New York City, August 5, 2009 – Today, the Empire State Pride Agenda, New York’s statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, announced its endorsement of Christine Quinn for re-election to the New York City Council.

“Speaker Quinn has a solid record of leadership and public service supporting the LGBT community and all New Yorkers and she has earned our endorsement for re-election,” said Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle. “We have worked with Christine Quinn over the years on many issues, including the passage of a number of LGBT bills in the City Council. She knows how to build consensus around tough issues with legislators and how to reach across the political aisle to win their bipartisan support, which is an increasingly rare commodity in the political life of New York State.”

In making its endorsement, the Pride Agenda highlighted some of the Speaker’s recent work in New York City on LGBT issues and gave special tribute to her commitment to furthering the community’s work with the NYS Legislature on issues like marriage equality.

“Whether it be strengthening the city’s domestic partner law or using the power of the Speaker’s office to educate New Yorkers about bias-based crimes and the importance of a strong community and neighborhood response, Christine Quinn has continued championing the issues she was first elected to address as a Councilmember representing the 3rd Council District,” said Van Capelle.

“We also appreciate her willingness as Speaker to take on difficult issues that are important to LGBT New Yorkers, like starting a dialogue between the LGBT community and the NYPD on the troubling pattern of arrests of gay men in video stores and working with transgender advocates to find a way to resolve the problem trans people face when government-issued IDs such as birth certificates do not match their gender identity or expression.”

“In terms of the LGBT community’s agenda in Albany, Speaker Quinn has been an invaluable partner working with us to pass legislation that will advance equality and justice for LGBT New Yorkers,” stressed Van Capelle. “The Speaker traveled to Albany several times and even to the home districts of Democratic and Republican Senators to have face-to-face meetings and share her personal experiences about what it means to be a second-class citizen who is denied access to marriage and the many legal protections that come with it. The fact Christine Quinn has personally experienced inequality and can share those stories as one elected official to another has been enormously helpful. Christine Quinn has helped move us closer to the day marriage equality will be law in New York State.”

“We need Christine Quinn’s continued service to New York over the next four years in the City Council,” said Van Capelle.


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Today’s endorsement is the only one the Pride Agenda will make before the Primary on September 15. While the Pride Agenda had envisioned playing a more active role in Primary Elections across the state, the prospect of movement on the LGBT community’s issues in Albany this fall has meant a continued focus on its work with the State Senate.