The a star-studded 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York was was an emotional night that celebrated LGBTQ storytellers and activists including New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the crowd to their feet and instilled hope that there are electeds working to not only enhance the quality of life of LGBTQ people, but to protect it.
Attorney General James also broke news to attendees that the Nassau County Supreme Court struck down County Executive Blakeman’s executive order banning transgender girls and women from participating in girls’ and women’s sports at county-run facilities.
“As the New York State Attorney General, it is my job to ensure equal justice for all. And I take that sacred duty very seriously,” she states. She explains that in her position, she has the power to hold “some of the most powerful individuals and institutions accountable.”
She shares that it is of the utmost importance to her and her office to take a stand for the LGBTQ community, “and that is why we demanded that the Nassau County executive stop discriminating against transgender youth.”
She went on to discuss the recent case in New York State where an anti-trans sports ban was struck down in court. “We have no room for hate or bigotry in New York State or anywhere in America for that matter. But I want all of you to know we took action against that county executive and we won,” she announced to the GLAAD Media Awards audience.
Attorney General James praised the “Long Island Roller Skating Rebels” who were the plaintiffs on the case. She congratulated them on their win for New York State as a whole. “The roller skating league is committed to an inclusive policy and anti discrimination principles and they welcome all transgender women, intersex women and gender expansive women to participate in roller skating on Long Island,” she explains.
Attorney General James’ work doesn’t stop in New York. “My office is also taking on Florida’s governor. You may have heard of him, Governor Desantis.” The crowd booed the notoriously anti-LGBTQ politician. “Because in New York, we say gay! We say lesbian! We say bi, we say transgender, we say history.”
“My office does not just say these words, we embody them each and every day and we celebrate the history of everyone,” she assured the audience who roared with applause.
She spoke more about the work her and her office are doing to create a more loving and inclusive state. “We issued guidance for New York public schools to promote DEI in the classroom because because we believe in the fullness of society, we stood up for you throughout the nation who simply want to be who they are without being told that they are wrong.” On top of this, she reveals, “We proudly held a drag story hour event to push back on the forces of intolerance.”
She then welcomed GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis to the stage who called the Attorney General “our hero.”
For more on the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, visit glaad.org/mediaawards/35