Long Island Region Women’s Equality Coalition Calls on Phil Boyle and all Long Island Senators to Represent Their Constituents’ Values by Voting to Pass the Women’s Equality Act in its Entirety
(BABYLON, NY) Today the Long Island Region Women’s Equality Coalition held a rally with more than 40 Long Islanders to urge passage of the Women’s Equality Act, Governor Cuomo’s 10-point plan to break down barriers for women across a variety of sectors. The full bill aims to achieve pay equity, end discrimination in housing and in the workplace, protect survivors of domestic violence, strengthen protections for victims of human trafficking, and protect reproductive rights. Senator Phil Boyle, whose district includes Babylon, announced yesterday that he will not support the bill because of the abortion provision.
Senator Boyle’s statement, published in Newsday’s SpinCycle blog, runs counter to the wishes of his constituents, thousands of Long Island residents, and the 126 organizations that have joined together to form the Long Island Region Women’s Equality Coalition. This coalition is comprised of businesses, labor groups, religious leaders, women’s organizations, medical associations, and civil liberties proponents, as well as everyday people from all walks of life who agree that the New York State Legislature should seize this opportunity to improve the lives of 10 million women across the state.
Previous to his statements, Sen. Boyle had indicated that he supported nine of the ten points of the plan, and was only awaiting bill language to sign off on the provision that deals with reproductive rights. However, he had not made any public statements.
“Long Island Senators have the ability to make or break the Women’s Equality Act,” said Nancy O’Keefe, Senior Vice President of Health Services for Planned Parenthood of Nassau County. “I know firsthand that the women and men of New York need our Senators to support the Women’s Equality Act. It is time to end gender discrimination in New York State once and for all.”
“Yesterday, we commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, but still women make 84 cents for every dollar men make in New York,” said Lillian Clayman, a member of the Long Island Federation of Labor Women’s Committee. “However, the working women and men of organized labor know that women’s equality is not just about earnings. It is also about sex discrimination in the workplace, sexual harassment, bias against mothers, domestic violence and women’s health. When women have economic equality and have full rights under the law, families benefit.”
“Yesterday, Senator Phil Boyle said he is against the Women’s Equality Act because of the one provision – out of ten – that deals with reproductive rights,” said Sheila Herson, a Long Island voter. “This provision will simply codify the Roe v Wade decision in our state law. I am a Republican, and I have never believed that small government means allowing politicians to get in between a woman and her doctor. Shame on Phil Boyle for thinking he knows better than the doctors who advise women in these difficult situations.”
