"That's how things work in the Hamptons," said Joe Tarver, a spokesman for the Pride Agenda.

In return, he received the endorsement of the Pride Agenda.

Matt Foreman, the executive director of the Pride Agenda, said the message Mayor Bloomberg delivered did not go far enough.

The Pride Agenda has yet to endorse anyone in the race for governor, and support for the bill is considered a litmus test by its members.

Those critics blame the Pride Agenda, the statewide lobbying group that has made passing the bill its top priority, for what they see as an inexcusable omission.

By failing to work to amend the bill, they say, the Pride Agenda is marginalizing transgendered people just as society at large has marginalized homosexuals.

He said that the Pride Agenda was aware of his support, but that it had still waged a campaign against him - a charge Mr. Foreman denies.

Defending Sonda has put the Pride Agenda in a delicate logical bind.