[Editorial note: Candidates who receive endorsements from GaySocialites.com or any media outlet under the supervision of GaySocialites Media Group (GSMG) are approved by the GaySocialites.com Editorial Board and the Editorial Advisory Board for the GSMG.  However, each endorsement is penned by a senior member of our staff and edited by another senior staffer.  This endorsement was written by CEO and Editorial Director Charles Winters and then edited by Chief Information Officer Joshua Sean.  This endorsement doesn't necessarily reflect the opinions of our entire organization or those associated.]

Thursday, September 13th is primary day in New York. Although there aren’t any major contested races on the state or national level, there is one that should be noted for Manhattan voters.

Following endorsements for Barack Obama and Kirsten Gillibrand, we here at GaySocialites.com are excited to announce our third endorsement of the political season is for Brad Hoylman who is running for New York State Senate in District NY-27, which includes Greenwich Village, the East Village and portions of Chelsea and Midtown West.

Its no secret that the west side of Manhattan has a lot of gay men and women living there, so it is important to have a qualified, progressive representative in this district.  Brad has two challengers.  One of which is viable while another is a complete joke.  Hoyland, an openly gay candidate, rises above the rest and would be someone who would make us proud in Albany. He was even hand-picked for the job by Tom Duane, the Senator vacating the position.

I take nothing away from bartenders, waiters or manual laborers; but I wouldn’t want one of them pulling my teeth and certainly don’t want one of them making my laws. I’ll gladly let them mix my drinks, serve me my dinner, take out my trash or perform various other duties for which they may be qualified. Political races shouldn’t be an outlet to employ someone who can’t get a job doing anything else. There are specific qualifications that a State Senator should possess and pouring a good cocktail is not one of them.  Hoylman has been a Democratic grassroots activist in the Village for over 20 years, served as the Chair of Manhattan Community Board 2 and president of the Gay & Lesbian Independent Democrats. No other candidate matches those qualifications, and those listed are just a few examples of what Brad has already accomplished.

Hoylman is exactly what that district needs to ensure issues of concern are properly addressed. I am so tired of straight politico-wannabes running around town tossing around their support for gay marriage. That is no longer an issue in Albany. Gay marriage is already legal in New York, and the only threat to chance that is on the national level (if there is any threat against it all.) In all reality, it is probably something most candidates in Manhattan say they will support.

There is a great deal of pride and professionalism that needs to be restored to the New York State Senate, and Brad Hoylman is the man to do that. He hasn’t run his campaign out of a dive bar, and he doesn’t have questionable skeletons in his closet that will creep up and haunt him later. Don’t waste your vote by pulling the lever for someone who will make you regret it later.

We here at GaySocialites.com are confident that a vote for Brad Hoylman is a vote you not only won’t regret; but it is one that you can be proud.