Staten Island liberation

Gay pride amongst the councilmanics.

One of the leading contenders to become Speaker of the City Council is Christine Quinn of Manhattan. A vote for her, according to one elected official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he's publicly supporting another candidate, would "cool Charles Barron's jets," and placate those who want to see someone other than an old white dude rule part of the roost at City Hall.

Since Quinn is an out lesbian, "it's like a two-fer," the official told me. In fact, he said most of the 47 Democratic members of the Council-who are looking to run for other offices in the future-would love to say they not only support gay rights, but voted for a gay colleague.

But what about Democratic Councilmanic Michael McMahon, who is contemplating running against Congressman Vito Fossella of Staten Island? Could a vote for a gay Speaker hurt a candidate looking to run in a conservative district that includes all of Staten Island and portions of Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst? That area did, after all, elect the city's only Republican congressman for nearly a decade.

Probably not. In June, the borough held its first Gay Pride Parade. Among the marchers in the parade, according to one newspaper, was the Congressman's sister, Victoria, who marched with her partner, Maggie Scharsellain.