Tom Cuite

The re-emergence this week of the obscure, late former City Council Majority Leader Tom Cuite may be instructive for politicians balancing difficult gay rights positions with their legacies.

Cuite probably didn't think he'd be remembered three decades later for opposing a gay rights bill. But it turns out that it's the only thing he's remembered for, here, here, and here, and indirectly in a walled-off Joyce Purnick column. About half the "Tom Cuite" hits on Google focus on the bill.  read more »

It's a case study in being on the historically "wrong" side of a civil rights issue. And while impossible to predict, it's not inconceivable that, say, Chuck Schumer's vote for the Defense of Marriage Act will be one of very few things people know about him in 50 years.

Correction: Cuite wasn't the elected council president, the equivalent of public advocate. He was the legislative leader.

Blogger Steve Gilliard, who has a long memory, offers this:

"I can remember the last City Council President, which is what the Speaker's job was before the charter revision to eliminate the Board of Estimate. The guy's name was Tom Cuite and he was an Irish guy from Brooklyn who made it his sworn duty to prevent a gay rights bill from being passed in the City Council.

"The fact, that in 20 years he can be replaced by a lesbian is a great thing. I've always trusted Quinn as a straightfoward pol and one who doesn't back down from a fight.

"Given the still high levels of homophobia in the city, this could be a lot of fun."  read more »

Hardly the only thing worth noting about Quinn. She's also, as an old friend of hers noted recently, a kind of old-school, gregarious, storytelling Irish politician. But with a Mayor who's looking to repair his pro-gay record, can only make things more interesting.

Irresponsible prediction of the day: If she and her partner can be convinced, Mike will find a way to officiate at Chris's wedding.