June 18, 2010

Dear Stonewall Member,

In the coming weeks, your club will vote to endorse in the race for Attorney General. After over a decade of
working closely with the LGBT community to advance equality in New York State, I now humbly ask for your
endorsement to be the state’s next Attorney General.

I am running for Attorney General because I believe there is no higher calling than the pursuit of justice. Equal
Justice regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Independent Justice without regard to political or
special interests. And Progressive Justice that takes an activist approach to protecting all New Yorkers.

In this race, I am the one candidate who has worked the hardest and longest to advance progressive issues and to
fight to reform our state government. I fought to take down Joe Bruno and his regime, and worked hard to win back
the Senate from the Republicans after 40 years of corrupt conservative domination. I led the committee to
investigate and expel Hiram Monserrate when a lot of powerful Democrats told me to stay away. And when no one
said we could do it, I fought to end the unjust Rockefeller Drug Laws so our courts can separate those in need of
treatment from hardcore criminals who belong in prison.

And through my entire career, my commitment to the LGBT community and the movement for greater equality has
never wavered. When I was first elected to public office over a decade ago, I worked to force the Republican
leadership to pass a hates crime bill that included “sexual orientation” as a protected class. I fought for the passage
of the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA), which expanded civil and human rights laws, making
it illegal to discriminate against a person because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. And I am currently engaged in
the fight to pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA).

And while still personally disappointing, I am proud to have stood on the right side of history in the battle for
Marriage Equality. Working with many of you, I fought to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote. And as a
result, we now know what we need to do and who we need to influence in order to win this fight. In the end, we will
prevail, and we will pass marriage equality in New York State.

Since I announced my candidacy in April, I have received tremendous support and encouragement from members of
this club, as well as some of the most prominent LGBT leaders in public office, including New York City Council
Speaker Christine Quinn and Assembly Members Micah Kellner and Daniel O’Donnell. I have also received
downstate support from the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, Gay and Lesbian Independent
Democrats, The Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens and the Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn.
I am honored by this support and pledge that I will continue the fight for equality every day as Attorney General.

Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to speaking to you more about my candidacy in the weeks and
months ahead.

Sincerely,

 
Eric Schneiderman