Sex and The City star Cynthia Nixon has recently made the announcement that she is running for Governor of New York. While the news of an openly lesbian candidate is bidding for the highest positon in the "Empire State" is mostly good news for the LGBT community, understandably not everyone in that demographic would be thrilled with the prospect.
One prominent dissenter has come out of the woodwork; a lesbian herself, former New York Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who has spoken out. In an interview with The New York Post, Quinn said “I’m surprised by this race. It’s a flight of fancy on her (Nixon's) part.”
In 2013, Quinn ran for Mayor of New York, going up against Bill De Blasio in the Democratic primary. During that time, the actress chose to endorse her rival. “Cynthia Nixon was opposed to having a qualified lesbian become mayor of New York City. Now, she wants an unqualified lesbian to be the governor of New York. You have to be qualified and have experience. She isn’t qualified to be the governor,” Quinn pointed out in reference to that moment.
She then went on to twitter to clarify that she did not mean to attack Nixon's identitity as a lesbian." To be clear, Cynthia Nixon’s identity has no bearing on her candidacy and it was not my intention to suggest it did. I want to be clear about that. I would never, EVER, criticize someone because of their identity. Cynthia Nixon aggressively opposed my candidacy in New York despite, my qualifications for the office, and despite my strong progressive credentials. I was attempting to make a comparison between the two of us. The real point I am trying to make is that qualifications matter and records matter. I do not believe she has the qualifications or the record"
To be clear, Cynthia Nixon’s identity has no bearing on her candidacy and it was not my intention to suggest it did. I want to be clear about that. I would never, EVER, criticize someone because of their identity. 1/4
— Christine Quinn (@chriscquinn) March 20, 2018
I’ve experienced it time and time again, and would never support it or condone it. As a lesbian who ran one of the most high profile races in the country, i know what that’s like. And I know it’s imperative that we encourage more members of our community to run for office. 2/4
— Christine Quinn (@chriscquinn) March 20, 2018
Cynthia Nixon aggressively opposed my candidacy in New York despite my qualifications for the office and despite my strong progressive credentials. I was attempting to make a comparison between the two of us. 3/4
— Christine Quinn (@chriscquinn) March 20, 2018
The real point I am trying to make is that qualifications matter and records matter. I do not believe she has the qualifications or the record. 4/4
— Christine Quinn (@chriscquinn) March 20, 2018
Cynthia Nixon for her part has clapped back and she has decided to use wit and humor to counter Quinn, who is supporting incumbent Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.
During a campaign event on March 21 at Stonewall Inn, an important historic site for LGBT history in the United States, she said, "Yesterday, when I announced my candidacy, one of Gov. Cuomo's top surrogates dismissed me as an 'unqualified lesbian'. …I just want to say tonight that she was technically right. I don't have my certificate from the Department of Lesbian Affairs. But in my defence, there is a lot of paperwork involved."
Nixon will be facing Cuomo on the September Democratic primary. Whoever wins will go up against the Republican candidate.
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