Democratic candidate for governor Cynthia Nixon was endorsed this weekend by the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, citing their shared commitment to protecting and empowering the LGBTQ community and bringing a more progressive vision to New York. A core vision of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club is to support candidates who recognize the LGBTQ community’s basic rights and freedoms, and fight against those who undermine equality and protections. Cynthia has been a long-time LGBTQ activist and would be the first queer governor of New York.
“Cynthia Nixon is a fierce fighter with a history of activism important to working families, the unemployed, the poor and the disenfranchised,” said club president Allen Roskoff. “She has the energy, integrity, and vision that will lead our state. She will stand up to the policies of Donald Trump and the hate coming from Washington and implement common sense solutions to achieve racial equality, protect documented and undocumented immigrants, and improve New York’s education system. She will fight for economic justice and a woman’s right to abortion and she is a fierce fighter for the LGBTQ community. In short, Cynthia is the real deal and we look forward to having her as our first queer woman governor of New York.”
The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, named for the legendary gay rights pioneer Jim Owles, was formed in 2004 as a citywide political activist club with a mission to secure human rights, dignity, and freedom for all people. As a multi-issue, progressive Democratic club, the group also calls for an end to all wars, increased AIDS funding, universal health care, and continued protection and expansion of reproductive rights. They also demand economic justice and the abolition of the death penalty.
“The LGBTQ movement is at a critical moment in our history. We have accomplished so much progress, yet so many in our community still face attacks and barriers to full equality,” said Cynthia Nixon. “I am thrilled to have the support of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club and, as the first queer governor, look forward to working together to make New York the epicenter of LGBTQ equality and bring in a new era of better, bluer Democrats.
Cynthia has been a long-time LGBTQ activist in New York and across the country. In 2010, she helped found Fight Back New York, an effort to defeat New York State Senators who were opposed to same-sex marriage. The campaign ultimately raised $800,000 and helped elect three new Senators who voted to pass marriage equality.
Most recently, Newburgh Council Member Karen Mejía, Downtown Independent Democrats, 350 Action, author Bill McKibben, and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee announced their endorsements of Cynthia's bid for governor. She’s also been backed by Our Revolution, Tenants PAC, the Staten Island Democratic Association (SIDA), Coalition for a District Alternative (CODA), Broadway Democrats, Village Independent Democrats, Three Parks Independent Democrats, Democracy for America, Daily Kos, New Kings Democrats (NKD), Council Member Carlos Menchaca, the Working Families Party, Make the Road Action, Citizen Action, and the New York Progressive Action Network.
