NYC Council Elects 1st Woman, Gay Speaker

NEW YORK - New York's City Council on Wednesday elected its first woman and first openly gay leader, a position widely regarded as the second-most powerful seat in city government.

Christine Quinn wept several times during a passionate speech to the 51-member council, thanking her father and her partner, Kim Catullo, who looked on from the audience.

"Let me say that I am incredibly proud that in the most diverse city in the world, diversity is seen as a strength, and not an impediment," Quinn said.

The post is powerful mostly because of its influence over budget matters. Term limits forced out her predecessor, Gifford Miller, whose run for mayor fell flat last year.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060105/ap_on_el_st_lo/gay_councilwoman

Tolerance rocks!

Democracy means everybody has a role... not just a few elite.

for *decades* refused to pass an anti-discrimination law, it's craven DEM leadership kowtowing to religious know-nothings. That finally changed around '86 0r '87. And things have gradually gotten better.

Now the same council is LED by a brilliant , out, progressive lesbian DEM .

Lesson: Real change takes time and hard work.