Gay nups Dem backing Nixon
Helped gov get N.Y. law passed
A leading sponsor of the state's gay marriage bill — one of Gov. Cuomo's signature accomplishments — endorsed his rival Cynthia Nixon on Monday.
Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell, a Democrat representing the Upper West Side, praised Nixon as a fighter who comes through on the important issues.
“Win or lose, if you want something done you have to keep fighting,” O'Donnell said. “And through many of those fights, Cynthia Nixon stood beside me to tell me to keep going. Cynthia was there when I passed Marriage Equality, and the Dignity for All Students Act. Cynthia has promised to be there when we end cash bail. Cynthia has promised to be there when we repeal 50-a, making police disciplinary records transparent.
“And Cynthia has promised to be there when we pass the millionaires' tax to fix the subways,” he added.
O'Donnell, the brother of comedian Rosie O'Donnell and the first openly gay man elected to the New York State Assembly, joined Nixon for a formal endorsement at the 96th St. subway station on the Upper West Side later Monday.
Nixon, the “Sex and the City” actress running against Cuomo in next month's Democratic primary, praised O'Donnell's leadership.
“The marriage equality act would not have passed without Danny's leadership,” Nixon said in a statement. “He shepherded it through the Assembly five times before it finally became law. I am so grateful for his tireless dedication to LGBT equality and, also, to unceasing education funding for our low-income school districts. I'm so honored to have his endorsement.”
Cuomo's camp had no comment on the development.
The governor has secured several key endorsements from the LGBT community, including nods from rocker Elton John, the Stonewall Democratic Club and Judith Kasen-Windsor, who was married to the late Edie Windsor, a marriage equality pioneer.