Lambda Independent Democrats

Sheldon Silver is giving money to the Stonewall Democratic Club for the first time. In the past, the 32-year-incumbent and Orthodox Jew has not conspicuously supported the causes embraced by many gay activists in his district--or at least he didn't before bringing gay marriage legislation to a vote in the Assembly last June.

Silver paid $500 for a ticket to the May 15 annual fund-raiser for Stonewall, which is based in his district and considered one of the major Democratic clubs for the gay community. He is also expected to attend.

According to a search of campaign finance records, Silver has never given a contribution to the group before. Nor has he given to Lambda Independent Democrats.

The May 15 fund-raiser is the first major event the group has hosted since the Assembly passed the same-sex marriage bill last year. It's also in the run-up to the September primaries, which Silver is taking more seriously than usual as he faces two spirited challengers.  read more »

A reader sent along this photo of Christine Quinn (nice boa!) flanked by Rosie Mendez and Gary Parker of Lambda Independent Democrats, which honored Quinn right before the LGBT Pride Parade in Brooklyn this weekend.

   read more »

Just in time to make Hillary Clinton's 5 p.m. meeting with gay activists really interesting.

One of meeting's organizer's Gary Parker told me this afternoon the marriage question would just be one of the issues discussed. But the press release from Lambda Independent Democrats, one of the group's attending the meeting, reads:

"In Wake of New Jersey's Gay Marriage Ruling, LGBT Leaders Will Press Clinton on Marriage Equality"

Another indication that LGBT leaders don't intend to go along quietly with her current position.

Press release after the jump.  read more »