until stopped by court order. Clarke also supports Judge Doris Ling-Cohan's ruling in favor of gay marriage; and fully supports legislative action to legalize gay marriage and repeal The Defense of Marriage Act in congress. Clarke will oppose all so-called "protection of marriage" bills or ballot initiatives that would seek to deny the validity of same-sex unions.

HIV/AIDS

AIDS is the greatest humanitarian crises of our time. Worldwide, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that over 40 million people are infected with HIV/AIDS, the vast majority living in Africa and the developing world. Women and children are the most vulnerable. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that for the first time over 1 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. African Americans and other minority groups have been disproportionately affected by the disease. Despite making up only 13 percent of the population, African Americans represent more than 42 percent of all people living with HIV.

Clarke supports the creation of a Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS. Recognizing the prominent role that access to medication plays in extending the lives of infected people and keeping families together, she supports legislation that allows impoverished countries to purchase generic, cheaper HIV/AIDS drugs. To protect vulnerable children and orphans caught in situations where their infected parents or guardians can no longer support them or who are infected themselves, she authored an act to provide social, educational, and economic support.

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Endorsements

Hon. Betsy Gotbaum
NY Public Advocate

Hon. C. Virginia Fields
Manhattan Borough Pres.

Hon. Anthony Weiner
U.S. Congress

Hon. Donna Christian-Christensen
U.S. Representative for US Virgin Islands

Hon. Bill de Blasio
Councilmember, 39th CD

Hon. Kendall Stewart
Councilmember, 45th CD

Hon. Melissa Mark-Viverito
Councilmember, 8th CD

Hon. Annabel Palma
Councilmember, 18th CD

Hon. Rosie Mendez
Councilmember, 2nd CD

Hon. Helen Sears
Councilmember, 25th CD

Hon. John Liu
Councilmember, 20th CD

Hon. Melinda Katz
Councilmember, 29th CD

Hon. Helen Foster
Councilmember, 16th CD

Hon. Darlene Mealy
Councilmember, 41st CD

Hon. Alan Gerson
Councilmember, 1st CD

Hon. Miguel Martinez
Councilmember, 10th CD

Hon. James Sanders, Jr.
Councilmember, 31st CD

Hon. Phil Reed

Hon. Mayor Wayne Hall
Mayor Hempstead, LI

Hon. Nick Perry
Assemblymember, 58th AD

Hon. John Sampson
NY State Senator, 19th

Alan Fleishman
District Leader, 52nd AD

Rev. Dr. Paul Smith

Roberta Flack

Emily's List

Women Building for the Future PAC

National Women's Political Caucus

Women's Campaign Forum

Jim Owles Democratic Club

Stonewall Democratic Club

Caribbean American Leadership Summit

100 Clergy for Clarke

Progressive Democrat Political Association

Guyanese-American Workers United

Men and Women Against Domestic Violence

1199/SEIU

32BJ

District Council 9, Painters

Local 420, Hospital Wkrs, DC37 AFSCME

Mason Tenders District Council, LIUNA

United Food and Commerical Workers (UFCW), Local 1500

International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), Joint Council 16

UNITE / HERE!

Hotel Trades Council (NYC)

HERE, Local 6 (Hotel Workers)

Carpenters, Local 926 (Brooklyn)