11/29 KCDCC Executive Committee Meeting

Last night, there was an executive committee meeting to vote on amendments to the Rules of Kings County Democratic County Committee where we would (1) create non-gender specific at-large positions for the 2020-2022 term & (2) how we would fill vacancies for these at-large positions and regular vacancies that exist.

As a member of the Gender Discrimination Task Force, and as a queer person, I’d like to fully state my unwavering support in finding a long-term solution for TGNCNB folks to participate in County Committee. But I have serious concerns about the way in which these rules were introduced and how the vacancies are being filled. It shifts power from the elected body of County Committee members to that of the Executive Committee - which I believe is also in violation of State Election Law. This undemocratic rule did not fall within the scope of the Task Force itself and should not have been bound with a groundbreaking reform proposal. When I and other members voiced our concerns, what I particularly found disturbing was how dismissive self-proclaimed “allies” were to members of the LGBTQ community - going so far as to describe oppositional voices as nitpicking. While it may not have been meant as such, that was deeply hurtful. I’ve had to endure a lot of toxicity as a queer person of color, but what I won’t do is be used as a bargaining tool to power grab votes, during a pandemic, in the name of inclusion. Allies should be listening to voices most impacted, instead we were shunned and ignored. We deserve more than this.

There was an attempt to table the amendments but that vote failed. Ultimately, I could not support these rules, and the rules as written and presented were passed by the Executive Committee by a vote of 25 in favor, 12 in opposition and 2 votes in abstention. So, while TGNCNB persons can be appointed to County Committee in these at-large positions, the Executive Committee now holds ultimate control to appoint these vacancies, as well as the over 2,000 vacancies that exist.

Now, just two days after these rules passed, the Executive Committee will be voting to fill these vacancies: both for the at-large positions and the regular vacancies. I just don’t understand how this is our democracy.