During Spitzer's term Maloney was questioned about a scandal dubbed "Troopergate" that allegedly involved the use of the state police to expose financial irregularities by a political opponent of the governor. In the course of the investigation Maloney was cleared of any participation in the matter, but the issue would resurface.

Sponsor Message.

Maloney left the Paterson administration in 2008 to resume the private practice of law.

He re-entered the political arena in 2012, when he declared his candidacy for the United State House of Representatives in the 18th Congressional District of New York. After a victory in the Democratic primary, when he won 48% of the vote against four other candidates, he faced incumbent Republican Nan Hayworth in the general election.

In the contest Maloney painted Hayworth as a Tea Party extremist intent on eliminating funding for Medicare and Planned Parenthood, while Hayworth branded Maloney as a "carpetbagger" from Manhattan. She noted that he had moved into the district only a year earlier (but omitted the fact that for 16 years previously Maloney and his family had split their time between an apartment in Manhattan and a country home in nearby Sullivan county).

Hayworth attempted to raise the Troopergate scandal against Maloney, who reiterated that he had done nothing to hinder the inquiry. Andrew Grossman of the Wall Street Journal reported that "[g]enerally, those involved in the investigation on both sides defend Mr. Maloney's conduct." In particular he noted a comment by Steve Cohen, who had been the chief of staff to then Attorney General Cuomo and who called the idea that Maloney had impeded the investigation "misinformed to the point of being laughable."

Maloney's homosexuality proved not to be a significant issue in the campaign. Although Hayworth had some Tea Party connections, she is the mother of an openly gay man, and she received endorsements from the Log Cabin Republicans and GOProud, as well as from American Unity PAC, the group founded by billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Singer to support pro-equality Republicans.

Maloney was endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, as well as the New York Times. He also received support from his former boss Bill Clinton and from Andrew Cuomo, by then the governor of the state, and a strong glbtq ally who had helped to bring marriage equality to New York.

Both candidates supported passage of the Employment Non-discrimination Act, but, in an interview with Julie Bolcer of The Advocate, Maloney cited a difference between them regarding the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which he is committed to repealing.

"The bottom line is, on the most important issue of our time, marriage equality, [Hayworth] will not state a position on DOMA because she does not support marriage equality."

In 2012, when marriage equality for the first time was supported by a majority of American voters, Maloney attempted to make the race in part a referendum on the issue. For fear of losing the support of New York's Conservative Party, which endorses only candidates opposed to equal marriage rights, Hayworth refused to go any further than to state that she considered same-sex marriage a settled question in New York law. Maloney, however, pointed out that her campaign manager resigned his position as a marriage officiant because he refused to conduct same-sex marriages.

While Maloney stressed his commitment to achieving "full equality under federal law" for glbtq citizens, he also told Bolcer that he is not a single-issue politician. He said his first duty is to respond to the needs of his community. He said that "[t]he people in my district are a lot more concerned about why my opponent wants to end Medicare than who I love."

Maloney cited other issues on which he and Hayworth disagreed, including funding for Planned Parenthood--which he favors and she voted to end--and the budget plan proposed by Representative Paul Ryan, for which Hayworth voted but which Maloney decried.

Maloney won the race with 52% of the vote.

Following his victory, Maloney issued a statement saying "I'm headed to Congress fired up and ready to make this country a place where the words 'equality' and 'opportunity' carry serious weight."

Although there are frequently social and legal barriers to overcome, adoption is an important way in which lesbian and gay male couples create families.

In the United States, glbtq candidates have achieved some significant successes at the ballot box in the last three decades, running for and winning local, state, and national elections.

Hate Crimes are crimes towards persons or groups motivated by the victim's race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Lesbian and gay couples have been fighting for the freedom to marry since the dawn of the modern glbtq struggle for equality; despite some success abroad, progress toward same-sex marriage in the United States has been slow.

The first out lesbian elected to the United States Congress, Democratic legislator Tammy Baldwin has been a strong supporter of glbtq rights, but she is far from a one-issue politician.

U. S. Representative David Cicilline, who made history as the first openly gay mayor of a state capital, has a long record of public service.

The American glbtq movement for equality has largely allied itself with the Democratic Party.

Openly gay U. S. congressman Barney Frank has been a leader not only in the cause of gay and lesbian rights but also on issues including fair housing, consumer rights, banking, and immigration.

The largest glbtq political organization in the United States, the Human Rights Campaign has emerged as the leading national organization representing glbtq concerns.

Log Cabin Republicans, a gay and lesbian organization, is dedicated to the principle that equal treatment under the law for gay men and women is consistent with the principles and values of the Republican Party.

A former seven-term member of the Wisconsin Assembly, Mark Pocan easily won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.

Businessman and philanthropist Jared Polis became one of only three openly gay members in Congress, and the first openly gay man elected to Congress as a freshman, when he won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008.

The Republican Party of the United States has not been supportive of glbtq issues, despite the efforts of the Log Cabin Republicans.

Matthew Shepard led an unremarkable life, but his shocking death transformed him into an icon of the glbtq movement for equality.

After serving several terms in the Arizona state legislature, Kyrsten Sinema ran successfully for the United States House of Representatives in 2012, becoming the first openly bisexual person elected to that body.

In 2012, Mark Takano, a Japanese American from Riverside, California, became the first openly gay person of color to be elected to the United States House of Representatives.