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BY SCOTT STIFFLER | What’s so queer—politically speaking—about the place where I live, work, and play? If you have to ask, you’re probably not a registered voter residing in Chelsea or its adjacent areas. No matter where they sit, slip, or slide on the sexual identity scale, people around here tend to be progressive, and proudly wear that badge when going to the polls. As such, we’re known for putting LGBTQ+ people into elected office—repeatedly, often by a landslide, and sometimes in multiple political positions over a period of decades.
Case in point, the local electeds roll call, circa mid-2026: Out, gay, men representing areas including the West Village, Chelsea, and Hell’s Kitchen are: NYS Senator Erik Bottcher (a former NYC Council Member); Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal (former NYS Senator, former NYC Council Member); NYS Assemblymember Tony Simone; and NYC Council Member Carl Wilson (former Chief of Staff to Council Member Bottcher). Prior to Wilson’s recent Special Election win, Council District 3 rep Erik Bottcher succeeded out, gay man Corey Johnslon, out lesbian Christine Quinn, and, before her, Tom Duane. (Duane began his time with the Council as one of its first two openly gay members, and went on to be the first openly HIV-Positive NYS Senator.)
Say it with me, people: Something in the water. And while the notion of a queer-identifying elected doesn’t exactly make waves these days, Chelsea’s density of that demographic does merit some Pride Month props. Hence, our first-ever Out Gay Chelsea Elected Officials Q&A.
Scott Stiffler, for LGBTQCommunityNews.nyc: In what—if any—way does your public profile as an out gay man inform how you legislate, lead, and live?
NYS Senator Erik Bottcher (Senator Bottcher): Being openly gay isn’t just one part of who I am. It is foundational to how I understand community, resilience, and justice. I grew up in the Adirondack Mountains and later found a true sense of community here in New York City. That journey shapes how I approach public service. My lived experience informs my work every day. I know firsthand the importance of visibility, dignity, and safety. It drives me to lead with empathy, to stand up against discrimination in all forms, and to ensure that government works for people who have historically been pushed to the margins. It also reminds me that representation matters, especially for young people who deserve to see themselves reflected in leadership.
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal (MBP Hoylman-Sigal): Being an out public official—especially one with kids—corresponds with almost everything I do. I think members of the LGBTQIA+ community have a great deal of empathy for the underdog, no matter who they are, and I suppose that’s one reason why so many out elected officials support initiatives for the most vulnerable in our society. Also, LGBTQIA+ elected officials have a unique insight into issues like human rights, housing, HIV/AIDS, and the workplace—which are all important areas in public policy making. Basically, I think being queer is a superpower for an elected official.
NYS Assemblymember Tony Simone (Assemblymember Simone): Serving in a legislative body where out, queer legislators make up less than our overall population percentage, I believe representation matters and is critical. Albany is full of so many competing interests. and our community must always have legislators who will keep our priorities at the top until the very end of every fight.
NYC Council Member Carl Wilson (Council Member Wilson): My identity as an out gay man, especially one who represents the heart of the LGBTQIA+ civil rights movement in the New York City Council, serves as a constant reminder that we need to fight for those who helped us get to where we are today, and all of our underrepresented communities. That means standing up for our transgender siblings, our immigrant neighbors, and all of those who face constant threats from our current federal administration.
What new or expanded LGBTQ+ initiatives/protections/funding are you currently prioritizing?
Senator Bottcher: I’m focused on strengthening protections for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, particularly in areas like healthcare access, housing, and public safety. That includes expanding funding for community-based organizations that provide critical services, especially to transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. I’m also prioritizing protections for LGBTQ+ youth, including mental health supports and safe school environments. At a time when rights are being rolled back elsewhere, New York must remain a national leader in safeguarding equality.
MBP Hoylman-Sigal: I’ve been fighting for gender affirming care for transgender youth, building on my “transgender shield” legislation passed in Albany and defending it from attacks by the Trump administration and their attempts to obtain the private medical records of trans patients at hospitals like NYU Langone. Trump has also tried to undo another bill of mine and Assemblymember Deborah Glick that bans LGBTQIA+ conversion therapy for minors. Also, I’m focused on capital funding for arts and cultural institutions, which is a major employer for queer Manhattanites.
Assemblymember Simone: I am continuing my fight from last year to ensure book bans have no place in any corner of our state through my Freedom to Read legislation. Additionally, the current federal government has created an environment where many local LGBTQ resources from health centers like Callen-Lorde to homeless youth services like the Ali Forney Center face a difficult and often hostile funding outlook. I have prioritized efforts to strengthen all their work locally as much as possible.
Council Member Wilson: I am especially excited to be coming back to City Hall during the budget process, as I am able to allocate discretionary funds directly from our office as well as fight for general Council funds to be equally distributed amongst our underrepresented communities here in New York City. I am specifically prioritizing funding for gender-affirming healthcare, as we are seeing the federal government challenging those rights. We’ve seen NYU Langone be targeted in their care for transgender youth—we need to do all we can to ensure our community, especially LGBTQIA+ youth, are fully protected.
With a federal government openly hostile toward queer visibility, how can LGBTQIA+ people and allies manifest “Pride” as an everyday presence?
Senator Bottcher: Pride isn’t just a celebration in June. It is a daily commitment to living authentically and supporting one another. In moments of hostility, visibility becomes even more powerful. Pride can be expressed through community care, advocacy, voting, supporting LGBTQ+-owned businesses, and speaking out when we see injustice. Allies play a critical role by showing up consistently, not just during Pride Month but year-round. Together, we create a culture where inclusion isn’t optional, it’s expected.
MBP Hoylman-Sigal: LGBTQIA+ people need to organize ahead of the midterms in November to support queer and queer-friendly candidates to help Democrats take back the House and Senate and save our democracy from autocracy and further retrenchment on LGBTQIA+ human rights. Queer people should also join their local political clubs, their community boards, or even their block associations to get involved at the grassroots level. Power begins from the ground up.
Assemblymember Simone: By stepping up the way generations before had to do. We put back the flag at Stonewall when they took it down, we protect queer immigrants from ICE and we reaffirm to each other and the world that we always have been and always will be here.
Council Member Wilson: At a time when our federal administration is leading with fear and hate, we need to make sure we are leading with love. Check in on your queer loved ones, support those in your community who are facing hard times, and make sure your voice is heard by getting out and voting! My office is committed to allocating funds to organizations supporting the LGBTQIA+ community through healthcare, the arts, and general social services. But we’ve also got to show up for one another too—join a protest or a march and show solidarity. Give a donation to a queer-focused, community-based organization. There are many ways to show pride and allyship, and it feels more important now that it has in a long time.
Favorite book, movie, and music?
Senator Bottcher: It’s hard to pick just one, but I’m always moved by works that center authenticity and resilience. Angels in America remains a powerful and timely piece of storytelling. For music, artists like Lady Gaga and Freddy Mercury continue to uplift and inspire. I will always appreciate stories, across any medium, that remind us of the strength and beauty of being ourselves.
MBP Hoylman-Sigal: That’s a hard question to answer, but I’ve recently read three really good queer books I’ll mention, including We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune, a short gay apocalypse saga; Salt Lakes: An Unnatural History, a coming out environmental memoir; and John of John, by Douglas Stuart—Think Brokeback Mountain meets horny
Scottish sheep farmers.
Assemblymember Simone: I don’t have one—I have several. Books: Best Little Boy in the World by Andy Tobias; Stranger Among Friends by David Mixner, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky; And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts; Faggots by Larry Kramer; Tales of the City series by Amistead Maupin. Movies: Call Me by Your Name, Brokeback Mountain, Milk, And the Band Played On. Music: Madonna, Lady Gaga, Troye Sivan, Kylie, Cher.
Council Member Wilson: Possibly my favorite television show of all time, is RuPaul’s Drag Race. I’ve followed along for years, hosting watch parties and attending viewings at local LGBTQIA+ establishments in District 3. This show helped me create my own community, of friends and a chosen family who come together on a weekly basis to enjoy the art of Drag. If it can do that much for me, you can only image how many lives it has touched throughout the world.
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