Wasserman Schultz, Ros-Lehtinen, Wexler among members of new Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus

News release:

Human Rights Campaign Applauds Formation of Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today applauded the formation of the House of Representatives’ LGBT Equality Caucus.  The bipartisan Caucus was announced this morning by its founding members, including Caucus co-chairs, Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA).

"We are at a critical moment in the fight for equality and the formation of this Caucus shows the amazing progress being made in Congress for our community," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.  "With a fair-minded Congress and by working with the Caucus, we’ll move even closer to passage of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act; the expansion of hate crimes legislation to include sexual orientation and gender identity, and support for the repeal of the military’s discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy."

The Caucus will serve as a resource for Members of Congress, their staffs, and the public on GLBT issues.

At this time, the Equality Caucus is comprised of the following Members:

Co-Chairs: Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Barney Frank (D-MA)

Vice Chairs: Reps. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Xavier Becerra (D-CA) Lois Capps (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Mike Honda (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Peter Welch (D-VT)

Members: Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Robert Brady (D-PA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Susan Davis (D-CA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Phil Hare (D-IL), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Doris Matsui (D-CA), James Moran (D-VA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Jose Serrano (D-NY), Chris Shays (R-CT), Pete Stark (D-CA), Betty Sutton (D-OH), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Robert Wexler (D-FL), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

Comments

[I have the Audacity to Hope!]

Great move and I'm proud of these forward movements of the United States and its Congress! We have a great deal of ground to cover to make up for the missteps of the last several decades, especially the last eight years! Onward and Upwards as we finally see some real leadership from our leaders! For the record, I am a heterosexual woman married to a heterosexual man! We just believe that if you're truly free, you should be able to freely chose who to love!