Senator Tom Duane at Center's Wedding Reception, July 2011- Photo (C) Tom Sengel

State Senator Tom Duane announced that he will not seek reelection after he completes his current term in office, ending December 31, 2012. Duane’s disctrict spans the Upper West Side to Greenwich Village, and across to the East Village, and includes the LGBT Center.

As The New York Times reported on Sunday, Duane “first burst onto the political scene two decades ago, when he disclosed during a successful bid for City Council that he was H.I.V. positive, and later made his mark as the first openly gay member of the Senate.”

Throughout his time in office Duane has been a fierce advocate for the LGBT community and for the Center.  He’s been here in our home for nearly every major celebration, rally and  pivotal moment in our rich history.  Last July Duane attended our special Wedding Reception, on the first day same-sex couples could legally marry in New York, a day that he helped make possible.

Also from the New York Times:

“Mr. Duane, who was a pivotal figure during the recent battle over same-sex marriage, said that he had only begun to think seriously about retiring a few weeks ago, around the time that he and his longtime partner, Louis Webre, attended the wedding of Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker and his former chief of staff, and Kim M. Catullo.”

The Center wishes Senator Duane the best of luck as he prepares for a new chapter in his life; we applaud him for his numerous accomplishments as a legislator and for his tireless pursuit of social justice on behalf of the entire LGBT community.

He has been a true friend to the Center.