Marc Coppola was elected to complete the unexpired Senate term of Byron Brown who had resigned upon taking office as Mayor of Buffalo. Coppola is the only candidate in this race who has gone on record as stating that he would vote for legislation that would extend marriage to same-sex couples in New York State.

Coppola has also supported glbt issues and people as a member of the Buffalo Common Council.  Senator Coppola, on his first day in the New York State Senate rose and spoke on the Senate floor in support of the inclusion of glbt people in anti-school bullying legislation.

Coppola was a standout on the City Council where he led the fight to reduce the size of the council and cut cost in city government. He was also responsible for the passage of legislation that lowered taxes for homeowners, encouraged renovation and increasing overall property values in our cities neighborhoods. As Delaware district councilmember Marc had been an active representative to a large number of glbt people that lived in his district.

Antoine Thompson, who is challenging Senator Coppola in the primary, has thus far refused to go on the public record regarding how he would vote on Same-sex marriage legislation if he is elected to the Senate. In fact Thompson has tried to have it both ways.  When ARTVOICE asked him the same-sex marriage question he answered that “I support legal rights for all adults in New York State.”

Could Thompson be avoiding going on the record?  Has he, like his political mentor Mayor Byron Brown pledged to the conservative east side ministers that he would not cast a vote that would support same-sex marriage?

Coppola has garnered wide support of gay and lesbian people that is easily seen by that fact the Senator Tom Duane, the only openly gay member of the New York State Senate has come to Buffalo to show his support. Both the current and the most recentl past chairs and vice chairs of the Stonewall Democrats of Western New York have endorsed Marc Coppola.

Antoine Thompson’s candidacy is being pushed in the glbt community by two men who currently hold political patronage jobs controlled by Thompson mentor Mayor Byron Brown and his political organization Grassroots. The men, David Granville and Jeffrey Tooke have attempted to sabotage Senator Coppola’s events and candidacy with misinformation.

Thompson continues to refuse to answer his position on same sex marriage for the public record to Outcome and has not given indication of his position to any other media or public forum.

Coppola has left a larger record of accomplishment in the council and has proven that he is willing to be on the record and out front in support of his constituents.  The region needs to send to Albany representatives who are willing to stand up for their constituents and not be tied down by groups and individuals who are seeking financial benefits in exchange for political support.

It is hard to believe that the glbt voters in the 60th district will fall for the election tricks of the Thompson campaign when there is clearly a superior candidate, Marc Coppola.