Vocal gay-rights activist Alan Van Capelle is leaving his role as head of the Empire State Pride Agenda in order to join John Liu in the office of the city comptroller, the Daily News reports. Capelle, who led the crusade to get a vote in the State Senate on the issue of gay marriage last fall, is leaving after one of the group’s most significant recent defeats. For Liu, the addition of Van Capelle to his team will likely help soothe gay advocates who were angered by his hiring of Councilmember Simcha Felder, whom critics view as unsupportive of gay policies. [Daily Politics/NYDN]
