SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, announced its endorsement of Governor Gavin Newsom for re-election on Thursday. The organization previously supported Newsom in his 2018 primary and general election campaigns and was the first organization to officially oppose the attempt to recall him in 2021. Throughout his career, Newsom has been a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice, including — most recently — as an outspoken opponent of anti-LGBTQ+ attacks from far-right governors in Florida and Texas.
Equality California released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang with the announcement:
“Equality California is thrilled to stand with Governor Newsom because he has always stood with our community — even when it wasn’t popular and regardless of the personal, professional or political risks. Governor Newsom is the most pro-equality governor in our state’s history and has done more to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice throughout his career than any governor in the nation. “At a time when far-right extremists like Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott are attacking our LGBTQ+ students and transgender youth and their families, we need Governor Newsom’s pro-equality leadership more than ever. The contrast couldn’t be clearer between this governor, who fights to build an inclusive, empowering future for all, and governors who attack our kids and divide our communities in a craven attempt to further their own political ambitions. “Governor Newsom is the clear choice for LGBTQ+ Californians this year. We look forward to making sure he is reelected this November and to continuing our work together to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people.”
“Equality California is thrilled to stand with Governor Newsom because he has always stood with our community — even when it wasn’t popular and regardless of the personal, professional or political risks. Governor Newsom is the most pro-equality governor in our state’s history and has done more to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice throughout his career than any governor in the nation.
“At a time when far-right extremists like Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott are attacking our LGBTQ+ students and transgender youth and their families, we need Governor Newsom’s pro-equality leadership more than ever. The contrast couldn’t be clearer between this governor, who fights to build an inclusive, empowering future for all, and governors who attack our kids and divide our communities in a craven attempt to further their own political ambitions.
“Governor Newsom is the clear choice for LGBTQ+ Californians this year. We look forward to making sure he is reelected this November and to continuing our work together to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people.”
Governor Newsom welcomed the endorsement in the following statement:
“I’m grateful to Equality California for their partnership and support and proud of the work we’ve done to advance LGBTQ civil rights and build a California for all. As governors and lawmakers in other states attack LGBTQ children and their families — and trans kids in particular — California will always stand with the LGBTQ community, and we will continue to lead the fight for full, lived equality, until the work is done.”
Governor Newsom has been a dedicated champion for LGBTQ+ equality and ally to the community throughout his career. As governor, he has built an inclusive administration that has advanced civil rights and social justice for the LGBTQ+ community and the diverse communities to which we belong. Governor Newsom has signed legislation to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ young people in our criminal justice system, extended protections for transgender, gender-nonconforming and intersex Californians in state custody, ended long-standing practices of insurance companies discriminating against people living with HIV and has appointed a record number of openly LGBTQ+ leaders to his administration. Recently, Governor Newsom appointed the first openly LGBTQ+ justice to the California Supreme Court and the first openly transgender judge to be appointed to the bench.
In 2004, Governor Newsom — then the Mayor of San Francisco — directed the city-county clerk to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in defiance of state law. The legal dispute over the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples ultimately led to the In re Marriage Cases — in which Equality California served as a co-plaintiff on behalf of the organization’s members — and a 2008 ruling by the California Supreme Court legalizing marriage equality in California.
For a complete list of Equality California’s 2022 endorsements, visit eqca.org/elections.
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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org
