Politics & Government

Quinn Opens up About Her Battles with Bulimia and Alcoholism

The New York City Council Speaker and candidate for mayor binged and purged for 10 years.

This article was written by C. Zawadi Morris.

New York City Council Speaker and Democratic candidate for mayor Christine Quinn opened up for the first time about her battles with bulimia and alcoholism in advance of her memoir and a speech today at Barnard College, The New York Times writes.   

In the exclusive Times interview, Quinn recounts how her mother’s battle with cancer when Quinn was a teen sparked her pattern of secretly bingeing and purging, which continued on for 10 years as she moved from high school to Trinity College and the beginnings of a political career.   

In a tearful interview, Quinn recalled how her bulimia soon was accompanied by alcoholism until, finally, she entered a Florida rehabilitation center at age 26.   

She said “until you stop hiding things, you’re hiding things, and hiding things is not healthy.” 

“I just want people to know you can get through stuff,” she added. “I hope people can see that in what my life has been and where it is going.”


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