Harry B. Bronson

Rochester Business Journal Staff//June 30, 2023//

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Assemblymember, District 138, NYS Assembly

Years in current role: 13

What do you enjoy most about your position in your company and/or your role in the community?

Advocating for and serving my community. I always say, “No matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, what your abilities, who you love, how you identify — everyone deserves dignity and respect.” This principle has guided my policymaking.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish before the end of the year?

This year established several policies to protect LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. We passed the Trans Safe Haven Act, which I sponsored in the Assembly, and am very proud of. We also passed the LGBTQ Long-Term Bill of Rights, which protects against gender- and sexuality-based discrimination in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. We established policies to support LGBTQ+ young people and expanded mental health options for our community as well. Overall I am very proud of what I’ve done this year, and how it will impact our community now and for the foreseeable future. These measures are about equity and continuing to normalize our existence and experiences.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome in your career?

The fight for NY’s Marriage Equality Act, which passed in 2011. This was landmark legislation, and really paved the way for other states to legalize marriage equality.

What are your favorite things about the Rochester area?

Of course I have to say Equal=Grounds Coffee House, which I co-own with my husband John White Bronson. My favorite thing about Rochester is that we have it all — a vibrant urban lifestyle, culturally unique villages and towns, and close proximity to outdoor recreation, whether it’s the waterfront or the woods.

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing Rochester?

Poverty is without a doubt the number one challenge facing our city, and a lot of it comes down to opportunity and equity. As Chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Economic Development, I am focused on increasing job opportunities. Economic development is workforce development. We need increased opportunity for people to join the workforce, and obtain well-paying, stable jobs that will support their families and move them out of poverty. We start by investing in programs to provide training, education and apprenticeships for our young people and those who have been left out of the workforce. We are making strides, but we need to do more to recognize the impact.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power List for LGBTQ+ Business Leaders for 2023. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.