LGBTQ rights activist kicked out of community board simply for asking…

A Community Board member has been ousted for having the temerity to simply ask questions. 

Craig Slutzkin, who served on Community Board 5, is a gay single dad, and an avid and vocal supporter of gay and trans rights.

Like many parents, he believes that conversations about school policy should be inclusive of all parental voices and perspectives. 

So he voted “yes” on an Education Council resolution asking for a review — simply a review — of the gender guidelines in school sports.

Should transgender students be allowed on women’s teams? 

“The resolution passed . . . asks [to give] families a safe forum to have respectful yet difficult conversations about how school sports are organized,” Slutzkin said. 

But even asking that question was apparently too much for Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, who said Slutzkin would not be reappointed to Community Board 5, which covers much of Midtown. 

Levine brooks no dissent on his commitment to radical trans ideology and cannot tolerate anyone who suggests that there are necessary and important conversations regarding protecting the rights of girls. 

There are currently over a dozen lawsuits challenging President Biden’s rewrite of Title IX, which allows males who “identify” as female to play on girls teams in education entities funded by the federal government. 

Concerned residents like myself believe other issues are at work here. Levine often uses his power to punish community volunteers and favors real-estate-friendly community board members. 

‘Just disgusting’ 

Slutzkin was a candidate for board chair in upcoming elections and was widely expected to win.

Samir Lavingia, a registered lobbyist and member of Open New York, a group committed to increasing housing density, is now running unopposed. 

Community Board 5 members are rightly outraged by Levine’s heavy-handed interference and are convinced that Levine’s cozy relationship with real estate is behind the move.

Manhattanite Lou Mannheim said on X “@MarkLevineNYC kicked Craig off because he wanted Open NY money. And they wanted their people. Just disgusting.” 

The nominating committee of CB5 wrote a letter to Levine lambasting the decision and requesting the reappointment of Slutzkin, who they noted was the “third longest serving member of CB5.”

Thirty-three members of CB5 joined the letter asking for Slutzkin’s reappointment. 

Whether Slutzkin’s removal was because Levine wants to build up his war chest for an almost-certain mayoral run, or to punish him for “wrongthink,” it’s clear that Levine is happy to exclude voices that are troublesome to him. 

Community Board 5 and all New Yorkers deserve better. 

Maud Maron is a former president and current member of the District 2 Community Educational Council.