HRC Blog

Last night hundreds of Minnesotans came together in honor of National Coming Out Day. Our event – “Coming Out For Equality” – was headlined by the DFL Lieutenant Governor candidate, State Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon, and featured surprise guest Alfre Woodard.

Yesterday New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino made anti-gay remarks in a speech in which he said he didn’t want children “brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option.” Paladino’s divisive remarks come amidst news of suicides by young people who faced anti-gay harassment as well as a horrific hate crime in the Bronx that targeted three gay men. “By his own words, Carl Paladino has made himself the poster boy for the kind of divisive leadership that makes young LGBT people question their self-worth and gives license to those who use violence to advance their hate,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Carl Paladino is either homophobic or stunningly tone deaf to the needs of the community – two qualities New Yorkers don’t want in a Governor.”

Tim Kennedy’s campaign for New York State Senate is heating up with polls now showing Tim in a statistical dead heat with Republican nominee and marriage foe Jack Quinn III. HRC is making sure our members know about this key race. I've been working here on the ground helping to turn out our members for volunteer canvasses and phone banks here in Western New York.

New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg is the latest iconic New Yorker joining in the Human Rights Campaign's "New Yorkers for Marriage Equality" campaign, raising the profile of the timely fight for equal marriage rights in the Empire State. The new video and the entire campaign can be viewed online at www.hrc.org/NY4marriage.