New York, NY – New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson today endorsed Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for a third term, praising his long record of accomplishment for the LGBTQ community. The endorsement comes as New York City kicks off the Pride March where Governor Cuomo and Speaker Johnson will join hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to march for progress and continue the fight for LGBTQ rights.

“Governor Cuomo is a tireless champion for the LGBTQ community and continues to fight for LGBTQ rights through not just words, but action and results,” Speaker of the New York City Council Corey Johnson said. “Under Governor Cuomo, New York has become the progressive beacon for the nation — enacting marriage equality and showing the nation that love conquers hate, guaranteeing transgender New Yorkers access to critical health services, and prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity. Governor Cuomo has always been here for us and I’m proud to stand by him as we continue to fight back against the Trump Administration’s divisive agenda.”

Throughout his tenure in office, Governor Cuomo has been a national leader for LGBTQ rights. In 2011, New York passed the historic Marriage Equality Act. In 2015, Governor Cuomo implemented regulations affirming that all transgender individuals are protected under the State’s Human Rights Law. In 2016, the Governor announced that all HIV-Positive individuals in New York City will now be eligible for housing, transportation and nutritional support through a significant expansion of Emergency Shelter Assistance. Additionally, the Governor has committed to making New York the first state in the nation to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, banned the deplorable practice of conversion therapy, and strengthened health care and insurance regulations to protect transgender New Yorkers.