City Council Speaker Christine Quinn backed Charlie Rangel in his tough re-election campaign, lauding the longtime Harlem pol’s reputation as a fighter on the forefront of battling discrimination and supporting equal rights — and LGTB rights in particular.

“Go back and look at the record. Who was one of the first leading African American officials in this country to speak out in full support of marriage quality for the LGBT community? Charlie Rangel. Who has always been there for the LGBT community? Charlie Rangel,” Ms. Quinn said.  The congressman, she added,  was among the guests at her wedding in March to long-time partner Kim Catullo. Read More

Is or isn’t Governor Cuomo endorsing Rep. Charles Rangel in his 15th district re-election bid? Rangel surely thinks so — or did.

Rangel stood at a podium today before a small group of supporters in City Hall Park, where he was accepting the endorsement of another key New York player, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

“The reasons why these endorsements mean so much to me is because of the serious time we are having in our nation,” Rangel said. “If I thought the Governor and the Mayor did not believe that my returning to Congress to protect the advancements we have made did not make sense, well, come on, we’d have to talk about that.” Read More