STONEWALL DEMOCRATS of Western New York

PO Box 857, Buffalo, NY 14205 Website: www.sdwny.org

OFFICERS June 5, 2010

Bryan Ball Dear Senator Schneiderman,
President

Kitty Lambert Stonewall Democrats of Western New York is the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
Vice President
Community Outreach
transgender (LGBT) Democratic voice in western New York, working to elect
Democrats who are supportive on LGBT and other progressive issues important
Bruce Kogan to our community.
Vice President
Party Outreach
Our endorsement process for the 2010 election season is currently underway. As a
Ronald Groth candidate for NYS Attorney General, we are interested in your candidacy. We
Treasurer
would like to provide you with the opportunity to engage in our process for
Thomas Peglowski endorsement by Stonewall Democrats of WNY. As you may know, an
Secretary endorsement from Stonewall Democrats of WNY is important to many local
LGBT community members, as well as our family, friends and supporters, as they
decide whether to volunteer for particular campaigns and as they prepare to head
for the polls to cast their vote.

To be considered for endorsement, please complete and return the enclosed

questionnaire to us by Friday, June 18, 2010, so that we may consider
endorsement for the NYS Legislature at our next meeting. In addition, please
submit a cover letter that I may present to our membership in order to consider
endorsement.

The completed questionnaire should be either emailed to info@sdwny.org,

faxed to (716) 853-2448 (Attention: Bryan Ball, Stonewall Democrats of
WNY) or mailed to:
Attention: Endorsement/GOTV Committee
Stonewall Democrats of WNY
PO Box 857
Buffalo, NY 14205

You should also be aware that our revised endorsement process is attached.
Should you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact
us. We thank you and look forward to receiving your completed questionnaire for
consideration for endorsement by Stonewall Democrats of WNY.

Sincerely,

Bryan Glenn Ball

President
Candidates for elected office who wish to be considered for endorsement must complete our
questionnaire and schedule an interview appointment with the membership at a general meeting.

Endorsement of a candidate requires a vote of sixty percent of the membership present at that meeting. If
no candidate receives the required sixty percent vote for endorsement, subsequent ballots shall be taken
deleting the candidate receiving the least number of votes or no votes on the previous ballot.

If, after the completion of balloting, no candidate has received the sixty percent of the vote required,
candidates may be rated as “acceptable,” “unacceptable,” or “no position,” depending upon the
candidate’s record and/or position statements. If sixty percent of those voting cannot agree on a rating,
the candidate will be assigned the rating of “no consensus.”

If a candidate is endorsed, the remaining candidates will not be rated.

Stonewall Democrats WNY – NYS Attorney General Questionnaire 2010, page 2

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS of Western New York
PO Box 857, Buffalo, NY 14205 Website: www.sdwny.com

2010 ENDORSEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE – NYS ATTORNEY GENERAL

Name: Eric Schneiderman

Campaign Address: 131 Varick Street, Suite 924, New York, NY 10013

Daytime Phone: 212-242-5301 Evening Phone:________________________

Fax Number: 212-242-5303 E-mail: schneiderman@schneiderman.org

Office Sought: New York State Attorney General

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Before you continue, please understand that:
• Stonewall Democrats of WNY may publicize your responses in press releases and voters’ guides, on our
web site, and via other channels of communication. Stonewall Democrats of WNY will also identify
candidates who fail to respond to this questionnaire.
• Stonewall Democrats of WNY will hold you publicly accountable for actions inconsistent with your
responses during your campaign and if elected during your term in office.
• Stonewall Democrats of WNY will not consider for endorsement any candidate if she or he supports any
state or federal version of Defense of Marriage (DOMA) legislation.
• Stonewall Democrats of WNY will not consider endorsement of any candidate if they advertise on or
support any homophobic website, including but not limited to, politicswny.com/politicsny.net.

Part 1:

Please submit your typewritten responses to the following questions on a separate sheet.

1.) Why are you running for a New York State Attorney General, and what qualifies you for the
position?

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, disability, sexual orientation or
identity; Independent Justice without regard to political or special interests; and Progressive
Justice that takes an activist approach to protecting everyday New Yorkers.

Out of the many challenges our state faces right now, we have an opportunity to set a progressive
example here in New York and show the rest of the country what’s best about America. This is
not the time for small ideas, sitting on the sidelines or going along to get along; this is the time
for innovation and for thinking big.

The pursuit of justice and fairness has always been my motivation. I started my career as a
Deputy Sheriff in Massachusetts, where I launched the first comprehensive drug and alcohol

Stonewall Democrats WNY – NYS Attorney General Questionnaire 2010, page 3

 treatment program at the local jail. I went to law school, clerked in the federal court, entered
private practice and eventually became a partner in a major law firm. During those years, I also
represented local community groups and developed innovative legal tools to evict drug dealers
and clean up crack houses. I defended access to reproductive clinics when they were under siege
by Operation Rescue and other anti-choice extremist groups. And I was the lead attorney for the
NYPIRG Straphangers campaign on behalf of taxpayers in a series of historic lawsuits to stop
the MTA’s abuses.

When it became clear that my heart was in public interest work, I ran for the state Senate. I was
elected as a reformer and have fought for change ever since, even when the Republican leaders
cut off my office supplies and then tried to redistrict me out of a job. I have never shied away
from taking on the powers that be – whether in Albany or anywhere else.

And, when no one said we could do it, I fought to end the unjust Rockefeller Drug Laws that
were an economic and moral threat to every New Yorker. I fought to pass the toughest-in-the-
nation laws against drunk driving, and I’m leading the effort to strengthen our state’s protections
for victims of domestic violence and to pass common-sense gun laws that make our communities
safer.

I believe that my experience, commitment to Democratic values and ability to unite the diverse
coalition it takes to compete and win in every corner of this state make me the best candidate in
the race for Attorney General.

2.) What do you believe are the most important issues facing the Attorney General’s office? What are
your top priorities in addressing these issues?

People are sick of a political system that’s driven by well-connected lobbyists and special
interests; disillusioned by an economic system that has one set of rules for the powerful and
another for everyone else. By a financial crisis that has wrecked communities upstate and down,
and left confidence in our institutions at an all time low.

One of the most damaging consequences of the Bush era is that people in our country have lost
faith in our country’s large institutions, and in the idea that there is one set of rules for everyone.
I strongly believe that it will be the job of New York’s next Attorney General to restore the
public’s confidence in our state’s institutions, whether public or private, to ensure that that every
day New Yorkers get a fair shake in this economy, and transform the criminal justice system to
keep our streets safe and our communities whole.

As Attorney General, one of my first priorities will be to police the private sector to make sure
all of New York’s industries play by the same set of rules as its citizens. My office will
aggressively prosecute mortgage fraud and go after fraudulent debt collectors and abusive
insurance companies. I look forward to enforcing the pro-consumer reforms passed in the new
national health care bill. Furthermore, my office will aggressively pursue companies that steal
from their workers by not paying the minimum wage, overtime pay, or the prevailing wage.

During my tenure as Attorney General, I will continue to use the Martin Act to investigate the
corporations and individuals that have caused New York’s economy to flounder and prosecute

Stonewall Democrats WNY – NYS Attorney General Questionnaire 2010, page 4

 those bad actors who continue to steal from the working families of our state. However, under
current federal and New York State law, it is difficult, if not impossible, for pension funds to sue
to recoup their losses if they are defrauded by unscrupulous Wall Street banks. I am the sponsor
of legislation that amends the Martin act to allow shareholders of mutual funds, the State
retirement system and union pension funds who were duped out of billions of dollars to get their
day in court and have the chance to recover lost funds. I will use my office as Attorney General
to secure its passage.

I am also the sponsor of the New York Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, legislation that
would expand the New York False Claims Act, and thereby expand the ability of the Office of
the Attorney General to go after corporations that defraud the state of taxpayer dollars and
recover those stolen funds. Those corporations may be government contractors receiving federal
stimulus dollars to repair roads and bridges or providers of Medicaid services. I hope to pass this
legislation during this year’s session and, as Attorney General, I will use it as a tool to go after
those who defraud the government of taxpayer dollars and to recover those dollars at a time
when our state is in fiscal crisis.

The second issue my office will focus on is public integrity. The Public Integrity Unit of the
Attorney General’s office investigates government officials, private individuals, and businesses
that attempt to use local or state government to enrich themselves from the pocketbooks of
taxpayers. I pledge to appoint at least one public integrity officer in each regional office whose
sole purpose will be to investigate local, regional and state government corruption. New Yorkers
need their faith in government restored. Further, I will continue and expand the innovative
programs started by Attorney General Cuomo, like Project Sunlight, which bring important
information about legislative activity, campaign finance, lobbying, state contracts, and
corporations, out of the shadows and into the light of day. My focus will be on ending pay to
play politics and the fraud that is siphoning off our precious taxpayer dollars. As a state senator, I
have always stood up against public corruption and for reform in Albany. This year, I was the
sponsor of the most sweeping ethics reform legislation to pass the state legislature in a
generation. I was also the Chair of the Special Committee that investigated and recommended
the expulsion of Senator Hiram Monserrate for domestic violence.

Lastly, I will implement my smart-on-crime agenda to keep our communities safe, while
transforming New York’s criminal justice system. My office will lead an “I-95” coalition of
state attorneys general, and state and local law enforcement agencies, to share and track data on
gun crimes and gun sales between states—the only way to keep illegal guns off New York’s
streets and stop gang violence. I will use the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force
to go after the multi-county drug gangs and will place an “Actual Innocence Officer” in the Civil
Rights Bureau to review cases where there is strong evidence of a wrongful conviction.

In addition to these three priorities, I also believe that the next NYS Attorney General has a
tremendous role to play in protecting an expanding the civil rights of all New Yorkers, including
and especially New York’s LGBT community. As New York’s Attorney General, I am
committed to the following:

Fighting for Marriage Equality &

The Constitutional Rights Of LGBT New Yorkers

Stonewall Democrats WNY – NYS Attorney General Questionnaire 2010, page 5

 As Attorney General, I will take a stand whenever marriage equality or other denied
constitutional rights are at issue. Accordingly, I will:

· Join the ongoing fight in the courts against the federal government to overturn the ill-named
and unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act. Eric will also join a challenge to the military’s
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy and the FDA’s discriminatory, outdated and irrational ban on blood
donations from men who have sex with men.

· Take a national leadership role by heading a coaltion of state Attorneys General to promote
marriage equality in New York State and nationwide.

· Aggressively crack down on any state agency or private sector business operating in New
York that does not provide full spousal benefits to same-sex couples married out-of-state.

· Actively push Congress to pass the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA),
and oppose any efforts to remove transgender rights from the legislation.

Protecting the Civil Rights of LGBT New Yorkers

The Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau has dozens of prosecutors and investigators
dedicated to enforcing civil rights laws. I will unleash the resources of this bureau to fully protect
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender New Yorkers. This means:

· Fighting job and housing discrimination. There have always been those who downplay the
issue of discrimination against LGBT New Yorkers. Many have wrongfully assumed that most
LGBT New Yorkers would stay “in the closet” rather than risk discrimination. Law enforcement
agencies are also content to rely on victims filing lawsuits to fight LGBT discrimination, while
reserving state action for more traditional civil rights actions.

I do not believe in this wrongheaded, outdated and failed approach. Accordingly, as Attorney
General, I will not just fight discrimination when it shows up in the newspapers or in court
records. I will actively investigate corporations and industries where discrimination or hostile
workplaces exist for LGBT New Yorkers, and he will invite LGBT and civil rights leaders to
report any incidents to the Attorney General’s office. Furthermore, I will not only fight for
individual victims, but he will work to achieve industrywide reforms so that all forms of
discrimination, including hostile work environments for LGBT workers, are eliminated.

· Enforcing equality in the hospital room. New civil rights laws that impose obligations on
businesses are those that most need quick, effective and “loud” law enforcement action so that
the protections embodied in the law become a reality. Recent victories at the state and federal
level to ensure that LGBT patients are allowed to have their loved ones visit them in the hospital
room or make critical medical decisions when necessary are no exception.

This year, the state passed — with my longtime support — the Family Health Care Decisions
Act. This act allows LGBT partners to make important medical decisions in the event of a
partner’s incapacitation. And President Obama recently announced that all hospitals receiving
federal Medicare and Medicaid dollars must not discriminate against sexual orientation or gender
identity when allowing hospital visitation. These recent laws must be vigorously enforced. As

Stonewall Democrats WNY – NYS Attorney General Questionnaire 2010, page 6

 Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman will aggressively fight any intentional or negligent policies
or practices that violate the letter or spirit of these LGBT patient protection laws.

Of course, with marriage equality, these laws would not be necessary – and that’s why Eric will
keep fighting for full marriage rights for all New Yorkers.

Protecting LGBT New Yorkers from Hate Crimes and Violence

The targeting of gays and lesbians for violence and abuse is, and always has been, a hate crime. I
also believe it is a civil rights violation and that institutions — including schools and local
governments — that encourage or allow anti-LGBT bullying or hostile environments to LGBT
New Yorkers are breaking our civil rights laws. As Attorney General, I will:

· Prosecute hate crimes as a civil rights violation if necessary. Eric will prosecute hate crimes
as civil rights violations if local district attorneys fail to do their jobs to put people who commit
violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender New Yorkers (or those who the perpetrator
thinksmight be an LGBT New Yorker) behind bars.

· Sue schools that ignore anti-LGBT bullying or harassment. Eric Schneiderman believes that
it is a civil right for LGBT youth to be educated in a safe environment. Yet, too often school
officials look the other way at bullying or excessive taunting of LGBT students, or students
perceived as LGBT students by their peers. In the worst cases, such bullying has led LGBT
students to tragic outcomes, including suicide. Eric Schneiderman has four words for bullies and
school administrators that allow such bullying: NOT in New York!

· Examine prisons, especially juvenile prisons, to address the sexual abuse of LGBT
prisoners. There is a huge and generally not-discussed national problem with sexual abuse of
LGBT inmates, including young inmates in juvenile detention centers. Recent research has
documented a "catastrophically high rate" of sexual victimization of LGBT inmates, including
youth offenders. Many prisons not only fail to protect these inmates, but also do not take their
reports of sexual abuse seriously and even blame them for their own victimization.

I also believe that New York State cannot tolerate sexual abuse in its prisons, especially when
LGBT inmates are so clearly targeted. Such abuse is not only immoral, but illegal. As Attorney
General, Eric will work not only to examine the problem of prison-rape and the sexual assault of
LGBT inmates in New York, but also work in concert with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder
and civil rights advocates to develop a standard to protect the safety of LGBT inmates.

Addressing the HIV/AIDS Crisis

The war against HIV/AIDS has many fronts. One of these fronts is law enforcement. I believe
the Attorney General can — and must — have an impact in this fight. The following are my
priorities when it comes to addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis:

· End price gauging of anti-AIDS drugs by drug manufacturers. This year, the largest US
HIV/AIDS health care providers charged Merck Pharmaceuticals with price-gouging its AIDS
treatment Isentress and banned the drug giant's sales representatives from its US-based AIDS
clinics, or from contacting doctors in its clinics. Other drug companies have been similarly
implicated in AIDS drug pricing schemes.

Stonewall Democrats WNY – NYS Attorney General Questionnaire 2010, page 7

 I believe the Attorney General must investigate, sue, and potentially prosecute drug companies
that engage in price-gouging of AIDS medications.

· End false marketing of AIDS medications or cures. Two decades after the height of the
AIDS crisis, AIDS patients are still vulnerable to false marketing scams and drug marketing
schemes. Serono Laboratories, Abbott Laboratories, and others have all been found in the past to
have exploited the real hope of AIDS patients with false hype over their AIDS medications.

I will ensure that the Attorney General’s office, through the consumer frauds bureau and the
powerful Medicaid fraud control unit, will continue to be a national leader in the fight against
such schemes. Eric knows that until we all win the fight against AIDS, we cannot let our guard
down in the fight against AIDS-related scams and rip-offs.

3.) Why are you seeking the endorsement of the Stonewall Democrats of WNY?

I strongly respect the mission and the values of this club, including marriage equality, and am actively
seeking partners in the effort to aggressively fight to fulfill the state and federal constitutional principle
that all people are equal under the law.

4.) Do you believe that bias affects our justice system, particularly in areas such as domestic violence
and custody/visitation issues involving LGBT individuals? If so, how do you propose to eliminate
this?

I believe there is bias in our justice system; and it is not only immoral, but illegal. The way to
eliminate bias is to expose it, and the Office of the Attorney General is well equipped to do that.
In the past, the Attorney General has, for example, exposed bias in police procedures with a
groundbreaking report highlighting discriminatory "stop and frisk" policies. I would look to
expose justice system bias wherever it may exists.

5.) Do any of the organizations, associations or clubs to which you belong prohibit or limit membership
on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, national origin or gender
identity?

No.

6.) What is your experience with the LGBT community both generally and professionally? As an
attorney, have you ever represented clients involved with LGBT issues?

In the past decade, I have a formed a strong relationship with groups like the Stonewall Democrats of
New York City, the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA) and Marriage Equality New York. I worked
closely with many of these groups as we passed the Hate Crimes Bill and the Sexual Orientation Non-
Discrimination Act, and will continue to work with these groups as we work to achieve victories for
Marriage Equality, GENDA and the Dignity for All Students Act.

I have never had the opportunity to represent a client in a courtroom involved with LGBT issues, but have
been very outspoken in support of LGBT issues on the floor of the State Senate, and as an activist.

7.) Will gender identity or sexual orientation be a consideration in staffing and hiring decisions in your
office?

Stonewall Democrats WNY – NYS Attorney General Questionnaire 2010, page 8

 My office has always employed senior staff members who are part of the LGBT community —including
three past Chiefs of Staff, my current communications director, my longtime legislative director, and
members of my committee staff. I am committed to hiring smart, competent individuals that will
represent New Yorkers, and I’m confident that this will include members from the LGBT community
within my office in the future.

8.) What kind of support would you like to have from the LGBT community if you win your primary?
Before?

I am committed to building a strong coalition of groups and individuals committed to equal justice. In the
past decade, I have a formed a strong relationship with groups like the Stonewall Democrats of New York
City, the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA) and Marriage Equality New York. If elected, I will work
closely with these, and other LGBT groups and organizations, to address the discrimination that currently
exists, and will rely on the passion and commitment to justice from within the LGBT community in order
to push an affirmative agenda that promotes equality.

Before the election, I would be honored to have support from members and groups within the LGBT
community, helping to deliver my vision of equal, independent and progressive justice to voters across
the state. Of all the candidates in the race for Attorney General, I have the longest and most extensive
history working as a champion of LGBT issues, and I will continue to be an activist and inclusive leader
going forward.

9.) Stonewall Democrats of Western New York strongly believes that candidates have a responsibility
to provide voters with truthful, fair and clean campaigns for public office and to conduct her or
himself in a manner conducive to a civil, issue-oriented debate with their fellow candidates. Would
you sign a written pledge to conduct your campaign accordingly?

This campaign should be about issues, and I would sign a pledge if asked.

10.) If endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of WNY, will you list the endorsement on any applicable
campaign literature (i.e.: all literature listing any other organizational endorsements)?

Yes. I have already received the endorsement from the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, Lambda
Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats and the Lesbian and Gay
Democratic Club of Queens. I am very proud to have these endorsements, and they are currently listed on
my campaign website.

I have also been endorsed by a number of openly LGBT elected officials and community leaders,
including NYC City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, former Attorney General Candidate Sean Patrick
Maloney, Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnnell, Assemblyman Micah Kellner, NYC Council Member
Jimmy Van Bramer, NYC Council Member Danny Dromm, and Democratic National Committeemember
Emily Giske.

11.) Would you seek endorsement of or advertise on any homophobic websites, including but not limited
to, politicswny.com/politicsny.net?

Yes No

12.) Have you advertised on, supported or intend to advertise on such websites for your election or
reelection?

Yes No

Stonewall Democrats WNY – NYS Attorney General Questionnaire 2010, page 9

I attest that this questionnaire represents my opinion of the issues on this questionnaire:

Candidate’s Signature:

Date: 6/18/10

Please complete the attached issues surveys, sign below and return questionnaire, surveys and your resume by
Friday, June 18, 2010 by either by email to info@sdwny.org, faxed to (716) 853-2448 (Attention:
Bryan Ball, Stonewall Democrats of WNY) or mailed to:
Attention: Endorsement/GOTV Committee
Stonewall Democrats of WNY
PO Box 857
Buffalo, NY 14205

Stonewall Democrats WNY – NYS Attorney General Questionnaire 2010, page 10