152 LGBTQ Elected Officials Call on 116th Congress to Advance LGBTQ Equality

Via LGBTQ Victory Institute:

152 LGBTQ Elected Officials Call on 116^th Congress to Act on Four Key Initiatives to Advance LGBTQ Equality

Elected Officials Convening at LGBTQ Victory Institute Conference Sparked the Action

Washington, DC – More than 150 openly LGBTQ elected officials and newly elected officials from across the nation are calling on the incoming U.S. Congress to act on four key initiatives related to LGBTQ equality. The letter was drafted after a closed-door convening of LGBTQ elected officials at LGBTQ Victory Institute’s International LGBTQ Leaders Conference last week. The conference is the largest convening of LGBTQ elected officials in the world – with more than 140 elected officials from 26 countries, as well as 400 other advocates and leaders.

The letter calls on Congress to:

1. pass The Equality Act to expand non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity;
2. reduce HIV/AIDS by forming an advisory commission, advocating a “Getting to Zero” goal, and taking proactive measures to address disparities in communities of color;
3. protect trans people from anti-trans Trump administration policies and other measures; and
4. improve LGBTQ rights globally by supporting asylum claims and ensuring LGBTQ rights is a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy.

“LGBTQ political power is growing thanks to the rainbow wave of LGBTQ people who won elected office in November – and this letter is the first sign of us wielding that new power,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Institute. “The current U.S. Congress failed to advance equality policies and legislation that most Americans support: non-discrimination protections, addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis, protecting trans people from abusive policies, and being a moral voice on the global stage. The next Congress can remedy these wrongs and LGBTQ elected officials are determined to add their voice and energize their constituents around these important measures. The officials who attended our conference and signed this letter won elected office because voters demanded authentic, values-driven leadership. That is what they are delivering on and we hope the new Congress delivers as well.”

The letter will be delivered to members of Congress in the next session and was spearheaded by West Hollywood City Councilmember John Heilman and organized by LGBTQ Victory Institute. The complete text can be found at victoryinstitute.org/116congressletter.

The 152 signatories so far include:

Zach Adamson, Vice President of Indianapolis City-County Council (IN)

James Aguilar, San Leandro Unified School Board Trustee (CA)

Victor Aguilar, San Leandro City Councilman-elect (CA)

Ben Allatt, Vice President of Harrisburg City Council (PA)

Raghib Allie-Brennan, Connecticut State Representative-Elect

Francena Amparo, Dutchess County Legislator (NY)

Nickie Antonio, Ohio State Representative and State Senator-Elect

Judy Appel, Berkeley Unified School District School Board Trustee (CA)

Kelvin Atkinson, Nevada Senate Majority Leader

Barbara Baier, Lincoln Board of Education Member (NE)

John Bauters, Mayor of Emeryville (CA)

Wendy Berry, West St. Paul City Councilmember (MN)

Jeremy Blake, Newark City Councilmember

Joshua Boschee, Minority Leader in North Dakota House of Representatives

David Bria, Yardley Councilmember (PA)

Lisa Bunker, New Hampshire State Representative-Elect

Sara Burlingame, Wyoming State Representative

Deborah Butler, North Carolina State Representative

Ed Butler, New Hampshire State Representative

Christopher Cabaldon, Mayor of West Sacramento (CA)

Park Cannon, Georgia State Representative

Andres Cano, Arizona State Representative

James Cappleman, City of Chicago Alderman

Kevin Carden, Recorder in Corporation of Harpers Ferry (WV)

James Chang, Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board Commissioner (CA)

Cesar Chavez, Arizona State Representative

Justin Chenette, Maine State Senator

Chris Clark, Mountain View City Councilmember (CA)

Cathy Connolly, Minority Floor Leader in Wyoming House of Representatives

Richard Conti, President Pro Tem of Albany Common Council (NY)

Christopher Constant, Anchorage Assemblymember (AK)

Julian Cyr, Massachusetts State Senator

Allison Dahle, North Carolina State Representative-Elect

Thomas Davidson, Summit County Commissioner (CO)

Larry Forester, Signal Hill Councilmember (CA)

Michael Defusco, Hoboken City Councilman (NJ)

Scott Dibble, Minnesota State Senator

Beth Doglio, Washington State Representative

Randy Downs, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (Washington, DC)

Adam Ebbin, Virginia State Senator

Harrie Farrow, Carroll County Justice of the Peace (AR)

Ryan Fecteau, Maine State Representative and Assistant Majority Leader

Greg Ford, Vice Chairman of Wake County Board of Commissioners (NC)

Larry Forester, Signal Hill Councilmember (CA)

Shay Franco-Clausen, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (CA)

Jesse Gantt, Vice President of Susquehanna Township School Board (SD)

Brian Garcia, Tempe Union Governing Board Member (AZ)

Joseph Geierman, Doraville City Councilmember (GA)

Steven Glassman, Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner (FL)

Diana Gonzalez, Vermont State Representative

Mary Gonzalez, Texas State Representative

Michael Goodnow, Bremerton City Council (WA)

Steve Hansen, Vice Mayor of Sacramento (CA)

Bruce Harris, Mayor of Chatham Borough (NJ)

John Heilman, West Hollywood Councilmember (CA)

Rosanna Herber, Director-Elect of Sacramento Municipal Utility District

Leslie Herod, Colorado State Representative

Dana Hilliard, Mayor of Somersworth (NH)

Jon Hoadley, Michigan State Representative

Matt Hughes, Town of Hillsborough Commissioner (NC)

Megan Hunt, Nebraska State Senator-Elect

Jay Irwin, Ralston School Board Member (NE)

Andrea Jenkins, Vice President of Minneapolis City Council

Laurie Jinkins, Washington State Representative

Anne Kaiser, Maryland House of Delegates

Gabe Kearney, Petaluma Councilmember (PA)

Michelle Kennedy, Greensboro Councilmember (NC)

Audra Killingsworth, Apex Town Councilmember (NC)

Rebecca Kislak, Rhode Island Representative-Elect

Geoffrey Kors, Palm Springs City Councilmember (CA)

Ben Ku, Gwinnett County Commissioner (GA)

Shawn Kumagai, Dublin City Councilmember-Elect (CA)

Sandra Kurt, Clerk of Courts of Summit County (OH)

Jack Patrick Lewis, Massachusetts State Representative

Marko Liias, Washington State Senator

Signe Lindell, Santa Fe City Councilor (NM)

Bill Lippert, Vermont State Representative

Raymond A. Lopez, City of Chicago Alderman

LaWana Mayfield, Charlotte City Councilmember (NC)

John McCrostie, Idaho State Representative

Tippi McCullough, Arkansas State Representative-Elect

Luis Medina, Lewisburg Borough Councilmember (PA)

Douglas Metcalfe, School Director of Twin Valley School District (PA)

Lisa Middleton, Palm Springs Councilmember (CA)

Daniel Miller, Treasurer of Harrisburg (PA)

Brian Mock, Chamblee Councilmember (GA)

Dominick Moreno, Colorado State Senator

Marcia Morey, North Carolina State Representative

Jason Morgan, Washtenaw County Commissioner (MI)

Kevin Morrison, Cook County Board Commissioner (IL)

Jeremy Moss, Michigan State Senator-Elect

Garrett Muscatel, New Hampshire State Representative

Donna Nesselbush, Rhode Island State Senator

Andrea Olsen, Montana State Representative

Laura Parmer-Lohan, San Carlos City Councilmember (CA)

Roy Peterson, New Carrollton City Councilmember (MD)

Greg Pettis, Mayor of Cathedral City (CA)

Michael Poppa, Roeland Park Councilmember (KS)

Karin Power, Oregon State Representative

Jeffrey Prang, Assessor of Los Angeles County (CA)

Austin Quinn-Davidson, Anchorage Assemblymember (AK)

Gabriel Quinto, El Cerrito Councilmember (CA)

Sam Park, Georgia State Representative

Neil Rafferty, Alabama State Representative-Elect

Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, City of Chicago Alderman

Alex Randolph, Vice-President of City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees

Greg Razer, Missouri State Representative

Alex Reber, Millersburg Borough Treasurer (PA)

Lois Reckitt, Maine State Representative

Janelle Rettig, County Supervisor of Johnson County (IA)

Felix Rivera, Anchorage Assemblymember (AK)

Lamont J Robinson, Illinois State Representative-Elect

Paul Rosenthal, Colorado State Representative

Evan Ross, Amherst Town Councilor (MA)

Deborah Ruggiero, Rhode Island State Representative

Susan Ruiz, Kansas State Representative-Elect

Michael Sabatino, Majority Leader of Yonkers City Council (NY)

Janelle K. Sarauw, U.S. Virgin Islands Senator

Lori Schreiber, Abington Township Commissioner (PA)

Chris Schwartz, Black Hawk County Supervisor (IA)

Katie Scott, Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners (MI)

Kristin Seale, Director of Rose Tree Media School Board (PA)

Damon Seils, Mayor Pro Tempore of Carrboro (NC)

Debra Shore, Commissioner of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Jeffrey Slavin, Mayor of Somerset (MD)

Paul Smedberg, Alexandria City Councilmember (VA)

Carlos Guillermo Smith, Florida State Representative

Marque Snow, Omaha Public Schools Board of Education Member (NE)

Karen Stegman, Chapel Hill Councilmember (NC)

Ty Stober, Vancouver Councilmember (WA)

Ron Strouse, Mayor of Doylestown (PA)

Michael Sutphin, Blacksburg Town Councilmember (VA)

Eric-John Szczepaniak, Kenowa Hills Public Schools Board of Education Member (MI)

Joshua Tenorio, Lieutenant Governor-Elect of Guam

Brianna Titone, Colorado State Representative-Elect

Tyler James Titus, Erie City School Board Director (PA)

Dave Upthegrove, King County Councilmember (WA)

Alex Valdez, Colorado State Representative

Nancy VanReece, Nashville and Davidson County Metro Councilmember

Lawrence Webb, Chair Falls Church City School Boardmember

Jennifer Webb, Florida State Representative-Elect

Tyller Williamson, Monterey City Councilmember (CA)

Claire Wilson, Washington State Senator

Matthew Wilson, Georgia State Representative-Elect

Brett Withers, Nashville and Davidson County Metro Councilmember

Patrick Wojahn, Mayor of College Park (MD)

Brandon Woodard, Kansas State Representative

Zach Young, Goodlettsville City Commissioner (TN)

JoCasta Zamarripa, Wisconsin State Assemblymember

Ahmad Zahra, Fullerton City Councilmember (CA)

Amy Zanelli, Lehigh County Commissioner (PA)

Les Zendle, Desert Healthcare District Director (CA)

About LGBTQ Victory Institute

LGBTQ Victory Institute works to increase the number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in public office and to provide programming, service, and other support to ensure their success.

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