The last name Quinn derives from the Irish surname O Cuinn, or descendants of Conn, and means head, sense, reason, intelligence and freeman. A perfect fit for Christine Quinn, New York City Council Speaker. The first female and first openly gay Speaker, Quinn holds one of the most powerful positions in the city. She represents New York’s Third District in the council, an office she was first elected to in 1999. In January 2006, she assumed the office of Council Speaker and was reelected four years later.

As the first openly gay Speaker, Quinn has worked extensively to promote justice and equality. She is a leading figure in the fight for marriage equality in New York State, and has a reputation for organizing community and religious leaders and elected officials to oppose hate crimes. Due to the Ancient Order of Hibernians policy against homosexuals marching openly in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Speaker Quinn has continuously boycotted the parade, opting to march in the Queens parade, and even marching in Dublin’s parade in 2007.