Jimmy Van Bramer Exits Queens Beep Race
Councilmember says he is dropping out due to“family circumstances”
BY MATT TRACY
Citing family reasons, out gay Queens
City Councilmember Jimmy Van
Bramer abruptly pulled out of the
special election race for borough
president.
The Queens lawmaker said in a written statement
posted on Twitter January 21 that “family
circumstances have been weighing on me for
some time, causing me to consider the timing
and feasibility of this campaign.”
“Prioritizing my responsibilities as a son and
brother is where my attention needs to be right
now,” Van Bramer added. “While this is a difficult
decision, this is the right one for me and
my family at this time.”
Van Bramer’s sudden departure from the race
— two months ahead of the March 24 special
election — follows a string of key endorsements
that appeared to inject significant momentum
into his campaign to replace Melinda Katz, who
was elected Queens district attorney after eking
out a narrow primary victory over out queer
public defender Tiffany Cabán and prevailing in
➤ REGGIE BULLOCK, from p.10
New York City LGBTQ history
flashed across stadium TVs during
timeouts, and out gay State Assemblymember
Daniel O’Donnell
presented a community leadership
award to Destination Tomorrow, a
Bronx LGBTQ community center,
and its executive director, Sean
Coleman. An out member of the
military was also recognized.
At halftime, the youth from
Hetrick-Martin played in a basketball
game on the court and elicited
loud cheers from the MSG faithful.
The team, dubbed Soldiers of Diversity
as part of a sports program
at Hetrick-Martin, consists of
youth of different sexual orientations,
gender identities, races, and
backgrounds.
The halftime game represented
a warming moment on a special
night of celebrating New York’s
boundless diversity.
Bullock, meanwhile, is planning
to continue pushing for queer
rights well into the future. And
though he hopes to make an impact
far beyond the professional
sports world, he is well aware that
PHOTO NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL/ JEFF REED
Out gay Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer stands with his mother
at the St. Patrick’s Day For All Parade in Queens last year.
the general election. Public Advocate Jumaane
Williams and former gubernatorial candidates
Zephyr Teachout and Cynthia Nixon, who is an
out lesbian, were among those who threw their
support behind Van Bramer, along with activist
much work remains in his own
workplace. He is at least framing
that thought in an optimistic
mindset — perhaps because he’s
confident that he and others can
help foster a more inclusive atmosphere.
“Obviously we don’t have an out
player in our league, but with players
like me who continue to stand
up and use my platform, possibly
one day somebody who is a part
of the community can be in this
league,” he said.
Of course, Bullock will carry the
memory of his sisters along with
him every step of the way. They
were and still are with him, even
in remembrance, so much so that
he hopes fans in the future will
look back at his tenure in the NBA
and recall the impact he made off
the court as much as his time on
the court.
“Mia was a part of the community,
she believed in everybody, she
wanted everything to be equal, she
was a regular person, and that’s
what she stood for,” Bullock said.
“I try to carry it over with me. It’s
part of who I am and it’s a part of
the legacy I want to leave behind.”
POLITICS
Shaun King and out gay former Manhattan
State Senator Tom Duane. Other notable backers
included out LGBTQ City Council candidate
Marti Gould Cummings, who is seeking a Manhattan
seat in 2021, and trans activist Cecilia
Gentili.
“I will of course continue to fight for the working
people of our borough and city every day
in the New York City Council and beyond,” Van
Bramer said.
Van Bramer, who entered the race with an
emotional launch video about overcoming homophobia
during his youth, was shaping his
campaign around a progressive platform in a
race featuring Queens Councilmembers Donovan
Richards and Costa Constantinides and
former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley,
among others. Less than a week before exiting
the race, Van Bramer told Gay City News that
his recent string of endorsements “clearly demonstrates
we are the progressive insurgent in
the race.”
Van Bramer is currently serving his third
term on the City Council and is term-limited
from running again in 2021.
CREDIT
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Eligible applicants must have been
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annual revenue.
Call 311 or visit
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TM
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