In an early endorsement, the state’s largest gay rights group threw its support behind Mayor Thomas Menino in his bid for a fifth term. The political action committee for MassEquality, with 10,000 members in Boston and 200,000 statewide, touted the endorsement as its first on the municipal level. Scott Gortikov, in a statement, cited Menino’s “longtime support” for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues, along with his vocal advocacy for gay marriage, which Massachusetts legalized in 2004.

“Whether it was his refusal to participate in the St. Patrick’s Day parade after organizers barred an LGBT group from marching, or his early advocacy and action on behalf of the campaign for equal marriage, Tom Menino has always been our champion,” Gortikov said. Menino is facing City Councillors at-Large Michael Flaherty and Sam Yoon, along with South End businessman Kevin McCrea in the mayoral run to November.

In a statement on his online journal, also known as a blog, McCrea said he was “disappointed” that MassEquality had not reached out for him to discuss an endorsement. “However, I am proud of the GLBT support from across the city that I have received, and proud of the fact that I kicked off my campaign in the home of my friends Barry and Kevin, who’ve been together for more than ten years in Dorchester,” he wrote.