LOS ANGELES — Ahead of the California Democratic Party’s annual convention this weekend in San Francisco, Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization, announced early 2020 endorsements of seven incumbents and one challenger in 2020 battleground Congressional districts: Rep. Josh Harder (CA-10), Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21), Rep. Katie Hill (CA-25), Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA-39), Rep. Katie Porter (CA-45), Rep. Harley Rouda (CA-48), Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) and Ammar Campa-Najjar (CA-50). The organization has made protecting the seven pro-equality incumbents and electing Campa-Najjar top political priorities for 2020.
“Protecting and expanding our pro-equality majority in the House is critical for the LGBTQ community and our allies,” said Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur. “While the House was passing historic nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans this month, the Trump-Pence Administration spent the last month attacking LGBTQ healthcare and trying to kick LGBTQ people out of homeless shelters. The choice for pro-equality voters couldn’t be clearer. Each of these seven incumbents has been an invaluable partner in the fight for full, lived LGBTQ equality, and we can’t wait to have Ammar join them in 2021.”
Equality California will co-host an LGBTQ reception for California Democratic Party delegates and candidates in San Francisco on Friday, along with the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus and Caucus Chair Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). For more information or to RSVP, please email Samuel Garrett-Pate and Josh Stickney at press@eqca.org.
Candidate Reactions:
“Everyone deserves to be treated equally under the law regardless of who they are or whom they love — that’s why I was proud to vote to pass the Equality Act and will continue fighting for the rights of all Americans,” said Rep. Josh Harder (CA-10). “It’s my honor to have the support of Equality California and thousands of members of the LGBTQ community across the Central Valley.”
“As the first openly LGBT woman to represent the state of California, my journey has been supported and uplifted by Equality California at every step of the way — I am incredibly proud to receive their endorsement because my values and my priorities go hand in hand with theirs,” said Rep. Katie Hill (CA-25). “I’m ready to continue our work on behalf of the LGBT community in California and across our nation, together.”
“It is our duty to honor and protect LGBTQ active duty service members and veterans who have selflessly stepped up to serve our country in the Armed Forces,” said Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA-39). As President Trump and Congressional Republicans seek to weaken our national security by harassing and targeting these patriots, we must stand firmly against this discrimination. I am honored to be endorsed by Equality California as we stand together to defend our Constitution, and our LGBTQ veterans.”
“I’m proud to stand beside Equality California in the fight to secure and maintain dignity for all LGBTQ people in California, the United States and abroad,” said Rep. Katie Porter (CA-45). “Their support is essential in helping keep Orange County blue and pushing back against a Trump Administration agenda that targets LGBTQ people and their families.”
“In the United States, LGBTQ individuals are still not assured the same rights and freedoms which many Americans take for granted. An LGBTQ Californian can travel for work and, in 29 states, be refused service at a restaurant where their colleagues are dining,” said Rep. Harley Rouda (CA-48). “In neighboring Arizona, a gay couple can be married Saturday, and fired for it on Monday. Until full equality is the law of not just a few states, but the United States, we can’t be satisfied. I’m proud to be endorsed by Equality California, and will continue to stand with them in the fight for equal rights for all Americans.”
“Equality California is one of the most effective and tenacious defenders of the rights of the LGBTQ community to full legal, social, and economic equality,” said Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49). “I am proud to stand with them in working to advance this crucial work and I am honored to have their support for re-election.”
“I’m proud to have the support of Equality California,” said Ammar Campa-Najjar, candidate for Congress (CA-50). “Whether it’s in their private life as citizens or public life as members of our military, we should defend the rights of the LGBTQ community just like many of them have literally fought in battle for ours. I look forward to working with Equality California as a member of Congress and ally of the community.”
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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
