While his opponent was across town talking about changes to Connecticut’s tax structure, former Stamford Dan Malloy was at the Capitol receiving the endorsement of leaders in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
Acknowledging the state’s fiscal crisis and the economic challenges the next governor will face, Malloy said that’s no reason to ignore equality.
Even in good economic times, the state was unable to make progress on issues, such as adding gender express and identity to the state’s discrimination laws, he said.
“To assume progress, would be a mistake,“ Malloy said. “This battle is not done.“
After receiving the praise of a handful of influential members of the LGBT community, Malloy vowed to fight to end discrimination against transgender individuals.
He said people often try to shy away from the tough social issues of the day and hide behind economic issues.
But at the end of the day endorsements don‘t mean much to the average voter. “It’s an achievement that stands by itself regardless of the governor’s race,” Malloy said.
Anne Stanback, the founder and former executive director of Love Makes a Family, said it’s not merely his commitment to ending discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people or his enthusiastic support of marriage equality that makes her want to support him for governor.
“From education to health care to job creation, I like the ideas that Dan has put forward,” Stanback said. “And at a time when our state faces a significant budget crisis, I’m particularly impressed by the fact that he’s led a major Connecticut city.”
Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford, who used to work with Malloy as Stamford’s Corporation Counsel, said he’s seen Malloy tested both in private and in public.
“We have been in battle with this man and a lot of times he’s in the front of the line on these issues,” McDonald said. “He’s one of the finest individuals I’ve had the privilege to know.”
Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, said he’s known Malloy for eight years and believes he has the leadership skills the state “desperately needs.”
“He’s willing to listen to people who have real problems,” Lawlor said. “And he has the courage to stand up for what is right.”
While Malloy was receiving praise from the LGBT community at the Capitol, Ned Lamont, his Democratic opponent and frontrunner in the last Quinnipiac University poll, was at City Fare Catering on Franklin Avenue talking about the business entity tax.
Lamont proposed eliminating the $250 business entity tax that every business in the state pays by closing the “loophole” that allows big corporations to shift Connecticut profits to other states where there may be no corporate income tax.
