Races Essential to Retaining LGBTQ Representation in 2021
Washington, DC – Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, released its first slate of endorsements for its 2021 races. Five candidates for New York City Council were endorsed — Erik Bottcher, Wilfredo Florentino, Marti Gould Allen-Cummings, Seth Rosen and Lynn Schulman – and their races are critical to ensuring LGBTQ representation remains on the city council next year. All five currently serving LGBTQ members have termed out and cannot seek reelection.
If elected, Allen-Cummings will become the first nonbinary person and first drag artist to serve on the New York City Council. Schulman will be the first out LGBTQ woman to serve since former Councilwoman Rosie Méndez left the council in 2017. Currently just 12 of the 51 councilmembers identify as women.
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about the endorsements:
“While the five currently serving LGBTQ councilmembers cannot seek reelection because of term limits, we have five openly LGBTQ leaders ready and qualified to replace them,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund. “Our early endorsement of these 2021 candidates signals the importance of ensuring LGBTQ representation continues on the council next year. While allies are vital, our lived experiences and struggles make us the best advocates for our community.
“We also have an opportunity to make New York City history in 2021. Marti Gould Allen-Cummings will become the first out nonbinary person to serve on the council if they win and would also be the first drag artist to serve on the council of a major American city. We can also restore LGBTQ women representation with a victory for Lynn Schulman.
“Although the races may seem far away, New York City politics is tough. We need to start now to make sure these LGBTQ leaders are elected to the council and become strong voices for equality next year.”
Below are the 2021 endorsed candidates, their districts and election dates:
Erik Bottcher
New York City Council, District 3
Primary: 6/22/21 General: 11/2/21
Wilfredo Florentino
New York City Council, District 42
Primary: 6/22/21 General: 11/2/21
Marti Gould Allen-Cummings
New York City Council, District 7
Primary: 6/22/21 General: 11/2/21
Seth Rosen
New York City Council, District 6
Primary: 6/22/21 General: 11/2/21
Lynn Schulman
New York City Council, District 29
Primary: 6/22/21 General: 11/2/21
More information about the candidates is available at victoryfund.org/ourcandidates. Since 1991, Victory Fund has helped thousands of openly LGBTQ candidates win local, state and federal elections
_________________
LGBTQ Victory Fund
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government.
