Celebrating a New York Icon: Kenneth Sherrill’s Research and Impact on New York State Politics

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A groundbreaking scholar, activist, and longtime professor of political science at Hunter College, the late Kenneth Sherrill (1942-2023) was the first out gay elected official in New York State. A former Democratic District Leader, and pioneer of the analysis of the LGBTQ vote, Sherrill laid “the foundation for the study of LGBTQ Politics in America,” according to Gay City News. In addition, Sherrill was often the go-to political scientist to whom New York journalists turned for independent assessments of the most recent political developments in the state and city.

This event will feature leading scholars and policymakers reflecting on Ken’s prolific scholarship and enduring impact on New York politics.

Patrick J. Egan (he/him) is an associate professor of politics and public policy at NYU, where he teaches a course on the empirical study of LGBTQ politics and identities. His work has appeared in American Journal of Political Science and, with Sherrill, PS: Political Science and Politics.

Hon. Andrew Gounardes (he/him) is the New York State Senator representing the 26^th district in Brooklyn. A 2006 graduate of Hunter College’s Political Science Department and former student of Ken Sherrill’s, Gounardes served twice as a Roosevelt House Grove Leader.

Andy Humm (he/him) is a a gay rights activist and journalist who has written for LGNY, the Village Voice, and Gay City News. Since 1985, Humm has reported weekly for the Gay USA show, co-hosting for the last 28 years with Ann Northrop.

Gabriele Magni (he/him) is an assistant professor of political science and director of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University. Founding director of the LGBTQ+ Politics Research Initiative, he is working on a book about the experiences of LGBTQ+ politicians.

Hon. Scott Stringer (he/him) is a lifelong New Yorker who has served as Assembly Member, Manhattan Borough President, and Comptroller. As Comptroller, he exposed waste and mismanagement, oversaw the growth of the city’s pension fund, and took on fossil fuel companies. Stringer is currently exploring a run for the mayoralty in 2025.

Erin Mayo-Adam (she/her), moderator, is the Director of the LGBTQ Policy Center at Roosevelt House, an Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department, and a member of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Faculty and Curriculum Committee. She is the author of Queer Alliances: How Power Shapes Political Movement Formation.

Ken Sherrill (he/him) was a professor of political science at Hunter College for decades before his retirement. While at Hunter, he served as chair of the political science department and became chair of the Hunter College Senate, where he led various campaigns to diversify faculty and staff. In addition to his service at Hunter, Ken was a leader in the gay rights movement of the 1970s, when he became an early member of the Gay Academic Union and the Gay Independent Democrats. In 1977, Ken won a contested race for District Leader in Manhattan’s 69^th Assembly District and became the first out LGBTQ person to win elected office in the state of New York. In addition to his trailblazing roles at Hunter and in New York politics, Ken’s research and mentorship in political science were truly groundbreaking. In 1973, he authored and presented the first article on LGBTQ politics at an American Political Science Association (APSA) annual meeting. Through his service and activism, Ken played a pivotal role in legitimizing LGBTQ politics as a field in political science. Ultimately, APSA and its divisions created two awards that bear Ken’s name in honor of his contributions to the study of political science: the APSA Ken Sherrill Prize, which is given to the best dissertation proposal for an empirical study of LGBTQ topics; and the Kenneth Sherrill Dissertation Prize, which honors the best dissertation on a queer topic. Ken also served as a mentor to countless LGBTQ scholars in political science, where his work continues to have an impact today.

This event is co-sponsored by the CUNY LGBTQ Advisory Council and made possible in part by the generous support of the New York City Council and the CUNY LGBTQ Consortium.