Empire State's Pride Agenda to Choose a New Leader

Gay Rights Group to Choose a New Leader

New York’s leading gay rights group, the Empire State Pride Agenda, is poised to select a senior aide to Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein as its next executive director.

The selection is part of a broader move within the organization to restructure after a bill to legalize same-sex marriage failed decisively in the State Senate late last year.

Brian Ellner, who serves as Mr. Klein’s senior counselor for community affairs, is expected to be approved next week by the Pride Agenda’s board of directors, according to someone with direct knowledge of the board’s plans who was not authorized to discuss it publicly.

Mr. Ellner would replace Alan Van Capelle, who left the organization in January to take a position with New York City Comptroller John C. Liu.

Mr. Ellner would assume leadership of the organization at a time when it is trying to regroup after suffering the most significant setback of its 20-year history. A Harvard and Dartmouth graduate who ran unsuccessfully for Manhattan borough president in 2005, Mr. Ellner would help coordinate the next effort to pass legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in Albany.

The bill passed the State Assembly last year but failed by a surprisingly large margin in the State Senate, despite assurances from the Pride Agenda and other gay rights advocates that they believed they had enough votes to pass it. The bill was defeated 38 to 24.

Gay rights groups are expected to renew their push for a Senate vote in 2011.

by Jeremy Peters(NYTimes)