LID Condemns Disqualification of Non-Binary, Transgender, Genderfluid and Gender Non-Conforming County Committee Candidates
For Immediate Release
April 23, 2020
LID Condemns Disqualification of Non-Binary, Transgender, Genderfluid and Gender Non-Conforming County Committee Candidates
Yesterday, six transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary candidates were disqualified from running for Kings County Democratic County Committee by the Board of Elections. These members of our community are disqualified from serving in a political role, as voting members of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, because their gender does not match archaic binary norms and stereotypes. This action is seriously troubling.
We stand with these candidates, and believe it is absolutely wrong that they be denied access to political activity on the basis of gender.
County Committee rules require candidates to designate a gender of either “male” or “female” on their designating petitions. Seats in each electoral district, represented by 2-4 county committee members, cannot be held by more than 50% of persons identifying as either male or female. This outdated rule was developed many years ago to ensure that the County Committee was gender balanced, and would not be dominated by men. Though well-intentioned at the time, the rule excludes members of our community who do not identify with a binary gender.
Lacking an option to designate genders that align with their identities, the candidates were forced to run as county committee members without gender designations
As a result, these candidates are disqualified from the ballot. Ensuring adequate representation of women on the County Committee has been a remarkable success for the party, and we are positive that opening the door for persons who do not identify with a binary gender will continue to provide for a more fair, balanced and representative Brooklyn Democratic Party.
We encourage the Brooklyn Democratic Party to right this wrong, and we look forward to working with the party to ensure that no person is excluded from membership on the County Committee on the basis of gender.