Dromm backs Johnson's presumptive run for mayor

Councilmember Daniel Dromm. Photo courtesy of Dromm’s Office.

By David Brand

Council Speaker Corey Johnson hasn’t announced his candidacy for mayor yet, but that hasn’t stopped Councilmember Daniel Dromm from making a preemptive endorsement.

Dromm announced he would back Johnson for mayor on Thursday and doubled down in a fundraising email Friday. Dromm invited individuals to attend an event May 30 in honor of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia and upcoming Pride festivities.

“I decided to come out as a gay man when I was a teacher in 1992. My Queens school district had just chosen to reject the citywide Children of the Rainbow Curriculum, which urged tolerance for gays and lesbians,” Dromm said. “That fight against homophobia right here in NYC set me on a path to become a gay rights activist, a community leader and the elected official I am today.”

As a longtime advocate for LGBTQ rights, Dromm said he is eager to elect Johnson as New York City’s first openly gay mayor. Johnson is widely expected to announce his candidacy and has embarked on a citywide speaking tour, outlining his vision for criminal justice reform at an event in Manhattan on Thursday and his plans for transit in Astoria earlier this year.

“Twenty six years ago when I was a teacher fighting for LGBTQ* representation and standing against homophobia in our schools, I never would have imagined we would be ready to elect an openly gay and HIV+ man as Mayor,” he said. “Now I’m ready to send a message to all the young queer people in this City: you have nothing to fear by living openly, and there is no need to curtail your ambitions because of who you love.”

New Yorkers won’t head to the polls to elect a new mayor until 2021 — unless, of course, Mayor Bill de Blasio wins the 2020 Presidential election.