EQCA - Equality California

21/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 22/07/2024 01:37

Equality California on President Biden Leaving the Democratic Presidential Ticket

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2024

CONTACT: Jorge Reyes Salinas, Equality California
PHONE: (213) 355-3057/MOBILE: (213) 355-3057/EMAIL:[email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Equality California, the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, issued the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang in response to President Joe Biden stepping down from the Democratic Presidential ticket:

"We are eternally grateful to President Joe Biden for his lifetime service to our country, and his longtime support for the LGBTQ+ community. As he has throughout his more than half a century in elected office, President Biden has put what is best for America above all else. During his time in the White House, President Biden pushed forward a proactive agenda that opens doors and levels the playing field for all LGBTQ+ Americans, while defending against attacks from far-right extremists seeking to roll back our hard-fought rights. Our community owes President Biden a tremendous debt of gratitude.

As Vice President under President Barack Obama, he was one of that administration's earliest voices in support of marriage equality, and as President he has led the most pro-LGBTQ+ administration in history. From overturning a discriminatory ban on transgender people serving in the military, to signing the Respect for Marriage Act, to strengthening protections for LGBTQ+ people, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the betterment of all LGBTQ+ Americans. Additionally, President Biden tapped members of the LGBTQ+ community to serve key roles in his cabinet, including Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation and Admiral Dr. Rachel Levine - the first out transgender cabinet official in American history - as Assistant Secretary of Health, and nominated hundreds of pro-equality federal and district judges.

Moving forward, our primary objective must be defeating Donald Trump and J.D. Vance this November. Both candidates pose an existential threat to democracy, evidenced by their support of extremist agendas such as Project 2025 - which spells out in chilling detail processes to dismantle governmental checks and balances, reverse all progress made by LGBTQ+ people, and threaten reproductive choice and bodily autonomy.

At a time of unprecedented anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and hate violence directed at our community, it is more important than ever before to have strong champions for LGBTQ+ equality in the White House. In the coming days, we will reevaluate the organization's endorsement for President. Equality California remains committed to getting out the vote this November to ensure that pro-equality champions are elected up and down the ballot to continue building a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all people."

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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