Who knew the First Lady of New York would be a proud former lesbian? Chirlane McCray, who is the wife of Public Advocate and new Mayor of New York Bill De Blasio, boosted her husband's name recognition in the mayoral race on Tuesday (Nov. 5) with her past life as a "lesbian."

Via NYPost:

Chirlane McCray says her past as an open lesbian has raised her husband's profile with the gay community. In 1979, she wrote an article for Essence magazine titled "I Am a Lesbian."

The most visible spouse in the mayoral race said Tuesday that all the attention on her past as an out-and-proud lesbian has helped her husband’s campaign for City Hall.

“Certainly, it has boosted his name recognition,” a laughing Chirlane, the wife of Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, said on the Tom Joyner radio show.

“There are certainly people in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community who probably feel more positive about Bill and about me because of the way we handled it.”

McCray’s appearance on the national program - during morning drive time no less - was the latest example of her high-profile role in the campaign.

That role emerged in December with revelations that as a young woman in 1979, McCray penned an article for Essence magazine titled “I Am a Lesbian.”

Bill, who defeated Republican Joe Lhota, is the first Democrat since 1989 to be elected Mayor of the Big Apple.