This has been an amazing, sleepless campaign.

A campaign that has been about convincing people, one by one, that ours was the campaign of ideas and energy.

We’ve done that, and I couldn’t be prouder.

We didn’t catch all the breaks. We didn’t have the support of the clubs or the career politicians.

Yet despite that, it appears that we finished third in a field of nine career electeds. More than 18,000 Manhattan residents supported our campaign.

To me, that makes this night even more meaningful – because every single one of our votes tonight was a vote we earned.

We earned it through hard work – through the blood, sweat and tears that we all shared.

We earned it because we never stopped talking about the things that matter:

Like real equality.

I’m tired of getting on buses at 5 in the morning to go up to Albany to lobby for things like equal benefits for the partners of officers killed in the line of duty – or to march across the Brooklyn Bridge for marriage equality.

Our campaign might come to an end tonight, but we’ll never stop fighting until we have real equality in New York.

And I’ve spent much of this race talking about the subtle racism and segregation that still exists in the inequality of services provided for those who live uptown and downtown – I call it the 96th Street divide.

Some people have been surprised to hear a candidate like me talk about things like asthma rates in Harlem --

But as long as kids are getting sick, we’ll keep fighting.

-- As long as HIV spreads as an epidemic.

-- As long as schools continue to crumble.

-- As long as senior citizens are forced to choose between meals and medicine – because this city can’t get its act together to buy drugs in bulk.

-- As long as we continue to lag on stem cell research and the environment.

-- As long as teachers don’t earn a fair living wage and –and efirefighters have to live in their parents’ basements out in Queens because they can’t afford to live in the Borough they protect.

-- As long as neighborhoods are torn down to build up highrise apartments and chain stores.

-- As long as the soul of Manhattan is threatened –

We will keep fighting.

This campaign may be over tonight, but we’ll always keep fighting for the City we love.

We knew from day one that this was a tough race. We knew it wouldn’t be easy.

And it’s true -- if we judge the success of this campaign on winning or losing, then we came up a little bit short.

But in my judgment, the final score is just a small part of our story.

When I think back on this campaign, I’ll think of the people who were inspired to action.

I’ll think of Antonio, our superstar intern, who I met at a Live Out Loud dinner where he was honored with a college scholarship.

I’ll remember with pride that we were able to show Antonio – and thousands of other gay kids and teenagers –

-- That they should live their lives proud and open and never apologize for who they are to anyone.

I’ll think of the thousands of people from across the country and literally throughout the world –

-- Who called and emailed us to say thanks for having the courage to introduce Simon on TV.

I’ll think of the young voters who were discouraged by last year’s presidential election –

-- But who were inspired by the idea that government really can be courageous, progressive and truthful.

I’ll think of the volunteers who rallied around us because we gave them the chance to feel good about voting again.

We have everything to be proud of – and I am grateful beyond words to every single one of you.

For all the people who have believed in us, and for the values we’ve stood for – I promise you that this is just the beginning.

Thank you.

We'll be posting more info on the race soon. Please click here to read Brian's remarks from last night's celebration.

Thank you again to everyone who helped out during this amazing campaign.

On Monday August 29th we announced a major ad buy airing on network and cable television. This groundbreaking spot makes history in New York City as the first time a gay or lesbian candidate appears with his or her partner in a TV advertisement. It received strong reviews, and has been featured in The New York Times, Time Out New York, AdWeek, and many other publications, blogs and television shows.

On Tuesday September 6th the New York Times reported that Fox had refused to air our ad. See our blog below for more, and tell us what you think about Fox's decision.

www.gothamgazette.com/campaign2005/57

www.ridorlive.com/?p=1276

blabbeando.blogspot.com/search/label/brian%20ellner

www.dailygotham.com/taxonomy/term/347

www.linkedin.com/pub/0/323/924

Today the campaign launched a new ad in which Brian talks about how progressive change starts here at home. He talks about how we need to get our priorities straight, focusing on the projects our neighborhoods need like affordable housing and new schools, rather than things like a West Side Stadium or Wal-Mart.

You can see the ad here, and please tell us what you think and where you saw it in the thread below.

Watch the Video (Quicktime 3.6MB)

Brian on NY1's Road to City Hall

Watch the Video (Quicktime 18.1MB)

Brian Discusses Marriage Equality

Watch the Video (Quicktime 2.0MB)

If you can't see the ad above, it means you don't have Quicktime installed. Click here to download Quicktime.

We'll post a Media Player friendly version of the ad soon, as well as a higher resolution version of this one. In the meantime, don't forget to check out Brian's first ad by clicking one of the links below.

Click here to view Brian's first ad with Quicktime.

Click here to view Brian's first ad with Window's Media Player.

Help Us Air Brian's Ad that Fox Banned: Contribute Now!


Help Elect Brian: Sign up to volunteer on Election Day!


Spread the Word: Tell a Friend About Brian's Campaign!

The NYCLU believes that Fox’s decision is a clear case of censorship based on content, and very well may be in violation of Federal law.

More details will be posted as they become available, but please use the thread below to discuss this new development.

• Join Brian in giving to relief efforts.
• Host a house party to raise funds.
  

• Send a message to the Governor supporting this bill.
• Vote for Brian and support his push for marriage equality in New York

• Watch the ad that FOX is banning.
• Tell your friends to watch the ad and support Brian on Sept. 13.
• Write or call FOX.

Change starts here at home. Please take action now to make sure Brian is victorious on Tuesday, September 13th.

Here's what you can do today!

1. Vote for Brian on September 13th! Find your polling location here.

2. Tell everyone you know about the campaign, and encourage them to view our new ad that Fox Network banned.

3. Volunteer on Election Day, and help elect a leader we can be proud of.

NEW YORK -- The Fox affiliate television station rejected a campaign commercial for a Democrat running in a local race, and the candidate alleges it's because the ad slams President Bush.

NEW YORK The local Fox affiliate here has refused to run The Ad Store's spot for Manhattan borough presidential candidate Brian Ellner that lampoons President George W. Bush by pasting a photo of his head atop a naked middle-aged torso.

(New York City) Fox television has refused to run a campaign ad for Brian Ellner, a Democratic candidate for Manhattan borough president.
Ellner says that Fox5 told the campaign that the ad, which features a picture of President Bush superimposed on the body of a naked wrinkled man's torso is disrespectful and in poor taste. While the picture appears an announcer says "the emperor has no clothes."

Watch the ad that Fox banned!

A local television station, WNYW/Channel 5, is refusing to run a provocative advertisement promoting a Democratic candidate for Manhattan borough president. And the campaign of the candidate, Brian Ellner, is charging that the station is doing so because the spot takes a swipe at President Bush.