Biography
State Senator Thomas K. Duane represents New York's 29th State Senatorial District, which includes the Upper West Side, Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, Greenwich Village, and parts of the East Side, including the East Village, Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, and Waterside Plaza. First elected to the State Senate in 1998, he became the Senate's first openly-gay and first openly HIV-positive member. Prior to his election to the State Senate, Duane served for seven years in the New York City Council.Senator Duane serves as Assistant Minority Leader for Policy and Administration; a role which requires him to lead the Democratic conference on the floor of the New York State Senate chamber. Senator Duane is also a member of the Senate Codes, Civil Service and Pensions, Finance, Health, Judiciary and Rules Committees.In his work on these committees and on the floor of the Senate, Senator Duane is a strong and effective advocate for those New Yorkers who normally do not have a voice in the halls of government. He fights for the rights of tenants and for the availability of affordable housing; is a defender of a woman's right to choose; committed to full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered New Yorkers; an activist for parks and open space and protecting the environment; a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the terrible stigma and misunderstandings that surround this public health problem; and is tireless in his efforts to make sure that New York City is no longer short-changed in allocations of State funding for education, transportation, and other services. He is also a strong supporter of legislative, governmental, and campaign finance reform.During his time in the Senate, Duane's accomplishments include securing passage of the Hate Crimes Protection Act that increases penalties and requires statewide tracking of hate crimes. He also fought for passage of the Work Study Internship bill, allowing public assistance recipients to fulfill their workfare requirements at schools they attend so they can pursue an education. Duane has also been instrumental in passing landmark clinic access, gun control, healthcare protection, and sexual assault reform legislation.During the 2002 legislative session, Senator Duane worked hard for passage of the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act (SONDA). After a 31-year struggle, SONDA passed both houses of the legislature and was signed into law by the Governor. Unfortunately, New Yorkers of transgendered experience were not explicitly referenced in the bill, but Senator Duane is continuing the fight to ban discrimination for all New Yorkers.In 2006, Senator Duane led the fight for the passage of "Timothy's Law"; a comprehensive piece of legislation which requires health insurance companies to provide mental health parity so that those suffering from mental health illnesses receive comprehensive coverage and treatment. Senator Duane was also instrumental in the passage of "Manny's Law" which requires hospitals to disclose to indigent patients the availability of New York State funds to cover the cost of medical treatment.A former Ranking Member of both the Senate Codes and Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee, Senator Duane fights for reforming New York's criminal laws, such as repealing the draconian Rockefeller Drug laws and the restoration of parole. Senator Duane is a staunch advocate for humane prison conditions and works to ensure that inmates housed in New York Correctional Facilities are treated fairly and receive proper medical and mental health care. Senator Duane takes this role seriously, annually visiting several of New York's correctional facilities.In his home district, Senator Duane is in the forefront in the fight against over-development and a strong proponent of neighborhood self-determination and involvement in urban planning. He works to reduce traffic congestion, improve the quality of the lives of his constituents, and ensure safe streets. His number one priority is to help the thousands of his constituents every year who face eviction, harassment, or have difficulty getting public assistance, and to try to make New York a better place to live in ways great and small.A resident of Chelsea since 1976, Duane was elected to four terms as Male Democratic District Leader in the 64th Assembly District beginning in 1982. Duane also served for seven years on his local community board. Born in 1955 at the old French Hospital on 30th Street in Chelsea, Duane was raised in Queens, and is a lifelong New Yorker. He attended Lehigh University, where he earned a degree in Urban Studies and American Studies.