SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, has endorsed Dr. Akilah Weber for Assembly District 79. The special election to replace Dr. Shirley Weber, who was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as California’s first African American Secretary of State, will be held on April 6 and a runoff, if necessary, will be held on June 8.
“I am honored to have the support of an organization that is leading the charge for equality in this state and this country,” said Dr. Akilah Weber. “Justice, equality, and equity go hand-in-hand, and I am deeply committed to advancing those causes together.”
Dr. Weber is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist, and founder and director of the Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology Division at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. She leads the adolescent gynecology program at UC San Diego Health and she serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at UCSD. Dr. Weber has served on the La Mesa City Council since 2018 where she’s worked to implement the city’s Climate Action Plan and championed the creation of a both a Community Police Oversight Board and the La Mesa homelessness task force. Since the COVID- pandemic, Dr. Weber has been on the frontlines of La Mesa’s efforts to protect public health.
“Dr. Akilah Weber is exactly the kind of pro-equality leader that we need in the Assembly,” said Equality California Executive Director Rick Chavez Zbur. “As a respected OB-GYN and community leader, Dr. Weber will bring a unique and much needed perspective when it comes to advocating for the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ Californians. We know Dr. Weber will be a champion for LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice and we look forward to supporting her campaign.”
Dr. Akilah Weber has been endorsed by Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber, Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, California Democratic Party, San Diego Democrats for Equality, California Legislative Black Caucus, California Democratic Legislative Women’s Caucus, California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Chair Asm. Evan Low, United Domestic Workers of America, Southwest Carpenters, San Diego County Young Democrats, civil rights champion Dolores Huerta and others.
For a complete list of Equality California’s 2021 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