US Congressmen David Cicilline from Rhode Island and Chris Pappas from New Hampshire—both cochairs of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus—have been named to Joe Biden’s LGBTQ voter-outreach steering committee, “Out for Biden.”
The steering committee is made up of LGBTQ politicians and activists, including Kasey Suffredini, CEO and national campaign director for Freedom for All Americans; Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund (and former mayor of Houston); and Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry.
The 30-member-plus committee’s policy platform includes “supporting LGBTQ youth, advocating for discrimination protections, and ending violence against the transgender community,” according to a report from Providence-based WJAR TV-10.
The goal of the committee is to reach the estimated 11 million LGBTQ US voters, building on the record-breaking LGBTQ voter primary turnout. On Super Tuesday, for example, 9% of voters identified as LGBTQ—”double the LGBTQ population of 4.4% across the states,” according a March 9 HRC press release.
“LGBTQ voters have shown up in record numbers in states across the country and cemented our status as a crucial constituency to court,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “LGBTQ people and our allies are among the most politically engaged voters in the country, and Democratic presidential candidates are taking notice.”
“Our campaign’s decision to launch Out for Biden in the shadow of historic [Black Lives Matter] protest elevates the power of the moment and encourages deep — and sometimes difficult — dialogue within our LGBTQ+ community as Pride Month begins,” said Biden’s LGBTQ+ Vote Director Reggie Greer in a press release. “LGBTQ+ people of color are central to the fabric of our communities. We must elect a government that will center their voices and celebrate the contributions of LGBTQ+ people everywhere.”
For more on former Vice President Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, go to joebiden.com/lgbtq/
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