Cynthia Nixon is ‘an unqualified lesbian’ says New York Democrats leader
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Cynthia Nixon has been labelled “an unqualified lesbian” by a leading figure in New York politics.
Christine Quinn, former Speaker of the New York City Council, made the comment after the Sex and the City star announced her candidacy for state Governor yesterday.
If elected, Nixon would be the state’s first-ever out governor, and the first woman to serve in the role.
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Quinn, 51, was the first lesbian to become Speaker and is still a notable political force, serving as Vice Chair of the New York State Democratic Committee.
Speaking to the New York Post, she said she was “surprised” by Nixon’s announcement that she was embarking on a primary challenge to Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“It’s a flight of fancy on her part,” she said, before revealing that her issue with the actress – an Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winner most famous for her role as Miranda Hobbes – had a personal element.
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“Cynthia Nixon was opposed to having a qualified lesbian become mayor of New York City,” said Quinn.
“Now she wants to be 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.”
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She later apologised for these remarks, telling Time Magazine: “Cynthia Nixon’s identity has no bearing on her gubernatorial candidacy and it was not my intention to suggest it did.
“I want to be clear about that. I would never, ever, criticise someone because of their identity.
“I’ve experienced that kind of criticism time and time again and I would never support it or condone it,” added Quinn.
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“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.”
However, she did not retract her assessment of the actress as unqualified.
“Cynthia Nixon aggressively opposed my candidacy in New York, despite my qualifications for the office and despite my strong progressive credentials,” she said.
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“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.”
Earlier this year, while Nixon was picking up a Visibility Award at the Human Rights Campaign’s New York Gala, she gave an impassioned speech attacking wealth inequality and “corporate Democrats”.
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During her appearance on The View last year, she accused Governor Cuomo – who is seeking a third term in office – of “shortchanging the children of New York.”
The 51-year-old actress is also an outspoken critic of President Trump.
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She has blasted Mike Pence as the “poster boy for anti-LGBT rhetoric, legislation and conversion therapy”, calling on LGBT people to reject his agenda.
Speaking at a rally days after Trump was inaugurated, she said: “As LGBT people, we know how important coming out is, but I would argue that our coming out has never been more important than it is right now.
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“We need to come out not just as queer, but as people who know all too well what it feels like to be put in a box that says ‘other,’ less than,’ ‘easy target if you’re looking for someone to bully, harass, discriminate against, demonise, beat up, even kill.”
And in January, the actress wrote on Twitter: “Taking our country back is going to require all of us to step up and take action – including more women, people of colour, queer people, and first-generation Americans running for office.”
