Christine Quinn

Quinn was born in Glen Cove, New York, one of two daughters of Mary (née Callaghan) and Lawrence Quinn.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/nyregion/christine-quinn-retraces-grandmothers-trip-on-titanic.html?_r=0 | work=The New York Times | first=Jim | last=Dwyer | title=Christine Quinn Retraces Grandmother's Trip on Titanic | date=April 5, 2012}} Her mother died of breast cancer in 1982.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wnyc.org/story/198831-christine-quinn-leonard-lopate/|title=Quinn Remembers Her Grandmother, a Titanic Survivor | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News|website=WNYC}} She attended School of the Holy Child in the village of Old Westbury on Long Island in New York, and graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut in 1988.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/04/nyregion/04biobox.html|title=Christine C. Quinn profile|work=The New York Times|date=2006-01-04|access-date=2011-12-01}} Her maternal grandmother, Ellen (née Shine) Callaghan, was a survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

She served as head of the Housing Justice Campaign for the Association of Neighborhood and Housing Development. Quinn entered politics to manage the City Council campaign of Thomas Duane in 1991, after which she served as Duane's chief of staff for five years. She later became the executive director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, and was appointed a member of the NYC Police/Community Relations Task Force by then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani.{{cite web|url=http://council.nyc.gov/d3/html/members/memberbio.shtml |title=Member Bio |publisher=Council.nyc.gov |access-date=2013-07-25}}

In a 1999 special election, Quinn ran for New York City Council in the 3rd district. The 3rd district covers the Manhattan neighborhoods of Chelsea, Greenwich Village, and Hell's Kitchen, as well as parts of West Village, SoHo and Murray Hill. Quinn became the Democratic nominee and defeated Republican Joseph Mauriello, 89%-11%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=84674 |title=New York City Council 03 Special Race - Nov 02, 1999 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=2014-03-15}}

In 2001 Quinn won a full term on the City Council, defeating Republican Michelle Bouchard 75%-25%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=84519 |title=New York City Council 03 Race - Nov 06, 2001 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=2014-03-15}} Because the district lines were redrawn after the 2000 census, her term lasted only two years. She was reelected in 2003 after the districts were redrawn according to population shifts (all council districts must have an equal number of residents). In 2005 she was reelected to a four-year term unopposed.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=313874 |title=New York City Council 03 Race - Nov 08, 2005 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=2014-03-15}} In 2009 she was reelected to a third term with 81% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=554447 |title=New York City Council 03 Race - Nov 03, 2009 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=2014-03-15}}

While on the City Council, Quinn served as Chair of the Health Committee. She sponsored the Equal Benefits Bill and the Health Care Security Act, which requires that city contractors provide parity in benefits between married spouses and registered domestic partners. This bill (along with the Health Care Security Act, which ensures health care for grocery workers) passed over Mayor Michael Bloomberg's veto.{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/court-tilts-mike-kos-gay-partner-equal-benefits-statute-override-council-laws-article-1.559680 |first= David |last=Saltonstall |title=COURT TILTS TO MIKE. KOs gay-partner equal benefits statute and allows him to override Council laws |publisher=NY Daily News |date=2006-02-15 |access-date=2013-07-25 |location=New York}} Quinn also "shepherded" a ban on indoor smoking at commercial establishments through the City Council; the bill passed 42–7.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/19/nyregion/smoking-bill-is-adopted-as-council-ends-its-year.html |first= Diane |last=Cardwell |title=Smoking Ban Is Adopted As Council Ends Its Year |work=The New York Times|date=2002-12-19 |access-date=2018-02-23 |location=New York}}

Quinn was elected Speaker of the New York City Council in January 2006{{cite news |url=http://gaycitynews.nyc/gcn_453/christinequinn.html |first=Andy |last=Humm |title=Christine Quinn Assumes Speakership |publisher=Gay City News |date=January 5–11, 2006 |access-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223171504/http://gaycitynews.nyc/gcn_453/christinequinn.html |url-status=dead }} and reelected in 2010.{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/city-council-re-elects-christine-quinn-speaker-racially-charged-session-article-1.457967 |first= Frank |last=Lombardi |title=City council re-elects Christine Quinn as speaker in a racially-charged session |work=New York Daily News |date=January 6, 2010 |access-date=February 23, 2018}} She was the first female and first openly gay person to hold this position.

Preceding the controversial lecture by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at Columbia University in 2007, Quinn wrote to the school requesting that his invitation to speak be withdrawn due to his support of state-sponsored terrorism and hate speech, the latter particularly with regard to the Holocaust. Her request was denied.{{cite news|first=Claudia|last=Parsons|title=NY university urged to cancel Ahmadinejad speech|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2040571120070920|work=Reuters|date=2007-09-20|access-date=2007-09-24}}

Under New York City law, the City Council Speaker has authority over the yearly City Council funds, worth almost $400 million (in 2012), to distribute among 51 members.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/nyregion/quinn-on-cnn-denies-being-vindictive.html|title=Quinn, on CNN, Denies Being Vindictive|work=The New York Times| first=Michael M.|last=Grynbaum|date=March 27, 2013}} This discretionary funding system, sometimes called the "slush fund", has been criticized, with some councilmembers alleging Quinn to have cut funding to their districts as a form of political retaliation. She repeatedly denied these allegations.

In April 2008 the New York Post reported{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/nyregion/04quinn.html?_r=0|title=Phony Allocations by City Council Reported|work=The New York Times|date=April 4, 2008|access-date=March 5, 2013|first1=Ray|last1=Rivera|first2=Russ|last2=Buettner}} that Quinn's office had appropriated millions of dollars to organizations that did not exist, and that the money was then secretly routed to organizations favored by individual councilmembers. In a news conference that followed Quinn said, "I had no knowledge of it; I did not know this was the practice". She said she had found out about it only a few months earlier, alerted authorities, and ordered staffers to stop the practice, but that they did not listen.{{cite web|url=http://www.parentadvocates.org/nicecontent/dsp_printable.cfm?articleID=7422|title=New York City's City Council Slush Fund Allocations Cloud the Political Future of City Council President Christine Quinn and of Mayor Mike Bloomberg|work=parentadvocates.org|access-date=March 5, 2013}} Quinn hired a criminal defense lawyer to represent her in the federal and city investigations.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/12/nyregion/12quinn.html|title=Investigations Into Spending Lead Speaker to Hire Lawyer|work=The New York Times|date=April 12, 2008|access-date=March 5, 2013|first1=Ray|last1=Rivera|first2=Russ|last2=Buettner}} Records showed that nearly 25% of those "secret slush" funds went to organizations in Quinn's district and that two of the biggest recipients had contributed to Quinn's 2009 mayoral run.{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/item_uuhbq4OhMoFj1twHcADedK;jsessionid=88EE65324C9C9BD23431E3C5CDA3AE80|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411134003/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/item_uuhbq4OhMoFj1twHcADedK;jsessionid=88EE65324C9C9BD23431E3C5CDA3AE80|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 11, 2013|title=QUINN-WIN $ITUATION-24% OF MYSTERY FUND WENT TO HER DISTRICT|work=New York Post|date=April 6, 2008|access-date=March 5, 2013}} In September 2011 one of the city council's lawyers reported that the federal "investigation has been closed without taking up any action," but only after two councilmen were indicted at the cost of $100,000 to the city.{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/slush_fund_hangover_vdeOps2zPN4vDgHUQO1FLK|title=100G slush-fund hangover|work=New York Post|first=Sally|last=Goldenberg|date=September 19, 2011|access-date=February 19, 2012}}

Under Quinn's leadership, the New York City Council led efforts to make Greenmarkets accept food stamps.{{cite web|last=Mogul |first=Fred |url=http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/wnyc-news-blog/2012/jan/03/food-stamps-increasingly-deployed-greenmarkets |title=Food Stamps Increasingly Deployed at Greenmarkets |publisher=WNYC |date=2012-01-03 |access-date=2013-07-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617025911/http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/wnyc-news-blog/2012/jan/03/food-stamps-increasingly-deployed-greenmarkets/ |archive-date=June 17, 2013 |df=mdy }} She also opposed requiring applicants for food stamps to be electronically fingerprinted.{{cite news| first=Kate |last=Taylor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/nyregion/christine-c-quinn-urges-city-to-drop-rule-on-fingerprinting-food-stamp-seekers.html |title=Quinn opposes fingerprinting of food stamp recipients | work=The New York Times |date=2011-10-12}} New York State stopped fingerprinting food-stamp recipients in 2007, but the practice continued in New York City under the Bloomberg administration.

On December 26, 2012, Quinn wrote a letter to President Obama formally requesting that he commute Jonathan Pollard's lifetime sentence for providing classified information to Israel. She wrote, "I know I share similar views with many past and current American elected officials," and asked Obama to "use [his] constitutional power to treat Mr. Pollard the way others have been treated by our nation's justice system."{{cite web|title=Quinn's letter|url=http://www.jonathanpollard.org/2012/122612.jpg|access-date=April 10, 2014|archive-date=March 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309143804/http://www.jonathanpollard.org/2012/122612.jpg|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=My Winners and Losers of 2012 List|url=http://www.jacobkornbluh.com/2012_12_01_archive.html|access-date=April 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421051827/http://www.jacobkornbluh.com/2012_12_01_archive.html|archive-date=April 21, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite news|title=Speaker Quinn Sends Letter To Obama Requesting Him To Free Pollard|url=http://hamodia.com/2012/12/26/speaker-quinn-sends-letter-to-obama-requesting-him-to-free-pollard/|access-date=April 10, 2014|newspaper=Hamodia|date=December 26, 2012}}

Quinn was a vigorous LGBT advocate during her tenure on the City Council. In 2006 she boycotted the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York due to the policy of the parade's sponsor, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, against gays marching openly. The same year she tried unsuccessfully to broker a deal with the organizers to allow her to wear a gay pride pin.{{cite web |url= http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1254297,00.html |title= NY Snubbed In Gay Row |date= 2007-03-05 |publisher= Sky News |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070704015553/http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0%2C%2C30200-1254297%2C00.html |archive-date= July 4, 2007 |access-date= July 25, 2013 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/05/nyregion/05quinn.html|title=Quinn to March for St. Patrick, but in Dublin|first=Sewell|last=Chan|date=March 5, 2007|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2007-03-05}} Subsequently, she was named 2008 Irish-American of the Year by the New York-based Irish Echo{{cite web |url = http://www.irishecho.com/newspaper/story.cfm?id=18949 |title = Irish American of the Year: Christine Quinn |last = O'Hanlon |first = Ray |date = 2008-12-31 |publisher = The Irish Echo Online |access-date = 2013-07-25 |archive-url =https://archive.today/20090322120236/http://www.irishecho.com/newspaper/story.cfm?id=18949 |archive-date=2009-03-22 }} and has boycotted the parade every year since, marching instead in St. Patrick's Day parades in other cities around the world.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/15/christine-quinns-tensions-st-patricks-day-parade-lgbt_n_2883090.html|title=Christine Quinn, St. Patrick's Day Parade: Speaker's Prominence Highlights Tensions Between Event, LGBT Community|publisher=Huffington Post | date=March 15, 2013}}

In November 2009 Quinn urged the New York Senate to pass same-sex marriage legislation, saying that "she and her partner, lawyer Kim Catullo, [would] not get married until they [could do so] in New York. Near tears, she added: 'This is literally a moment when people can stand up and say that everybody's family matters, that everybody's home is a blessed place and that everybody has the same rights.'"{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/emotional-city-council-speaker-christine-quinn-urges-state-senate-pass-same-sex-marriage-bill-article-1.416630|title=An emotional City Council Speaker Christine Quinn urges state senate to pass same-sex marriage bill|work=New York Daily News |first=Frank |last=Lombardi |date=November 9, 2009 |access-date=February 23, 2018}}

On July 28, 2012, Quinn sent a letter demanding that the president of NYU end its relationship with Chick-Fil-A, because of the stance of the company's CEO, Dan Cathy, against same-sex marriage.{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/31/opinion/the-chick-fil-a-business.html?ref=opinion |title = The Chick-fil-A Business |date = 2012-07-30 |publisher = The New York Times (Editorial) |access-date = 2013-07-25}}

According to New York, "[for] years, Quinn opposed term limits, a position that helped her get elected speaker by fellow Council members in 2005. Once in the job, though, she commissioned a poll, and it showed that the public opposed tinkering with them. In December 2007, Quinn declared that repealing term limits would be 'anti-democratic,' a position she called 'firm and final.'"{{cite news |url=https://nymag.com/news/politics/citypolitic/christine-quinn-2013-5/|last=Smith|first=Chris|title=Is Quinn's Flip Showing?|work=New York |date=April 28, 2013|access-date=February 23, 2018}} But in 2008 Quinn backed Mayor Michael Bloomberg's effort to overturn the two-term limit for New York City elected officials,{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/23/bloomberg.third.term/index.html |title=N.Y. City Council extends term limits for mayor, other officials |work=CNN |date=October 23, 2008 |access-date=February 28, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713003834/http://articles.cnn.com/2008-10-23/politics/bloomberg.third.term_1_term-limits-public-vote-council-speaker-christine-quinn?_s=PM%3APOLITICS |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |df=mdy }} saying she had changed her position due to concern about the impact a change in leadership could have on the city's economic recovery. In 2008 the Council voted to extend term limits to allow the mayor, City Council members, and borough presidents to run for third terms, reversing the results of the two previous public referenda.{{cite news|url=http://www.observer.com/2008/politics/quinn-supports-bloombergs-term-limits-plan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014014657/http://www.observer.com/2008/politics/quinn-supports-bloombergs-term-limits-plan|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 14, 2008|title=It's Official: Quinn Backs Bloomberg's Term Limits Plan|work=The Observer|first=Azi|last=Paybarah|date=October 12, 2008|access-date=February 28, 2013}} Bloomberg was subsequently elected to a third term as mayor, and Quinn to a third term on the City Council.{{cite web|url=http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/10/6538594/betting-voters-will-still-care-about-christine-quinns-term-limits-d|title=Betting that voters will still care about Christine Quinn's term-limits deal in 2013|work=Capital|first=Dana|last=Rubenstein|date=October 25, 2012|access-date=February 28, 2013}}

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, among others, denounced this move. In June 2009 the City Council approved a 40% cut in the budget of the Public Advocate's Office. Gotbaum declared herself a victim of "political payback" because of her opposition to the changes in the term limits law,{{cite news|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/g/betsy_gotbaum/index.html|title=N.Y. City Council extends term limits for mayor, other officials|work=The New York Times|date=January 1, 2010|access-date=February 28, 2013}} a notion Quinn claimed was "ridiculous". All five candidates for Public Advocate showed up at City Hall in June to protest the move,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/nyregion/24advocate.html?_r=0|title=Rivals Unite to Protest Public Advocate Budget Cut|date=June 23, 2009|access-date=February 28, 2013|work=The New York Times|first=David W.|last=Chen}} and in 2010 New Yorkers again voted overwhelmingly to limit politicians to two consecutive terms.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/03/nyregion/03limits.html?_r=0|title=Once Again, City Voters Approve Term Limits|work=The New York Times|date=November 3, 2010|access-date=February 28, 2013|first=Javier C.|last=Hernandez}}

{{main|2013 New York City mayoral election}}

On March 10, 2013, after much speculation, Quinn announced that she was running for mayor of New York City.{{cite news|title=Christine Quinn officially announces she's running for NYC mayor|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/christine_quinn_officially_announces_ujssqnvr0VzAPvqJcZefON |first=Sally |last=Goldenberg |publisher=New York Post|date=March 10, 2013|access-date=2013-07-25}} (Michael Bloomberg, the incumbent, was term-limited and could not run again.){{cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2013/11/02/bye-bye-bloomberg|title=Bye-bye, Bloomberg|work=Economist|date=November 2, 2013|access-date=March 5, 2019}}

Widely viewed as Bloomberg's heir apparent,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/nyregion/seeking-to-succeed-bloomberg-while-keeping-him-at-a-distance.html|title=Seeking to Succeed Bloomberg, While Keeping Him at a Distance|first=Michael|last=Barbaro|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 4, 2013|access-date=March 5, 2019}} Quinn was considered the early frontrunner in the nine-candidate race for the Democratic nomination.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nyc-mayoral-race-front-runner-christine-quinn-formally-launches-bid/ |title=NYC mayoral race front-runner Christine Quinn formally launches bid |work=CBS News |date=2013-03-10 |access-date=2013-07-25}} During her mayoral campaign, multiple media outlets reported on Quinn's temper; The New York Times reported that her staff had her City Council office soundproofed due to her outbursts.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/26/nyregion/in-private-quinn-displays-a-volatile-side.html|title=Offstage, Quinn Isn't Afraid to Let Fury Fly|first1=Michael M.|last1=Grynbaum|first2=David W.|last2=Chen|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 25, 2013|access-date=March 5, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/nymag/features/46821/index1.html|title=Quinn in the Slush|website=NYMag.com|date=May 8, 2008 |access-date=March 5, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Christine-Quinn-Responds-To-Reports-Of-_Hot-Temper__New-York.html|title=Christine Quinn Responds to "Hot Temper" Reports|website=NBC New York|access-date=March 5, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2013/03/you-wouldnt-like-christine-quinn-when-shes-angry-007471|title=You wouldn't like Christine Quinn when she's angry|first=Azi|last=Paybarah|website=Politico PRO|access-date=March 5, 2019}} Quinn's rivals attacked her for reversing her position on mayoral term limits and supporting Bloomberg's bid for a third term in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/23/rivals-challenge-quinn-on-term-limit-stance-that-helped-bloomberg/|title=Rivals Challenge Quinn on Term-Limit Stance That Helped Bloomberg|first=Kate|last=Taylor|date=April 23, 2013|website=The New York Times|access-date=March 5, 2019}} In August 2013 The Washington Post opined that Quinn's primary chances were damaged by Bloomberg's "tacit endorsement" of her campaign,{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ny-mayoral-candidate-christine-quinn-struggles-in-the-shadow-of-scandal/2013/08/06/7cd6992a-fec4-11e2-9711-3708310f6f4d_story.html|title=N.Y. mayoral candidate Christine Quinn struggles in the shadow of scandal|first=Jason|last=Horowitz|date=August 6, 2013|via=www.washingtonpost.com}} and in September The New York Times asserted that her change in position on term limits had also harmed her chances.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/nyregion/in-quinn-reversal-on-term-limits-complex-motives-and-lasting-effects.html|title=Quinn Reversal, Meant to Help Her, Now Hurts|first1=Michael|last1=Barbaro|first2=David M.|last2=Halbfinger|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 1, 2013|access-date=March 5, 2019}} Quinn's campaign faded as time went on, and she finished third in the primary.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/11/nyregion/for-quinn-smiling-all-day-long-it-wasnt-supposed-to-be-this-hard.html| date=2013-09-10 | work=The New York Times| title=Quinn Smiles Gamely, but Primary Wasn't Supposed to Be This Hard | access-date=2013-09-11 | first=Jim | last=Dwyer}} She received 15.5% of the vote, while winner Bill de Blasio received 40.3% and Bill Thompson 26.2%.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/projects/elections/2013/nyc-primary/mayor/map.html|title=2013 New York City Primary Results|newspaper=The New York Times}}

In 2013 Quinn's memoir, With Patience and Fortitude{{spaced ndash}} A Memoir, was published by William Morrow. It sold poorly, with The New York Times reporting only 100 copies sold its first week.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/nyregion/quinns-memoir-goes-largely-unsold-when-it-can-be-found.html|title=Buyers Are Scarce for Quinn's Memoir|first1=Julie|last1=Bosman|first2=Michael M.|last2=Grynbaum|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 19, 2013|access-date=March 5, 2019}}

In October 2014 Quinn stumped for the Women's Equality Party established by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in July 2014. When asked about the Working Families Party's criticism of the creation of a competing progressive party, she said, "Change is hard."{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2014/10/30/womens-equality-party-new-york/|title=Does New York really need a Women's Equality Party?|website=Fortune|access-date=March 5, 2019}} In January 2015 Cuomo hired Quinn as a special advisor.{{cite news|url=http://www.silive.com/news/2015/01/gov_cuomo_hires_former_nyc_cou.html|title=Gov. Cuomo hires former NYC council speaker Christine Quinn as special adviser|work=SILive.com|date=January 17, 2015|access-date=February 23, 2018}}

In 2015, Quinn became president and CEO of Women in Need (WIN), a nonprofit organization that is one of New York City's largest providers of services to homeless women and children.West, Melanie Grayce (02/26/2016). Christine Quinn Embraces Homeless Work.. Wall Street Journal - Online Edition. p. 1 - 1. ({{ISSN|2574-9579}}) Her annual salary is $350,000.{{Cite web|url=https://winnyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/FY18-Form-990-compressed.pdf|title=Women in Need, Inc. 2018 Form 990|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723161429/https://winnyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/FY18-Form-990-compressed.pdf|archive-date=July 23, 2019}} Since Quinn's first job was as a housing organizer for poor and homeless people, she noted that she had come full circle with her new job. Quinn said she was hoping to continue the good work of WIN's previous longtime leader, Bonnie Stone, and use a holistic approach to help women facing domestic violence, eviction, and other issues.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/18/nyregion/christine-quinn-to-lead-women-in-need-for-homeless-women-and-children.html|title=Christine Quinn to Lead Nonprofit Group for New York's Homeless Women and Children|first=Nikita|last=Stewart|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 17, 2015|access-date=March 5, 2019}}A Discussion on New York City and Its Future: A Conversation with New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Author: QUINN, CHRISTINE C.

Journal: New York Law School law review

{{ISSN|0145-448X}}

Date: 07/01/2013

Volume: 58 Issue: 1 Page: 55-69 Before accepting the position at WIN, Quinn fought against a homeless shelter planned for her own neighborhood of Chelsea.{{Cite web|url=https://therealdeal.com/2011/06/13/christine-quinn-pushes-to-shut-down-bowerty-residents-committee-homeless-shelter-at-127-west-25th-street-in-chelsea/|title=Quinn pushes to shut down homeless shelter|date=2011-06-13|website=The Real Deal New York|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-23}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/nyregion/chelsea-shelter-opposed-by-neighbors-as-too-big.html|title=Chelsea Shelter Opposed by Neighbors as Too Big|last=Secret|first=Mosi|date=2011-05-23|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-07-23|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20110612/chelsea-hells-kitchen/council-speaker-christine-quinn-says-homeless-shelter-illegal|title=Council Speaker Christine Quinn Says Homeless Shelter Illegal|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=2019-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723161638/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20110612/chelsea-hells-kitchen/council-speaker-christine-quinn-says-homeless-shelter-illegal/|archive-date=July 23, 2019|url-status=dead}}

Quinn made headlines in 2018 for her comments about Cynthia Nixon's campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Referring to her own 2013 mayoral candidacy, Quinn said, "Cynthia Nixon was opposed to having a qualified lesbian become mayor of New York City", and added, "Now she wants to be an unqualified lesbian to be the governor of New York. [Being] an actress and celebrity doesn’t make you qualified for public office".{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/unqualified-lesbian-christine-quinn-slams-cynthia-nixon-over-bid-ny-n858361|title='Unqualified lesbian': Christine Quinn slams Cynthia Nixon over bid for N.Y. governor|website=NBC News|date=March 20, 2018 |access-date=March 5, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/379379-new-york-politician-walks-back-unqualified-lesbian-critique-of-cynthia|title=New York politician clarifies 'unqualified lesbian' remark about Cynthia Nixon|last=Sanchez|first=Luis|date=March 20, 2018|website=TheHill|access-date=March 5, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2018/03/20/christine-quinn-bashes-unqualified-lesbian-cynthia-nixon/|title=Christine Quinn bashes 'unqualified lesbian' Cynthia Nixon|last=Campanile|first=Carl|date=March 20, 2018|website=nypost.com|access-date=March 5, 2019}}

In 2019, Quinn and WIN drew criticism from the press (including a masthead editorial in The New York Daily News) for two contracts to operate homeless shelters in South Park Slope, Brooklyn.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-edit-shelter-20190716-ru6iomaxrrdhthjn6iehirtrdy-story.html|title=The cost of homelessness: Why do two new homeless shelters in Brooklyn cost so much?|last=Board|first=Daily News Editorial|website=nydailynews.com|date=July 16, 2019 |access-date=2019-07-23}} The allegations, verified by multiple journalists, included that the contracts contained up to $89 million of unexplained and apparently inflated costs. WIN and Quinn repeatedly declined to comment when asked for an explanation of the cost.{{Cite web|url=https://gothamist.com/2019/07/11/de_blasio_homeless_services_park_slope.php|title=De Blasio's Department Of Homeless Services Can't Fully Explain High Costs Of New Park Slope Shelters|date=2019-07-11|website=Gothamist|language=en|access-date=2019-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719191455/https://gothamist.com/2019/07/11/de_blasio_homeless_services_park_slope.php|archive-date=July 19, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/new-york/parkslope/park-slope-shelters-could-cost-89m-more-other-bk-shelters|title=Park Slope Homeless Shelters Could Cost $89M More Than Elsewhere|date=2019-07-19|website=Park Slope, NY Patch|language=en|access-date=2019-07-23}}{{Cite news|url=https://bklyner.com/opponents-and-supporters-testify-at-hearing-on-park-slope-homeless-shelters/|title="Someone Is Getting Very, Very Rich": Neighbors Call For More Details To Be Released About Park Slope Homeless Shelters - BKLYNER|newspaper=Bklyner|date=June 28, 2019|access-date=2019-07-23}} One of the shelters opened in 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://bklyner.com/one-fourth-avenue-family-homeless-shelter-is-open-other-to-open-in-the-fall/|title=One Fourth Avenue Family Homeless Shelter Is Open; Other To Open In The Fall|date=2020-07-23|website=Bklyner|language=en|access-date=2021-11-08}}

Though Quinn was designated an elector in the 2020 presidential election,{{Cite web|last1=Brehm|first1=Robert A.|last2=Valentine|first2=Todd D.|date=3 November 2020|title=AMENDED Certification for the November 3, 2020 General Election|url=https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/Elections/2020/General/CertificationforNov32020GenElection.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123213926/https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/Elections/2020/General/CertificationforNov32020GenElection.pdf|archive-date=23 November 2020|access-date=5 January 2021|website=New York State Board of Elections|pages=[https://www.elections.ny.gov/NYSBOE/Elections/2020/General/CertificationforNov32020GenElection.pdf#page=5 5], 10}} Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer served as her alternate.{{Cite web|date=2019-11-05|title=2020 Electoral College Results; New York Certificate of Vote 2020|url=https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/2020|access-date=2021-01-05|website=National Archives|language=en|pages=[https://www.archives.gov/files/electoral-college/2020/vote-new-york.pdf#page=3 3], 2|last1=Cuomo|first1=Andrew M.|author-link1=Andrew Cuomo|last2=Stewart-Cousins|first2=Andrea|author-link2=Andrea Stewart-Cousins|last3=Heastie|first3=Carl E.|author-link3=Carl Heastie}}

Quinn resides in Chelsea, Manhattan, with her wife, Kim Catullo, a lawyer.{{cite web|url=http://council.nyc.gov/d3/html/members/home.shtml |title=Christine C. Quinn Biography |publisher=Council.nyc.gov |access-date=2013-07-25}}{{cite news|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/quinn-to-mark-st-patricks-day-elsewhere/|title=Quinn to Mark St. Patrick's Day Elsewhere|work=The New York Times| first=David W.|last=Chen|date=March 16, 2009}} They married on May 19, 2012,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/nyregion/christine-quinn-new-york-city-council-speaker-marries-partner.html|title=Amid New York's Political Elite, Council Speaker Weds Her Longtime Partner|work=The New York Times|first=Kate|last=Taylor|date=May 19, 2012|access-date=May 20, 2012}} and spend their summer weekends at a home they bought in 2004 in Bradley Beach, New Jersey.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/nyregion/on-weekends-christine-quinn-embraces-life-as-a-jersey-girl.html | last=Chen | first=David W | title=For Council Speaker, Home on Weekends Is at Jersey Shore | work=The New York Times | date=July 25, 2012 | access-date=August 10, 2012 | quote=Christine C. Quinn, the New York City Council speaker, in the weekend home in Bradley Beach, N.J., that she and her spouse, Kim M. Catullo, bought in 2004.}} Her former partner, Laura Morrison,{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/building-ties-bind-new-councilwoman-quinn-common-good-article-1.827902

|work=New York Daily News|title=Building Ties That Bind New Councilwoman Quinn Looks To Common Good|last=Fan|first=Maureen|date=1999-02-20}} was chief of staff to former State Senator Thomas Duane.

Quinn joined the board of Athlete Ally, an organization fighting homophobia in sports, in February 2014.[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/exclusive-christine-quinn-joins-board-gay-athlete-nonprofit-article-1.1601208 "EXCLUSIVE: Former Speaker Christine Quinn joins board of nonprofit for gay athletes"]. New York Daily News, February 4, 2014. She is Catholic.{{cite interview |last=Quinn |first=Christine |interviewer=David Greene |title='Who I Am': N.Y.C. Council Speaker On Politics, Faith |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/06/24/155657942/who-i-am-n-y-c-council-speaker-on-politics-faith |publisher=NPR |format=Transcript |date=June 24, 2012}}

• LGBT culture in New York City
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• [http://council.nyc.gov/d3/html/members/home.shtml New York City Council: District 3 - Christine C. Quinn]
• {{C-SPAN|}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070921175725/http://www.observer.com/term/24466 The New York Observer's Christine Quinn Archives]
• [http://www.gothamgazette.com/searchlight/dist3.shtml Searchlight 2002 - District 3]
• [http://www.quinnfornewyork.com/ Christine Quinn for NYC Mayor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714120945/http://www.quinnfornewyork.com/ |date=July 14, 2013 }}

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