Last month I wrote about a few updates on efforts to target and defeat those who voted against marriage equality in the New York State Senate. There was good news on one of the fronts last night. Hiram Monserrate, infamous for slashing his girlfriend's face, and for being indicted and convicted for assault, and for voting against marriage equality after literally years of support dating back to his time on the NYC Council, was expelled from the New York State Senate in a 53-8 vote by his colleagues. His lawyer is expected to challenge the effort in court, but for now, Gov. Paterson has called a special election for March 16th. Monserrate is expected to run in the special, but his challenger is Assemblyman Jose Peralta, a strong friend of the LGBT community who voted for marriage equality in the Assembly and has the support of Empire State Pride Agenda. He also has outraised Monserrate and doesn't have the, um, criminal record that Monserrate does.
A friend and LGBT activist with the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens and the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC e-mailed the following commentary on the race:
The 13th Senate District is gathering around the candidacy of Jose Peralta, a very popular state assemblyman who is running for the Senate and received the Democratic Party endorsement within days of the conviction of Monserrate. Jose has huge support among LGBT people in Queens and helped Danny Dromm become the first gay elected councilman from Queens. Jose has the support of women, liberals, lgbt, many immigrants, including the large South Asian community, and unions. Monserate has Latino men between the ages of 18-50. LGBT community expects to hit the streets in force and will outnumber any of the support Monserrate can throw together.
If you live in the district or are interested in supporting Peralta, here's his site.
Also, thanks to those of you who signed the now-successful Fire Monserrate petition, and to its organizers.
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