Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Buttigieg Endorsed by Major California, Nevada LGBTQ Group
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 years ago on
January 30, 2020

Share

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has won the backing of Equality California, one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ membership organizations, and its Nevada partner organization, an endorsement that could give him a boost in critical Western primaries.

“When we had the combination of an LGBTQ candidate who had the most comprehensive and boldest policy agenda, and was also viable … it was an easy decision.” — Rick Zbur, Equality California’s executive director
While Buttigieg is the only openly gay candidate in the race, his endorsement by the organizations wasn’t a lock. Every candidate was asked to fill out a questionnaire, and the endorsement committee also considered supporting Elizabeth Warren or Tom Steyer, the only Californian still in the race. But Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, impressed the committee with his detailed policies for protecting LGBTQ youth in schools and ending the HIV epidemic by 2030.
“When we had the combination of an LGBTQ candidate who had the most comprehensive and boldest policy agenda, and was also viable … it was an easy decision,” said Rick Zbur, Equality California’s executive director.
The organization boasts 900,000 members, making it the country’s second largest membership organization for LGBTQ individuals behind the Human Rights Campaign, which does not plan to endorse in the Democratic presidential primary.
The endorsement, announced Thursday, comes less than a week before voting begins in Iowa, the leadoff caucus state. Equality California and Silver State Equality, its newly launched Nevada partnership, will focus on appealing to voters in both states. Nevada is the third state to vote, with a caucus on Feb. 22. California holds its primary on March 3, known as Super Tuesday, but millions of people who vote by mail will get their ballots next month.
Buttigieg, in an emailed statement, called the groups “unrelenting in their fight for LGBTQ+ people and our push for full equality.”

Every Democratic Candidate Had the Opportunity to Fill out a Survey From the Groups

“My campaign is based around a shared future of belonging for all Americans, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity,” he said. “President Trump’s attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, especially our trans members, have shown us that the fight for equal rights did not end with marriage equality. I will be the President to continue that fight for equality.”

“My campaign is based around a shared future of belonging for all Americans, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. President Trump’s attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, especially our trans members, have shown us that the fight for equal rights did not end with marriage equality. I will be the President to continue that fight for equality.” — Pete Buttigieg
Every Democratic candidate had the opportunity to fill out a survey from the groups. Amy Klobuchar is the only major candidate who did not participate, said Samuel Garrett-Pate, a spokesman for the groups. Buttigieg, Steyer and Warren then participated in lengthy interviews with the endorsement committee.
All three had LGBTQ policy platforms that would be the most progressive for any president in history, Zbur said. But Buttigieg stood out for the depth of his plans on such issues as funding programs that can help stop the transmission of and deaths from HIV and teacher training and mentorship programs in schools to provide support for LGBTQ youth. Zbur said Buttigieg’s criminal justice plan, which included plans to protect transgender people, stood out as well.
The group’s endorsement means it will be promoting Buttigieg through slate cards highlighting its chosen candidate, a robust texting program and digital advertisements. Equality California has purchased ads on Grindr, an LGBTQ dating app, to promote things like the upcoming census and get-out-the-vote efforts, and it may run similar ads for Buttigieg.
Buttigieg also has the backing of Victory Fund, an organization that helps LGBTQ candidates win elected office.
Seeing Buttigieg make a serious run for the presidency as an openly gay man is “something that literally brings tears to the eyes of many members of our community,” Zbur said. A Buttigieg presidency would “redefine what’s possible in politics and will inspire millions of LGBT youth.”
Mandy Lee, former president of the group’s board and a member of the endorsement committee, said, “It wasn’t just the fact that he was LGBTQ. It was everything that he demonstrated on our call that showed us that he was the best and most invested.”

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Texas Walmart Shooter Who Killed 23 Avoids Death Penalty by Pleading Guilty

DON'T MISS

Chevron Announces First Oil at Ballymore Project in US Gulf

DON'T MISS

Fresno Barbershop Shooting Leaves Man Dead, Two Others Injured

DON'T MISS

Vance, Modi Welcome Significant Progress on India-US Trade Deal

DON'T MISS

White House Denies Report It Is Searching for New Defense Secretary

DON'T MISS

Israeli Spy Chief Hands Court Scathing Rebuke of Netanyahu Bid to Sack Him

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Satbir Singh

DON'T MISS

Steeply Discounted OD-Reversal Medicine Now Available to Any Californian

DON'T MISS

Merced College Breaks Ground on $21 Million Center Geared for Tomorrow’s Ag Jobs

DON'T MISS

Delta Plane Suffers Engine Fire in Orlando, Forcing Evacuation

UP NEXT

Magic Happens When Kids and Adults Learn to Swim. Tragedy Can Strike if They Don’t.

UP NEXT

Progressive Icon and Ex-US Rep. Barbara Lee Wins Race for Mayor of Oakland

UP NEXT

Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors

UP NEXT

Anti-Trump Protesters Turn Out to Rallies Across Country

UP NEXT

250 Years After America Went to War for Independence, a Divided Nation Battles Over Its Legacy

UP NEXT

Greg Cronin Fired as Coach of Anaheim Ducks After 2 Seasons

UP NEXT

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill More Than 90 People in 48 Hours, Palestinians Say

UP NEXT

US and Iran Advance Nuclear Talks to Expert Level After Rome Meeting

UP NEXT

Putin Announces an Easter Ceasefire as Russia and Ukraine Swap Hundreds of POWs

UP NEXT

NBA Playoff Guide: Who Plays When, How to Watch, What the Odds Are

Vance, Modi Welcome Significant Progress on India-US Trade Deal

2 hours ago

White House Denies Report It Is Searching for New Defense Secretary

2 hours ago

Israeli Spy Chief Hands Court Scathing Rebuke of Netanyahu Bid to Sack Him

2 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Satbir Singh

3 hours ago

Steeply Discounted OD-Reversal Medicine Now Available to Any Californian

3 hours ago

Merced College Breaks Ground on $21 Million Center Geared for Tomorrow’s Ag Jobs

3 hours ago

Delta Plane Suffers Engine Fire in Orlando, Forcing Evacuation

3 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest 11 for DUI During Weekend Enforcement

3 hours ago

Reddit Down for Thousands of Users Worldwide

4 hours ago

Israeli Minister Says Freeing Hostages Not ‘Most Important’ Aim of the War

4 hours ago

Texas Walmart Shooter Who Killed 23 Avoids Death Penalty by Pleading Guilty

(Reuters) – The gunman who killed 23 people and injured 22 others in a 2019 mass shooting aimed at Latinos at a Texas Walmart pleaded ...

17 minutes ago

El Paso Walmart mass shooter Patrick Crusius, a 21-year-old male from Allen, Texas, accused of killing 22 and injuring 25, is arraigned, in El Paso, Texas, U.S. October 10, 2019. (Mark Lambie/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo)
17 minutes ago

Texas Walmart Shooter Who Killed 23 Avoids Death Penalty by Pleading Guilty

A Chevron gas station sign is seen in Austin, Texas, U.S., October 23, 2023. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
1 hour ago

Chevron Announces First Oil at Ballymore Project in US Gulf

Jampier Quintero, 44, was killed and two others were injured in a shooting Saturday at a Fresno barbershop, with police still searching for suspects. (Fresno PD)
1 hour ago

Fresno Barbershop Shooting Leaves Man Dead, Two Others Injured

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets U.S. Vice President JD Vance at his residence in New Delhi, India, April 21, 2025. India's Press Information (Bureau/Handout via REUTERS)
2 hours ago

Vance, Modi Welcome Significant Progress on India-US Trade Deal

A view of the White House in Washington, U.S., July 20, 2024. (REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo)
2 hours ago

White House Denies Report It Is Searching for New Defense Secretary

Israeli Security Agency director Ronen Bar attends a memorial ceremony of the Hamas attack on October 7 last year that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on October 27, 2024. (GIL COHEN-MAGEN/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo)
2 hours ago

Israeli Spy Chief Hands Court Scathing Rebuke of Netanyahu Bid to Sack Him

Satbir Singh is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for April 21, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
3 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Satbir Singh

3 hours ago

Steeply Discounted OD-Reversal Medicine Now Available to Any Californian

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend