New York City Mayor Edward I. "Ed" Koch * 2010 SVA Supporters * New York-1 t.v. "Wise Guys"


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STONEWALL Veterans' Association
2010 S.V.A. Supporters

New York City Mayor-for-Life Edward I. Koch
(105th Mayor of New York City)
elected NYC Mayor in 1977 and re-elected in 1981 and 1985

=EIK webfile update=
Photo of Mayor Ed at his first "Summertime Party" at Gracie Mansion placed below at "1978"!

2010

Koch Kommentary: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Should Be Relegated To The Dustbin of History"

          "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" should be repealed by the Congress, as requested by President Barack Obama. Gays and lesbians should be permitted to serve in the United States armed forces without concealing their innate sexual orientation, as they do in 20 of the 26 NATO countries, including England, France and The Netherlands, as well as in Israel.

          Secretary of Defense Robert Gates testified before the Congress, according to The New York Times of February 24th, "that he was carrying out Mr. Obama's policy of moving to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'" But he also said, "any change in policy would require a deliberate review and cautioned that a Pentagon panel might take up to one year to study how to put into place any changes approved by Congress."

          Admiral Mike McMullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said on February 2nd, "It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do." Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, commenting on the proposed study, according to The Times, "asked whether it would be possible to suspend all discharges under the policy pending Congressional action that might repeal the ban."

          The Times reported on February 24th that there is no unanimity on this issue in the armed forces, stating, "The top generals from the Army and the Air Force expressed deep concern on Tuesday about moving rapidly to lift the ban on openly gay service members, saying it could make it harder for their forces to do their jobs while fighting two wars. The comments by General George W. Casey Jr., the Army chief of the staff, and General Norton A. Schwartz, the Air Force chief of staff, may provide political cover for members of Congress who oppose President Obama's call for repealing the policy known as 'don't ask, don't tell.'"

          It seems to me that Chairman Carl Levin's proposal of suspending discharges pending further congressional action is a rational, common sense approach. However, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" should be relegated to the dustbin of history -- the sooner the better!

Visit Mayor Ed Koch's popular film reviews:
*The Mayor* at The Movies"
www.MayorKoch.com

2009

Former Mayor Ed Koch as the Special Guest of New York Civic

Koch Stern Henderson

Williamson Henderson, Commish H.J. Stern and King Koch holding Court
[Photo by Salmon Thacker of New York Civic]

=weekly television show=
Mayor Ed Koch appears on television every Tuesday evening @ 7 p.m. and encores that night @ 10 p.m. on New York-1 television's weekly segment "Inside City Politics" on channel 1 in New York City. Mayor Ed's television teammate is former U.S. Senator Alphonse D'Amato. As a team, Ed and Al are known as "The Wise Guys".

Meeting with S.V.A. Founder Williamson Henderson

The most recent meeting between Mayor Koch and Williamson was on Friday, March 20, 2009. The get-together was at the mayor's law office on Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan.

Note to the S.V.A. from Mayor Ed Koch.

2008

Annual Letter from Mayor Koch to the S.V.A.

[Letter to the S.V.A. from Mayor Ed Koch shall be placed here soon!]

2007

The S.V.A. has Mayor Ed Koch's congratulatory letter for 2007; however, several letters from public officials and organizations were sent to our archives in our secure storage spece before they were posted on the S.V.A. website. They will be unearthed in mid-Summer 2008. Look for the letter and more to be posted!

2006

Ed Koch letter (2006)

Mayor Ed Koch's annual praise letter to and renewed support of the S.V.A. has been thoughtfully and appropriately received during Gay Pride Month. As always, we deeply thank and appreciate our longtime friend -- the international and the unique Mayor-for-life Ed Koch!

2005

2004 - Appreciation and Best Wishes from Mayor Ed Koch to the S.V.A. President Williamson Henderson

2004

2003 - Williamson receives Mayor Ed Koch's Holiday Greetings

2003 - Mayor Ed Koch's Personal Note to the S.V.A. Founder's Mother Helen Henderson

2003

2002 - Mayor Ed Koch Note to S.V.A. Director Williamson

2002 - Mayor Koch Note to S.V.A. Treasurer Terri Van Dyke

2002 - Special Visit to Mayor Ed from a Stonewall Mom

Native New Yorkers
[Photo by Jodi Getman]

Former New York City Mayor Edward Koch is visited at his scenic Avenue of the Americas in midtown Manhattan office by the STONEWALL Veterans' Association's Founder Williamson Henderson's mother, Helen Henderson, a Floridian now, but always glad to be back in New York, especially with her favorite mayor and her favorite son!!

2002

2002 - "Kotcha" Note to S.V.A. Director Williamson Henderson

2001

2000

Photo of Mayor Ed Koch with Mrs. Helen Henderson

Ed Koch and Helen H and WLH

Helen Henderson, Mayor Ed Koch and Williamson
[Photo by Koch executive assistant Miss Jodi Getman]

2000 - Annual Praise Letter from Mayor Koch to the S.V.A.

Note: Reproduced in lavender from the Stonewall NEWZLETTA
"New Millennium Gay Pride Edition" (2000) as this
letter was selected as one of "S.V.A.'s Top 5 Best Letters".

2000 - Mayor Edward Koch Letter to Williamson Henderson regarding Bella Abzug Statue

2000 - "Ed Koch" Newsday Column on the Bella Abzug Statue

[Reprinted from Newsday, July 14, 2000]

1999 - Mayor Ed Koch Note to S.V.A. Treasurer Terri Van Dyke

At the time Terri was living in The Bronx -- birthplace of Edward Koch

1998

1998 - PRIDE Democrats' Candidates Forum with Special Guest Speaker former Mayor Ed Koch

N.Y.C. Mayor Edward I. Koch

Special Guest Mayor Ed Koch with Williamson Henderson
[Photo by Liz J. Abzug]

Former New York City Mayor Edward I. Koch with the STONEWALL Veterans' Association ("S.V.A.") President Williamson Henderson. The internationally famous Mayor Ed Koch was first elected "Mayor" in 1977. Mayor Ed successfully and magnanimously served three terms from January 1, 1978 to December 31, 1989. In fact, the Mayor even had a very popular and candid number one book entitled -- what else -- "Mayor".

The candidates forum event here happened at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender ("GLBT") Community Services Center on West 13 Street in Manhattan, New York. The autumn date is Thursday, October 22, 1998 @ 7 p.m. The occasion was for sponsor PRIDE Democrats' "General Election Candidates' Forum". The event was the follow-up to the hugely successful, largest-ever candidates' forum, also sponsored by PRIDE Democrats, on Thursday, August 27, 1998. At that time, Mayor Ed's busy schedule had him elsewhere in America. However, the Mayor personally told Williamson to "....let him know when you have your next event and I'll be there!" True to his word, here he is: Mayor-for-Life Ed Koch! See the 'terrific' photo above. And, "How's he doin'?" Great! The forum was co-sponsored by the STONEWALL Veterans' Association, Gay Men of African Descent ("GMAD"), the Imperial QUEENS & Kings of Greater New York ("IQKNY"), Asians & Friends, the G.L.B.T. Political Coalition, Gay & Lesbian Hispanic Americans ("GLHA"), the Millennium Triangle Democratic Club ("MTDC"), the Stonewall Car Club ("SCC") and others -- a very real diversity! Mayor Koch is the one and the only S.V.A. Honorary Male Chairperson since the beginning of the organization and has also been the S.V.A. Honorary Project Chairperson.

Mayor Ed was, of course, the big star of the show and every candidate so acknowledged. And what greater and internationally known Democrat in New York City history than Mayor Koch? None! And, yes, the event was part show biz. The members of the Imperial QUEENS attending did not come in tuxedoes! In fact, Mayor Ed was first welcomed by the grand Duchess Rayette of the transgender group IQKNY. Plus, it was media savvy; several journalists attended. Candidate speakers included: Judge Karen Burstein as the dynamic surrogate speaker for U.S. Senate general election candidate Charles Schumer; Eliot L. Spitzer for N.Y.S. Attorney General; H. Carl McCall for re-election as N.Y.S. Comptroller; Sandra Frankel (in a bright red dress) for N.Y.S. Lieutenant Governor; and four candidates for the New York City Council 3rd District (Greenwich Village and Chelsea), namely, openly-Gay District Leader/Stonewall vet Aubrey Lees, un-openly-Gay McManus Democratic Club President Carl Manzano, openly-Gay former N.Y.C. Department of Transportation Commissioner and current Tax Commissioner (both in Mayor Rudy's administration) Christopher Lynn, a longtime supporter of the IQKNY, and openly-Gay S.V.A. non-supporter Christine Quinn. In this Council contest, Mayor Ed endorsed Chris.... Lynn!

Due to a hectic election schedule, Mayor Ed's longtime colleague and friend Peter Vallone, Sr., missed this one; however, he was the first of the 24 candidate speakers at the August 27 event. Both forums were sponsored by PRIDE Democrats under the leadership of Williamson Henderson and both forums were hosted by PRIDE and S.V.A.'s President Williamson. By the way, which candidate did Mayor Koch speak on behalf of? He didn't come just to be nice and have chicken soup (we didn't have any). The Mayor spoke candidly, very effectively and rather sincerely for the re-election of his longtime Republican friend U.S. Senator Alphonse "Al" D'Amato and, crossing Democratic party lines again, for Republican N.Y.S. Governor George Pataki. Mayor Koch is a quintessential and independent New Yorker and is unequivocably unique and truly special.

1997

1996

1978

Mayor Ed Koch Hosts his first "Summertime Party" at his Manhattan Mansion

Ed Koch Williamson Gracie Mansion 1978

Klassic Koch with Williamson Henderson at Gracie Mansion
[Photo by SVA's Leigh McManus in July of 1978]

1977

[Photos of Ed Koch's N.Y.C. Mayor Run-Off Election Night victory!]

19 June
2010


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