In 2020, Westchester County Executive George Latimer signed into law and formally created the Westchester County LGBTQ Advisory Board, ensuring its important work would continue through future administrations.
The Westchester County LGBTQ+ Advisory Board was founded in 2002 under County Executive Andrew Spano and then-LGBTQ+ Liaison Laura Newman as a citizens’ board to advise the County Executive. Anticipating the evolving needs of a diverse community, Newman formed the group to create a more direct means of communication with LGBTQ+ Westchester residents. County Executive Spano appointed board members at the recommendation of Newman. At the time of founding, board members’ responsibilities included providing the county with policy recommendations, surveying the community for needs assessment, organizing an annual town hall open to community comment, and producing an annual report to be presented at the town hall.
The Board’s early work included implementing sensitivity training for police and county employees, obtaining funding to expand health and human services programs for community members, and distributing information through both the county website and a series of informational brochures to assist those at all intersections of the LGBTQ+ community. At a time when marriage equality was far from reality, the Advisory Board strived to recognize LGBTQ+ couples and afford them the same protections as straight couples. These efforts included creating a countywide Domestic Partner Registry to allow unmarried LGBTQ+ couples to document their relationship, obtaining domestic partner benefits for county employees, advising the County Executive in creating an Executive Order that recognized same-gender marriages as legal in the jurisdiction where the marriages took place, and providing informational resources to couples to support their partnership and protect them from discrimination.
Similarly, the Board has worked continuously to support transgender and gender non-conforming Westchester residents, eliminate gender-based discrimination, and to affirm all gender identities. At the Board’s recommendation, the County revised its Human Rights Law in 2009 to expand the definition of gender to include gender identity and extend protections to transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. The law used similar language to the County’s 2008 Fair Housing Act, which had prohibited housing discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
The Board has met and worked closely with other Westchester LGBTQ+ community-based organizations to meaningfully engage with the community and connect them with necessary resources. In partnership with these groups, the Board has continued to supply the community with information through literature distribution and the County’s website. Over the years, the Board has coordinated with other groups to organize events for the community, such as town halls and awards ceremonies, Westchester Colleges and Universities Summits, and the PrideWorks conference for middle and high school students. Along with 13 LGBTQ+ nonprofit groups, the Board formed a coalition in 2009 to create Westchester Pride, an annual celebration during Pride Month.
In recent years, the Board has continued its active role in the lives of the Westchester County LGBTQ+ population. The Board was instrumental in creating a countywide ban on the destructive practice of conversion therapy in 2019, prohibiting the destructive practice months before a ban on the state level. In 2021, the Board, joined by County Executive Latimer, recognized the International Transgender Day of Visibility for the first time in county history. Continuing the previous successes of the Board in supporting transgender and gender non-conforming Westchester residents, the event encouraged county employees and other professionals to share their pronouns in email signatures and other introductory communications, making the workplace in Westchester more inclusive of all identities.
With the full support of the County, and a new role as a county board, the Advisory Board looks forward to continuing its service to the Westchester LGBTQ+ community.
Make sure you have a safety net of legal documents including wills, health care proxies, adoption and parenting agreements. These resources can help you be prepared.
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley - LGBTQ Legal Project
LSHV provides free civil legal services to those LGBTQ individuals who cannot afford an attorney in a wide array of civil legal services throughout Westchester County. Call (877) 574-8529 to obtain assistance.
Lambda Legal Help Desk
During Help Desk hours, Lambda Legal staff respond directly to people who are seeking legal information and assistance with sexual orientation-related and HIV/AIDS-related discrimination. Phone: (212) 809-8585
National Center for Lesbian Rights
NCLR is a national legal resource center which primarily focuses on the rights of lesbians and their families. Resources are also provided to gay men, and bisexual and transgendered individuals on key issues. The Web site offers downloads of essential legal documents for protecting relationships and parenting arrangements
2008 Law Expands Access to Family Court
This law (Chapter 326, Laws of New York, 2008) amends the definition of "members of the same family or household," providing protections to victims of domestic violence who were formerly not covered by the 1994 NYS Family Protection and Domestic Violence Act, expanding access to civil orders of protection to persons in same-sex relationships, teens, unmarried co-habitants without children legally in common and others in intimate relationships. Pace Women's Justice Center can provide in-depth explanations.
Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force
LGIRTF is a coalition that addresses the impact of discriminatory immigration laws on the lives of those in the LGBT community and immigrants who are living with HIV/AIDS.
Service Members Legal Defense Network
SLDN is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and related forms of intolerance. Call (800) 538-7418 for free, confidential legal counseling.
Westchester County has assembled a variety of resources to connect you with local LGBTQ communities. These resources include hotline numbers, websites, support groups and services, and advocacy groups.
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning, or LGBTQ, community in Westchester is as diverse as the general population. We live in all parts of the county, have varied family structures, work at different types of jobs and come from myriad racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Some of us live as totally open lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and queer or questioning people — others remain in the closet for fear of reprisal. What we all have in common is the desire to be treated as equal citizens in our daily lives.
State tax filing for same-sex couples
A growing number of states now allow same-sex couples to file joint returns. However, with this right, comes tax complications for qualifying couples. To understand New York State filings for same-sex couples, go to www.tax.ny.gov, and enter "same-sex couples" in the Search Tax field.
2008 New State law amendment
In 2008, a New York State law amended the definition of “members of the same family or household.” This same law expanded access to family court to help all victims of domestic violence. See the Legal Help section for more information.
The Family Justice Center helps victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking to find safety, protection from their abuser, legal help, counseling and other free services from the center’s professionals and volunteers. With all the services in one secure location -- the Westchester County Courthouse complex in White Plains -- victims no longer have to go from place to place, re-telling and re-living their stories of abuse with each agency or provider.
The LGBTQ liaison to the County Executive's office is Steve Bass. He may be contacted by phone at (914) 995-2914.
LGBTQ Advisory Board
Since 2002, Westchester County has had a citizens’ advisory board to advise the County Executive on issues important to LGBTQ communities. Recommendations from the board may be in the areas of legislation, services, programs, funding, or anything else the advisors deem appropriate.
Current board members
Members of the board include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning, and supportive allies, with a broad range of experiences. They are a diverse group of people who are businesspeople, non-profit managers, entrepreneurs, parents, educators and students.
The members are:
Rachel Simon (She/Her/Hers/They/Them/Theirs), Chair
Bruno S Villazhinay Matute (He/Him/His)
Daniel Charles (He/Him/His)
Sam Gomez-Despain (He/Him/His/Él)
Chris Oldi (He/Him/His)
Joann Prinzivalli (She/Her/Hers)
Honorable Michael Sabatino (He/Him/His)
Robyn Schlesinger (She/Her/Hers)
Cade Schwark (He/They)
Jim Stenerson (He/Him/His/They/Them/Theirs)
James Young (He/Him/His/They/Them/Theirs)
Jade Gabrielle-Amanda Watts (They/Them/Theirs)