An Openly Gay Candidate Is Openly Paired in an Ad, NY Times
by Jim Rutenberg
August 29, 2005
NY Times
Watch the ad that everyone's talking about right now!
Brian Ellner, a candidate in the crowded race for Manhattan borough president, has created what he believes will be the first televised campaign commercial in New York City's history in which an openly gay politician appears with his partner.
Continue reading "An Openly Gay Candidate Is Openly Paired in an Ad, NY Times"
Bigger Rainbow, NY Post
by Robert George
June 25, 2005
NY Post
"Orientation's much more of an issue for attorney Ellner's campaign to become Manhattan borough president — which often seems to be more crusade than campaign.His press releases note that an openly gay candidate has never won a borough-wide race before. Campaign literature at events promote "Our Community, Our Candidate" and ask, unambiguously, 'Proud? So is Brian.' He promises to use the office to protect 'marriage equality' as a civil right."
Continue reading "Bigger Rainbow, NY Post"
Brian Ellner Interview, HX Magazine
Gay Pioneers
Daniel Bund
HX Magazine
What motivated you to run for office?
I'm tired of listening to politicians say one thing and do another. After years of working in the gay community and as an out school board president, I decided that instead of hoping that someone would listen to us, I would try to be that person.
Why a gay borough president?
Manhattan is the LGBT capital of the world, yet we don't have marriage equality, we don't have strong programs to educate youth about drug abuse and we don't have enough money to combat the rise in HIV/AIDS infections - and hardly anyone is talking about the record number of LGBT homeless youth.
What will you accomplish if elected?
We need to keep New York diverse and vibrant, a place where artists, writers, teachers, seniors and young professionals can afford to live. We need to set a progressive agenda the country can follow.
Whom do you consider a gay pioneer?
James Baldwin. As if fighting for racial equality in the ‘50s and ‘60s weren't enough, Baldwin wrote elegantly and eloquently about same-sex love.
If you were the town sheriff, whom would you run out of town?
Mayor Bloomberg. He dropped the ball with marriage equality.
Brian Ellner grabs media spotlight, Gay City News
September 1 - 7, 2005
Gay City News
In a statement of gay pride that was also a brilliant political stroke, Brian Ellner, a gay attorney and former elected community school board president running in the crowded September 13 Democratic Party primary for Manhattan borough president, released a television ad this week that he believes is the first time in city history that a gay candidate has gone on the air with his or her partner in a campaign commercial. Others said it might have been the first time it’s ever happened in the nation.
Continue reading "Brian Ellner grabs media spotlight, Gay City News"
Brian Ellner's Campaign for Borough President, Scene Magazine
Brian Ellner, New York Blade
Brian Ellner is young, gay — and ambitious
By Cyd Zeigler Jr.
New York Blade
On a recent sunny Friday afternoon, when I first met Brian Ellner, he was down 7-3 in a basketball game on a court at the west end of 23rd Street. It looked like an easy victory. Instead, he staged an unlikely comeback; with tighter defense and focus, he eventually won the match up, 11-9.
Continue reading "Brian Ellner, New York Blade"
Brian Ellner, Scene Magazine
I'll Take Manhattan: Brian Ellner's Campaign
Continue reading "Brian Ellner, Scene Magazine"
Brian Ellner, Town and VIllage
Former Stuy Town resident, Brian Ellner, runs for boro prez
By Maciej Wroblewski
Town and Village
Former President of District 2 School Board and Stuyvesant Town native, Brian Ellner, is joining the race for Manhattan Borough president.
Although he now lives in Chelsea, the 34-year old Ellner told T&V that his experiences of growing up in rent-stablilized Stuyvesant Town and attending excellent public schools including Middle School 104 on East 21st Street and the Bronx High School of Science are a large part of why he is running for Borough presidency.
"It is becoming more and more difficult to find affordable housing-the average price of an apartment now exceeds $1 million-and too many of our public schools are failing," Ellner explained. "There is no way that my single mother and I could have afforded to live in Manhattan without that rent stabilized apartment."
If elected to office, Ellner said he would work to develop more affordable housing by reclaiming the Battery Park City Authority revenues for their intended purpose, striving for 30 percent permanently affordable housing in all re-zoning plans, fighting for federal funding for Section 8, and working with developers and the private sector to create new models for building affordable housing.
"I would rather build 75,000 units of affordable housing than a 75,000 seat stadium," Ellner said alluding to the controversial West Side Stadium proposal...
Broadcaster affiliate refuses Bush 'no clothes' ad, Reuters
By Claudia Parsons
Reuters
September 6, 2005
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A local affiliate of broadcaster Fox News has rejected a campaign advertisement for a Democratic politician that lampoons President George W. Bush by superimposing his head on a naked torso.
Continue reading "Broadcaster affiliate refuses Bush 'no clothes' ad, Reuters"
Can This Island Be Saved?, Gotham Gazette
by Gail Robinson
Gotham Gazette
July 18, 2005
"I am running against eight career politicians who have collectively been running the city for 100 years" during which time many things have "gotten worse," [Ellner] said. Now that the city has ended social promotion for third graders, he added, it's time to end it for politicians."
Continue reading "Can This Island Be Saved?, Gotham Gazette"
Candidate Brian Ellner, Daily News
Boro-ing Into Politics
By Ben Widdicombe
Daily News
The 2005 race for Manhattan borough president is already heating up. I hear District 2 School Board President Brian Ellner just hooked two of the top political advisers in town: powerhouse consultant Hank Sheinkopf and Bill Clinton pollster Doug Schoen.
The trio were spotted huddled at the Harmonie Club on E. 60th St. Ellner, who is openly gay, has not yet announced...
Candidate Has Some Dapper Donors, New York Observer
Candidate Has Some Dapper Donors
By Peter Hyman
New York Observer
Brian Ellner looked at home as he made his way through the crowd of fashion designers, style editors and various trendistas sipping mulled wine at Kevin Carrigan's sprawling Chelsea loft last December. Dressed in what appeared to be the male uniform of the evening-an elegant black velvet blazer and designer jeans-he charmed old friends and new acquaintances with equal aplomb. Mr. Carrigan, the creative director of CK and Calvin Klein, had invited a hundred of his most fabulous friends to support Mr. Ellner is his latest venture. But was he launching a new line of men's moisturizers, or perhaps opening yet another overpriced boutique in the meatpacking district?
Continue reading "Candidate Has Some Dapper Donors, New York Observer"
Candidates to Get Public Funds, Crain's Insider
July 12, 2005
The Crain's Insider
All nine candidates for Manhattan borough President appear almost certain to qualify for public matching funds for the September primary, which means they will probably stay in the race.Assemblyman Scott Stringer and Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz have already qualified by raising at least $30,744 from 100 people or more. Candidate Brian Ellner appears likely to place third in fund-raising, with a total of more than $1 million.
Carefully Studying Politics of Supporting Gay Rights, NY Times
By Mike McIntire and Robin Shulman
June 27, 2005
NY Times
"You have to be willing to take stances that are not always comfortable," he [Rev. Sharpton] said. "I'm a minister, from a conservative denomination. I'm a Baptist. It's harder for me than for others. But you have to be willing to put yourself on the line."He marched alongside Brian V. Ellner, a gay Democratic candidate for Manhattan borough president, who invited Mr. Sharpton to attend. Mr. Sharpton, Mr. Ellner, and C. Virginia Fields, another Democratic mayoral candidate, clasped hands and pumped them above their heads.
Continue reading "Carefully Studying Politics of Supporting Gay Rights, NY Times"
Channel 5 Rejects Anti-Bush Ad of Borough President Candidate, NY Times
by Jim Rutenberg
New York Times
September 6, 2005
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.
Continue reading "Channel 5 Rejects Anti-Bush Ad of Borough President Candidate, NY Times"
Community Leaders Urge Activism, Gay City News
Community Leaders Urge Activism
Cody Lyon
Gay City News
Ellner said the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community is very politically engaged at the moment...[and that] issues like gay marriage had “politicized a new generation of gays” and that the community is aware that “we have a president who is working against our best interests.”
http://www.gaycitynews.com/gcn_425/enthusiasmcompeteswith.html
Democrats Running for Manhattan President Debate, NY Sun
by Jill Gardiner
New York Sun
August 17, 2005
Brian did a great job at the recent Borough President debate sponsored by the Daily News, Cardozo Law School and the League of Women Voters. He was featured prominently in this article, including a brief mention of his plan for congestion pricing:
Ellner...proposed initiating tolls on the bridges coming into Lower Manhattan and at 60th Street to decrease downtown car congestion.
Continue reading "Democrats Running for Manhattan President Debate, NY Sun"
Designs on Office, New York Post-Page Six
DIANE von Furstenberg, kingmaker? The Belgian-born fashion designer, with husband Barry Diller, opened her West 12th Street atelier the other night for hundreds of stylish types who made $150 donations to the campaign of Brian Ellner for Manhattan Borough President. The current BP, Virginia Fields, is a term-limited candidate for mayor.
The Post's Frankie Edozien reports Ellner is quitting the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers to take on several other better-known contenders, including City Council members Margarita Lopez, Eva Moskowitz and Bill Perkins and State Assemblyman Keith Wright.
Former Public Advocate Mark Green and Rep. Carolyn Maloney came and heard Ellner lament that with the average price of apartments over $1 million, Manhattan is turning into an island of the rich only. Ellner, the only gay candidate in the race, said it's time to save the borough's remaining tenements for struggling artists.
Continue reading "Designs on Office, New York Post-Page Six"
Diversity Shapes the Race for Borough President, NY Times
by Jonathan Hicks
June 28, 2005
NY Times
...Ellner said his campaign was conducting "the most sophisticated program as we have ever seen," to concentrate on Manhattan's gay voters. "We know that the gay community is a significant percentage of the voting population in Manhattan," said Mr. Ellner, who aims to become the first openly gay Manhattan borough president..."It's a population that continues to be denied basic rights. And we're eager to reach these voters," Mr. Ellner said.
Continue reading "Diversity Shapes the Race for Borough President, NY Times"
Ellner Interview, The Yankee Rag
Brian Ellner: Manhattan Borough President Candidate
Posted by hazletok
The Yankee Rag; The Official Blog of The Nor'Easter
Yes, I know this way in advance as city-wide elections aren't until 2005, but Brian's Campaign put up an unrequested link to the blog, so I thought I would request an interview. The interview was conducted via email over the past couple weeks and I'll split the interview up over today and tomorrow.
Continue reading "Ellner Interview, The Yankee Rag"
Ellner Moves into Campaign Headquarters, Scene Magazine
Ellner Takes on Incumbents, Gay City News
Ellner Takes on Incumbents
By Paul Schindler
Gay City News
When Brian Ellner, a 35-year-old gay attorney whose experience in elective office is limited to his 1999 victory in a District 2 Community School Board election, was asked how he will compete in a 10-person race for Manhattan borough president that includes competitors with experience on the City Council and in the State Legislature, he advanced what might be called the fresh-faced platform.
Continue reading "Ellner Takes on Incumbents, Gay City News"
Ellner Update, The Villager
Scoopy's Notebook
The Villager
Take a memo...'A.G.': We hear Sean Maloney, former President Bill Clinton's staff secretary (he handled all Clinton's memos) and an East Village newcomer, no longer plans to run for the District 2 City Council seat of Margarita Lopez, who is term-limited out after 2005. Instead, Maloney reportedly plans to enter the crowded field for state attorney general, which includes potential candidates, former Public Advocate Mark Green, Andrew Cuomo, Charlie King and Assemblymembers Jeff Klein (Bronx), Richard Brodsky (Westchester) and Michael Ginnaris (Queens).... Brian Ellner, openly gay president of Community School Board 2, is said to be planning to run for Manhattan Borough President.
Ellner on Front Page of NYTimes.com
The front page of The New York Times after the Pride March featured one of our posters.
Ellner's in Style, AM New York
Brian Ellner's in Vogue
By Andrew Black
AM New York
"In the wake of Sean Patrick Maloney's announcement to run for Attorney General in 2006, Brian Ellner, the first openly gay candidate for Manhattan Borough President, has set his own campaign in full motion. And not-so-strangely enough, the stylish Manhattan native has been receiving unprecedented support from the heavy hitters of New York's fashion and media world. Alice & Oliva designer Stacey Bendet, Esquire's Senior Fashion Editor Wendell Brown, retail rebel Jeffrey Kalinsky, designer Alvin Valley, Pulitzer Prize winning editorialist Jonathan Capehart, Calvin Klein Creative Director Kevin Carrigan, Council of Fashion Designers of America President Peter Arnold and Ralph Lauren designer Simon Holloway are just a few of New York's card carrying glimmerati that are rallying behind Ellner's run for office in 2006. At a recent fundraiser Ellner joked with the crowd, 'before meeting my partner, I didn't know the difference between a Manolo and a Moombasa.' But what Ellner doesn't know about fashion, the 34-year-old golden boy is sure to compensate for in the political arena. The campaign has already lined up a slew of glitzy fundraising events including a February reception at Diane Von Furstenberg's new meatpacking district studio."
Ellner: Both Out and 'Out of the Box,' Our Town
By Max Sarinsky
Our Town
July 21, 2005
“We need to pushing the boundaries of progressive politics,” he said. He contrasted the progressive values held by New Yorkers with what he said were the reluctant agendas of Manhattan politicians. The disparity, he said, helped him decide to run for borough president despite his relative inexperience.
Continue reading "Ellner: Both Out and 'Out of the Box,' Our Town"
Fashionable Donors in Race for Manhattan Beep, The Gothamist
Fashionable Donors in Race for Manhattan Beep
By David Hirschman
The Gothamist
Although the race to fill the seat of outgoing Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields isn't quite as hot as the race for mayor, an article in this week's Observer reports that at least one candidate has begun to rake in some contributions--and from fashionable donors, no less.
Brian Ellner, an openly gay attorney who is one of a handful of candidates running for the Beep job, evidently has attracted A-list supporters to his campaign, including Diane von Furstenberg and culture czarina Ingrid Sischy.
Gay candidate challenged over Scientology ties, NY Blade
By James Withers
NY Blade
Aug. 05, 2005
E4M Campaign Manager David Meadvin is featured in the NY Blade:
The campaign manager for Brian Ellner, one of the other candidates for Manhattan Borough President, issued a statement taking Lopez to task.“Lopez, an openly gay candidate, must explain her relationship with Scientology, an organization founded in part on a hateful, anti-gay philosophy whose founder wrote that gays and lesbians should be ‘taken from the society as rapidly as possible and uniformly institutionalized,’” wrote Ellner campaign manager David Meadvin.
Continue reading "Gay candidate challenged over Scientology ties, NY Blade"
Jamie Drake Hosts Ellner in the Hamptons, NY Observer
by Jessica Bruder and Lizzy Ratner
NY Observer
July 27, 2005
In a well-feathered display of political panache, designer Jamie Drake is planning a fab-u-lous cocktail party at his East Hampton estate to raise money for Democrat Brian Ellner, a candidate for Manhattan Borough President.
Mr. Drake, whose clients have ranged from Madonna to Michael Bloomberg, will host the $150-a-head soiree with his partner, Jason Witcher. They’re expecting between 50 and 75 guests. “I, for one, can’t wait to see the interior of Jamie’s house,” gushed campaign manager David Meadvin.
According to Mr. Drake, who speaks of himself in the third person when excited, the home is full of “Jamie Drake’s signature color, celebrating his love of the new American glamour.” His interiors, he explained, are a festival of yellow and turquoise. There’s also plenty of pink outside to match the hibiscus blooms in his garden, where drinks will be served, weather permitting.
“Gosh, I don’t know what the menu is yet, but I’m sure we’ll have a specialty drink called the Ellner Cooler … because he is so coooool,” Mr. Drake ad-libbed. What does one put in an Ellner Cooler? “I don’t know yet,” Mr. Drake said. There was a thoughtful pause before the political liquor kicked in. “I think something sweet, and something spicy, and something wise.”
LGBT Rally Kicks Off Festivities, NY1
Pride Week: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender Rally Kicks Off Festivities
By Cindi Avila
June 20, 2005
Brian Ellner, a Democrat running for Manhattan borough president, is fighting for gay rights. He used the rally to get his message out too.“I'm an openly gay candidate, and we're trying to make history,” said Ellner. “We've never had an openly gay [candidate] elected to citywide or borough wide office in New York before. It's the kickoff to Pride, and I'm proud and I'm running for office."
Continue reading "LGBT Rally Kicks Off Festivities, NY1"
MBP Race Update, New York Newsday
Manhattan Borough Prez Race Takes Shape
By William Murphy
New York Newsday
The race for Manhattan borough president is shaping up as the most interesting of the year -- and perhaps, for political insiders, even more interesting than the mayoral race.
With incumbent C. Virginia Fields being forced out of the borough president seat by term limits, eight candidates, all Democrats, have shown interest in the position...
Manhattan Borough Presidential Race, New York Times
A Crowd Runs For a Position With Few Powers, and May Keep On Running
By Jonathan Hicks
New York Times
The post is that of Manhattan borough president, a job that in previous decades has been a launching pad for mayors like Robert F. Wagner and David N. Dinkins and mayoral contenders like Ruth Messinger and Andrew Stein. Nine candidates are seeking to replace the current borough president, C. Virginia Fields (who is herself running for mayor), and that is just for the Democratic primary.
Continue reading "Manhattan Borough Presidential Race, New York Times"
NY Fox Affiliate refuses to air anti-Bush campaign ad for local Democrat, AP
By Sara Kugler
Associated Press
September 6, 2005, 4:38 PM EDT
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.
Continue reading "NY Fox Affiliate refuses to air anti-Bush campaign ad for local Democrat, AP"
NYC TV Station Refuses Gay Candidate's Ad, Gay365.com
by Doug Windsor
365Gay.com
September 6, 2005
(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."
Continue reading "NYC TV Station Refuses Gay Candidate's Ad, Gay365.com"
NYers call for right to wed, am New York
NYers call for right to wed
By Chuck Bennett
am New York
Carrying signs and holding hands, gay couples and their supporters demanded the right to wed as they marched acress the Brooklyn Bridge to a rally in Cadman Plaza...
...Brian Ellner, an openly gay Democratic candidate for Manhattan borough president, said the march was "deeply personal."
"I'm not going to Massachusetts or Canada, I'm a New Yorker and I'm going to get married in New York City," Ellner told am-New York.
Out the Vote, Time Out New York
by Beth Greenfield
August 31, 2005
Time Out New York
Click the image above to read the full article.
Politics, Scene Magazine
President of What?, Village Voice
by Jarrett Murphy
Village Voice
August 23, 2005
Brian was featured in Voice this week:
Brian Ellner, a lawyer and former school board member in the race, points to Marty Markowitz's spearheading growth in Brooklyn. "If you have a very active borough president, a lot can get accomplished," he says.
Continue reading "President of What?, Village Voice"
Putting Manhattan's Politics on the National Map, Metro
The "Gay JFK" wants to bring the borough to the forefront of progressive politics
By Catherine New
New York Metro
Continue reading "Putting Manhattan's Politics on the National Map, Metro"
Rev. Al to Join Gay Parade, NY Post
by Frankie Edozien
June 25, 2005
NY Post
For the first time, the Rev. Al Sharpton will join thousands of revelers in the mammoth gay pride parade in an effort to take a stand against homophobia and the spread of HIV among the city's black population.
Sharpton will participate in the 36th annual Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride March tomorrow alongside Brian Ellner, a gay Democrat from Chelsea seeking to succeed C. Virginia Fields as Manhattan borough president.
Rush & Malloy, Daily News
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is winging his way into town to lend his support to Manhattan borough president candidate Brian Ellner tonight at the home of banker David Tufts.
Continue reading "Rush & Malloy, Daily News"
Rush & Malloy, Daily News
From Rush and Malloy:
Al Sharpton had breakfast with Brian Ellner, a candidate for Manhattan borough president, at the Regency on Wednesday. Stopping by the table to chitchat, City Council Speaker and mayoral wanna-be Gifford Miller asked Sharpton if he would endorse someone in the borough race. The preacher threw his arm around Ellner and said, "Have you met Brian?" ...
Continue reading "Rush & Malloy, Daily News"
Rush & Molloy, The Daily News
July 13, 2005
The Daily News
From Rush & Molloy:
Openly gay candidate for Manhattan borough president Brian Ellner lunched with the Rev. Al Sharpton at the Four Seasons on Monday. Mayoral girlfriend Diana Taylor stopped by to say hello.
Scientology Flap, Gay City News
N.Y. Post, borough prez opponent, raise questions about propriety of fund-raising effort
By Paul Schindler
Gay City News
August 4 - 10
“It is a question of transparency. It is a question of a clear public good. Most importantly, I should point out that we are not jumping to conclusions,” said David Meadvin, Ellner’s campaign manager. “What Councilmember Lopez owes voters and the public is a clear explanation of why she supported this project. From the Post’s reporting, there is a suggestion of a connection between the campaign collections and the disbursement of public monies.”
Continue reading "Scientology Flap, Gay City News"
Sharpton: Challenging Homophobia, Amsterdam News
By Jamal E. Watson
Amsterdam News
August 4, 2005
...During his presidential race last year, Sharpton was one of the only candidates who publicly supported gay marriage, and earlier this year at the request of Brian Ellner, an openly gay candidate running for Manhattan borough president, Sharpton marched in the city’s Gay Pride Parade.“Rev. Sharpton can do enormous good on this issue in New York City and nationally,” said Ellner. “We still need to get past old concepts of this disease and continue to challenge homophobia.”
Continue reading "Sharpton: Challenging Homophobia, Amsterdam News"
Taking Manhattan, Scene Magazine
Click here to read the article about Brian in Scene.
Thousands March for Gay Marriage, Gay City News
Second annual Wedding March draws advocates, politicians for Brookly Bridge Trek
By Cody Lyon
Gay City News
Roughly 2,000 people, including several leading political figures, braved threatning skies and unreasonably cool temperatures this past Sunday for a Wedding March from Lower Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge to demonstrate support for gay civil marriage in New York State...
...Openly gay Manhattan borough president candidate Brian Ellner said, "if progressive cities like New York don't push the envelope on this issue, then who will?"
Ellner argued that polling data shows people in the city support gay marriage but that unfortunately some political leaders lag behind.
Trippi Helps Out, Downtown Express
Trippi Goes Local
By Lincoln Anderson
Downtown Express
"He turned a long-shot candidate into a frontrunner in Howard Dean. Now, top the cutting-edge campaign manager Joe Trippi is taking on another dark horse as general consultant for Brian Ellner's Manhattan borough president race. Trippi said Ellner will bring a "new and open approach" to the office, as opposed to established candidates' top-down way of doing business..."
Trippi Joins E4M, Gay City News
Trippi Joins Campaign of Gay Manhattan BP Candidate
Gay City News
"Brian Ellner, an out gay attorney and former school board member seeking the Democratic nomination for Manhattan Borough President, has signed as his campaign's general consultant, Joe Trippi, the man who made Howard Dean a presidential contender. Joe Trippi said Ellner is "exactly the kind of smart, young, inspirational candidate we need to lead the Democratic Party into the future..."
Trippi Sets Strategy for Ellner Campaign, Scene Magazine
