ESPA on Kirsten: We like her, we really like her

Past quotes, votes, and findings on incoming senator Kirsten Gillibrand suggested that she is reluctant to support marriage equality and possibly reluctant to repeal the military's ban on openly gay soldiers. However, our pals at the Empire State Pride Agenda, who we trust implicitly when it comes to New York politicians' LGBT positions, brings us a very different story. They just sent us this, their latest release:

January 23, 2009, New York City – Last night likely Senate pick Kirsten Gillibrand spoke to Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle about issues important to New York’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

“After talking to Kirsten Gillibrand, I am very happy to say that New York is poised to have its first U.S. Senator who supports marriage equality for same-sex couples,” said Van Capelle. “She also supports the full repeal of the federal DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) law, repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) and passage of legislation outlawing discrimination against transgender people. While we had a productive discussion about a whole range of LGBT concerns, I was particularly happy to hear where she stands on these issues.”

Should Governor Paterson name her today to fill the seat held by Hillary Clinton, she will join Governor Paterson, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith and numerous other elected officials in the New York State Legislature and across the state who support the freedom to marry for same-sex couples.
Pride Agenda

Very encouraging news! We're not sure if Gillibrand has evolved, she was pushed, or if she was never as reluctant as some of her quotes suggested. For now, we're gonna go with it.

Now as for your still-incubating marriage views, Sen. Shumer...

**UPDATE: HRC has also cleared up some matters:

There has been some discussion about Kirsten Gillibrand's stance on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and additional LGBT issues. In particular, we’d like to clarify references to the Human Rights Campaign Scorecard for the 110th Congress.

Although Kirsten Gillibrand did not co-sponsor legislation to repeal DADT, her decision does not mean that Gillibrand supports the policy or would oppose the repeal. In fact, in recent conversations with Kirsten Gillibrand’s office the Human Rights Campaign has confirmed Gillibrand is in favor of repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and supports full marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples.

Additionally, HRC confirmed with Gillibran’s staff additional points regarding her LGBT record:

* Supports marriage equality
* Cosponsored and voted in favor of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act
* Cosponsored inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and supports enactment of inclusive bill
* Voted in favor of ENDA
* Supports repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
* Supports repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act
* Supports equal tax treatment of employer provided domestic partnership benefits
* Voted against allowing discrimination in hiring for the Head Start program
* Voted in favor of allowing Washington, DC to fund needle exchange programs with local funds
* Supports the Early Treatment of HIV/AIDS Act (ETHA) to allow states to provide Medicaid coverage for HIV-positive persons
* Voted against procedural attempts to derail ENDA and hate crimes
* Endorsed by HRC PAC in 2008
Kirsten Gillibrand, Gov. Paterson's pick to replace Hillary Clinton, supports marriage equality and other LGBT issues [HRC Backstory]

**UPDATE: Sen. Gillibrand accepts the post:

*Later in this conference, she mentioned support for marriage equality.