With Patience and Fortitude: A Memoir (18 page)

It’s official! The 1999 swearing-in for new members of the City Council.
From left to right, with hands raised:
Michael Nelson, James Oddo, and me. Witnessing are former City Council Minority Leader Thomas Ognibene
(far left)
and the former Speaker of the City Council Peter Vallone Sr.
(far right)
.

Dan Luhmann

Marching in the New York City LGBT Pride parade during Hillary Clinton’s first run for the United States Senate in June 2000. It was like being with a rock star!
From left to right:
former mayor Ed Koch (deceased), State Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, former City Councilman Phil Reid (deceased), Hillary Clinton, and me.

For the 1992 Democratic National Convention, I got together with friends, including Laura Morrison, and members of the Gay & Lesbian Independent Democrats (a Democratic club serving New York County) to make posters (from this silkscreen). We handed them out to LGBT delegates as they entered the convention hall so for the first time ever there would be a visible LGBT presence on the convention floor.

My father came to Dublin with me in 2007, and we marched in that city’s St. Patrick’s parade (wearing Irish/LGBT stickers). Maybe we’ll get to do that one day in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade!

On a hayride with Kim in New Jersey, 2002.

On vacation in western Canada, summer 2004.

Sadie’s first night with us, and she was right at home, 2002.

Meeting President Bill Clinton with my father and sister at the White House Christmas party, December 2000.

White House photos

Celebrating pride with President Barack Obama at the White House, June 2012, where we spoke with him about the fact that he’d announced support for marriage equality during the week of our wedding. No president has done more for the LGBT community!

White House photos

Relaxing after a press conference on an East River ferry with Mayor Michael Bloomberg where we discussed expanded service, 2010.

Spencer Tucker

As Speaker of the City Council, I deliver an annual State of the City Address. Here I am on February 11, 2013, delivering my final address as Speaker.

William Alatriste

March, 10, 2013: Announcing my run for New York City mayor, across the street from Good Shepherd Church, where my parents were married, surrounded by my family, friends, and supporters, including Kim’s father, Kim, my father, Ellen, our grand-nephew Jase, and our grand-niece Jordan.

William Alatriste