Tom Duane - photo by PhilipRobertson

After what will be 14 years as part of the New York State Senate, Senator Tom Duane, 57, has “decided that it is time for a new chapter” in his life. In a statement released Monday, Duane announced that he does not intend to run for an eighth term.

“The fight never ends,” Duane said in his statement, “On January 1^st, while I may no longer be a Senator, I will continue to be an activist and an advocate. I will hold those positions for life.”

Grabbing headlines as the first openly-gay member of the Senate, Duane, also openly HIV-positive, is best known for his efforts to help the gay community. He was an influential voice in the effort for the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York and the promotion of accessible HIV testing. While much of his focus was on medical issues and healthcare protection, Duane also headed efforts to eliminate bullying in schools, to eliminate statutes of limitations in sex crime laws, and to bring light to sex trafficking.

Below are a few of Duane’s noteworthy political achievements:

• In 2001 Duane proposed the Marriage Equality Act and, after a decade fighting for its approval, was finally successful when it was enacted in 2011
• In 2006, Timothy’s Law, strongly supported by Duane, was passed and helps mentally ill patients avoid discrimination from insurance companies
• In 2007, with Duane assuring that key elements of it were passed, Manny’s Law, which requires hospitals to tell all patients of the funds available to them, came into effect
• In 2009, the Dignity for All Students Act, created by Senator Duane, was passed and helps keep vulnerable students safe from bullying and harassment
• In 2010 Senator Duane helped pass the Family Health Care Decisions Act, which gives family members medical decision-making power over incapacitated patients
• Also in 2010, the Sex Trafficking Victims Second Chance Act, proposed by Duane, was passed and helps sex trafficking victims clear their records of prostitution-related charges

According to his statement, Senator Duane plans on moving back to New York Citywhen his current term ends on December 31^st.

Students will soon have greater protection from school bullying, now that state lawmakers have passed the Dignity For All Students Act June 22.

Once signed by Gov. David Paterson, prejudice and harassment based on gender, race, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, weight and religion will be prohibited on school grounds. Teachers and administrators will be taught to tackle instances of harassment, and they will be required to report episodes to school officials. When abusive incidents occur, schools will be encouraged to respond through offering support services and counseling rather than disciplinary action.

“No child should be terrified to go to school simply because of who they are. There is no place for bullying and discrimination in New York’s classrooms,” said State Sen. Tom Duane, the bill’s author who is openly gay. “Punishing students after the fact does little to address the root cause of the problem.

Upper West Side Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell, who is a bill sponsor, said the legislation can be easily implemented in schools.

“Too many students are bullied based on real or perceived differences with their classmates,” he said in the statement.

For the New York branch of the ACLU, the most important aspect of the bill is its protection of at-risk groups.

“Bullies will be put on watch,” said Erica Braudy, Lead Organizer at the NY ACLU. “There will be clear prohibitions put on bullying that will not be limited to certain groups.”

In addition, Paterson has presented a complement to the legislation that will create a state-wide hotline number and require schools to follow the state’s human rights laws against discrimination.