Senate Resolution No. 201

BY: Senator BRESLIN

HONORING Michael Cardom and Dr. Robert Cardom upon
the occasion of their designation as recipients of
the Paul Postiglione Youth Service Award by the
Pride Center of the Capital Region

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the profound impact of
those exemplary individuals within the great State of New York who
proactively work for the enfranchisement of minority communities, and
the importance of such work for the benefit of all citizens of this
State, and indeed, all citizens of the Nation; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Michael
Cardom and Dr. Robert Cardom upon the occasion of their designation as
recipients of the Paul Postiglione Youth Service Award by the Pride
Center of the Capital Region to be celebrated at its Annual Awards Gala
on Friday, October 19, 2018, at the Albany Capital Center, Albany, New
York; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious event benefits the Pride Center of the
Capital Region and celebrates the important contributions of individuals
who work hard to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community; Michael Cardom and Dr. Robert
Cardom are two such individuals; and

WHEREAS, Michael Cardom and Dr. Robert Cardom are receiving the Paul
Postiglione Youth Service Award for their work with youth, especially in
the LGBTQ community; and

WHEREAS, Robert, who is from the foothills of the northwest Georgia
mountains and Michael, who is from Lexington, Kentucky, met while Robert
was working on his PhD in Lexington; the couple married in August of
2013; and

WHEREAS, Still, they had to wait until the Supreme Court struck down
state-level marriage discrimination in July of 2016, before their
marriage was recognized in the Commonwealth of Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, Their desire to maintain safe, supportive spaces for LGBTQ
youth comes from a lack of such spaces in their own experience as gay
teens in the South; and

WHEREAS, Michael and Robert have been co-facilitators of the
Schenectady LGBTQ Youth Group since they moved to the Capital Region in
August of 2017; they were also involved in an LGBTQ youth group in
Lexington, where they facilitated group meetings, and helped to plan and
chaperone dances and trips; and

WHEREAS, Our society is greatly benefited by the purposeful efforts
of individuals who unite for the cause of improving the quality of life
for others, and who proactively work toward the goal of dignity for all;
and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Michael Cardom and Dr. Robert Cardom upon the occasion of their
designation as recipients of the Paul Postiglione Youth Service Award by
the Pride Center of the Capital Region; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Michael Cardom and Dr. Robert Cardom.