In photo: (From left to right front row - Borough Hall Chief of Staff Michael Burke, Democratic District leader Elizabeth Rose Daly, Democratic District Leader Alan Fleishman, former LAMDA President Bethany Joseph, Borough President Markowitz and Borough Hall Community Liaison Dorothy Derringer. Back row far left - Councilman Bill DeBlasio & many others including Community Board 6 Chairwoman Irene Lo Re)

Borough President Marty Markowitz raised the Rainbow flag for the first time over Borough Hall in celebration of the passage of the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act legislation, which adds sexual orientation to the categories covered in the state’s anti-discrimination law. Borough Hall joins Albany and other City Halls across the state in commemorating this momentous occasion by flying the flag of the lesbian/gay/bi-sexual/transgender community.

“My long-term support of SONDA is well known. This is one occasion when I wish I was still a senator, so that I could finally have cast my vote,” Borough President Markowitz said. “I look forward to congratulating my former colleagues in the New York State Senate for endorsing this important legislation, and to Governor Pataki for fulfilling his promise to sign it into law. I particularly want to commend our Brooklyn representatives in the Senate, and all those in the Assembly who, for the past several years, have supported this legislation. Our country is based on a guarantee of equal rights for all of its people, and SONDA is a significant step in that direction. I will continue to urge the New York State legislature to follow the lead of New York City, and work towards human rights protections for all of our citizens by passing an amendment to include gender identity and expression.”