Christine Quinn, a lesbian woman, lost her bid to become mayor of New York City, raising questions about whether her gender or sexuality played a role. A group of professional women warned Quinn that her masculine traits of ambition and toughness could hurt her chances. After finishing third, some cited Quinn's failure to communicate issues well or appear different than the previous mayor, while others admitted not voting for her due to her gender or sexuality. Gender bias was shown through comments on her appearance and comparisons to male opponents. The article examines the challenges Quinn faced as a woman and lesbian candidate.