CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Gay leaders from Queens, N.Y., have expressed frustration with the statewide advocacy group for not including state senate candidate Lynn Nunes in its first round of endorsements this week. The marriage-equality advocate is challenging state senator Shirley Huntley, a Democrat who voted against the marriage-equality bill last year.
Attention is riveted on state senate races in New York, where Democrats hold a slim 32-30 majority. Compared to the state assembly, where Democrats hold a strong majority, the narrowly divided senate has stood in the way of the equality agenda, including the high-profile defeat of the marriage-equality bill in December and a senate committee's rejection of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act last month.
Five of the 38 state senators who voted against the marriage-equality bill hail from Queens, including Huntley, the incumbent Democrat being challenged by Nunes. Community leaders view the race in the 10th senate district, encompassing southern Queens, as their single opportunity to affect the primary election season. Among the other four no votes from the borough, Sen. Hiram Monserrate has been defeated, Sen. George Onorato retired, Sen. Joseph Addabbo has no primary challenger, and Sen. Frank Padavan, a Republican, will face a marriage equality advocate in the general election in November.
"It really is a strange dynamic what happened here," said out New York City councilmember Daniel Dromm of Jackson Heights, who has endorsed Nunes. "We have the second largest delegation in the assembly to vote for marriage equality. Our problem is with the senate, and this is the only race where we can have an effect this primary season."
Given the urgency, Dromm and other gay leaders were surprised to see that Nunes did not make the cut in the first round of endorsements announced by the Empire State Pride Agenda this week. The coveted endorsement could help Nunes, who is straight, build legitimacy among gay voters, raise money, and attract campaign volunteers in the weeks leading up to the September 12 primary, where every day counts. By comparison, the Pride Agenda did endorse Charlie Ramos, the upstart challenger to state senator Ruben Diaz Sr., the notoriously homophobic Democrat from the Bronx.
"It's not only surprising, it's disappointing," said Lynn Shulman, a gay community leader from Forest Hills who supports Nunes. "He's one of the insurgents who actually has a good shot."
"For those of us running against incumbents, we need to let the gay community know that we're viable, we're credible and we're right on the issues," said Nunes. "It's important that people with an interest in this campaign know it's happening. We don't have time to waste."
The candidate said he has not been in touch with the Pride Agenda, but he remains optimistic.
Ross Levi, the executive director of the Pride Agenda, said in an e-mail response to The Advocate that there would be more endorsements to come, although he declined to indicate whether Nunes was under consideration.
"This week's announcement was just the first round of our endorsements, and there are a number of other important races that we will be weighing on in the next few weeks and further into the election season," he said.
Levi referred to a set of endorsement criteria that includes a candidate's alignment with the Pride Agenda's public policy agenda, viability, responses to the candidates' questionnaire, and voting record.
While Nunes has never held elected office, his campaign has received endorsements from citywide LGBT political clubs including the Stonewall Democratic Club and the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club. In addition to Dromm, he also has been endorsed by the borough's other out City Councilmember, Jimmy Van Bramer.
"I can only speak for myself," said Van Bramer. "When we have people who are wiling to stand up for civil rights for the LGBT community, we need to take a good serious look at those cnadndiates, even when the battle can sometimes appear uphill."
Questions about the pace of endorsements arrive as a number of organizations have prioritized the marriage equality battle in New York for 2011. Other groups working in the state include Fight Back New York, Freedom to Marry, Marriage Equality New York, and HRC's new Campaign for New York Marriage. Earlier this month, HRC said the organizations would be working in a strategic collaboration.
Levi confirmed the groups' cooperation over e-mail.
"Fight Back New York, HRC and other groups are collaborating with the Pride Agenda to make sure that our efforts throughout the election season are complementary and having the maximum impact for the LGBT community here in New York," he wrote.
In the meantime, supporters of Nunes say those efforts need to come sooner, rather than later, to make the biggest difference in Queens.
"This is the type of campaign that is going to be won by going from door to door," said Dromm. "That's where these endorsements would come in handy. We can't wait any longer."
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Over 90% of trans youth live in states pushing anti-trans legislation: report
April 23 2024 10:08 PM
George Santos pulls out of New York congressional race
April 23 2024 7:04 PM
Biden will hammer Trump over abortion bans in Florida speech
April 23 2024 5:00 AM
Tristan Snell, who brought down Trump University, sees conviction in hush money case
April 22 2024 7:36 PM
Joe Biden admin marks Earth Day with major environmental initiatives
April 22 2024 4:18 PM
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'We want to end' trans and gender nonconforming teachers
April 22 2024 4:13 PM
Nonbinary 17-year-old killed two years after being reported missing
April 22 2024 3:46 PM