Cynthia Nixon is an out-and-proud woman hoping to make electoral history – so why is the LGBT lobby lined up against her?

Cynthia Nixon announced her run for office this week with an election ad featuring her wife and children… but the LGBT lobby is backing a straight man instead.

The Sex and the City star and long-time LGBT activist this week announced a bid to become Governor of New York, as a Democratic primary challenger to the incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

But while Nixon could make history as the first out Governor of New York, her candidacy has been met with a largely hostile reaction from the LGBT lobby.

The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBT campaigning organisation in the United States, has resolutely stood by its endorsement of Gov. Cuomo, despite previously lavishing Nixon with praise.

The Victory Fund, which promotes LGBT candidates at all levels of politics, has remained silent on her candidacy.

And at the same time, many of the state’s prominent gay political figures have come out against Nixon’s campaign.

Cynthia Nixon (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney – the first openly gay member of Congress from New York – laid into “holier-than-thou” Nixon for running against Cuomo, while Christine Quinn, who was the first out lesbian New York City Council Speaker, hit out at the actress as “unqualified”.

Even Sir Elton John made a left-field endorsement of Gov. Cuomo, in a public snub to Nixon days before her campaign launch.

So, why is a queer woman massively losing the LGBT vote to a straight man?

The Human Rights Campaign cited Gov. Cuomo’s long history as an ally on LGBT issues, having championed equal marriage rights, anti-discrimination protections and the battle against HIV/AIDS across his years in politics.