Endorsed candidates support full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans. Check who they are...
Listed first are ENDORSED CANDIDATES TO FUND followed by OTHER ENDORSED CANDIDATES.
These are the top priority candidates to support. Do three things: HELP THEM, TELL THEM, FOLLOW UP
- HELP THEM: Give money, fundraise for them, volunteer, do a house party, etc.
- TELL THEM: That you are an LGBTQ donor and that you are proud they support LGBTQ legal equality.
- FOLLOW UP: After the election, congratulate them and encourage them to pass legislation for legal equality.
Note that the
maximum that you can give to federal candidates in 2007-2008 is $42,700. This is why it is critical to focus your giving in candidates that are pro-equality instead of giving candidates that may not be 100% on our issues.
ENDORSED CANDIDATES TO FUND
These candidates are pro-equality (because they support all the Equality Goals), are running for federal or statewide office, and are in a competitive race (polling within 10 points of the opponent). They are considered the highest priority for funding. See the details of the criteria for endorsements. All of the candidates were personally interviewed by eQualityGiving. To propose a candidate to endorse, please complete this form in full.
GIVE TO CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS FOR RE-ELECTION TO THE US HOUSE (D-AZ)
Letter from Donor | Donate to Gabrielle Giffords | Campaign website
Because she is a pro-equality Congresswoman, she is an Equality Hero. Because she is in a close race for re-election, she is also an Endorsed Candidate to Fund.
Her district, held for many years by openly gay Jim Kolbe until she won
this seat two years ago, is up for grabs, as she faces a formidable
opponent, the Arizona State Senate President, Republican Tim Bee.
"One of the most basic principles of our great nation is our
respect for personal freedom, and I am
committed to protecting the freedom of each
and every American. The government should not determine what marriage is or is not. That is up to the people
in the relationship. I also
support equalizing the treatment of same-sex couples and families. The civil rights of
all Americans should be honored and strengthened. That is one of my top
priorities in Congress."
GIVE TO JEFF MERKLEY FOR US SENATE (D-OR)
[Co-endorsed with Steve Novick]
Letter from Donor | Donate to Jeff Merkley | Jeff Merkley website
As Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, Jeff had a crucial
role in bringing the Domestic Partnership law to Oregon last year.
"Gordon Smith has not done enough for LGBT rights as a
Senator. I will work in the Senate, as I have in the Oregon House, to
convince my colleagues to support equality legislation."
GIVE TO STEVE NOVICK FOR US SENATE (D-OR)
[Co-endorsed with Jeff Merkley]
Letter from Donor | Donate to Steve Novick | Steve Novick website
As a non-conventional candidate (he's 4'9" and has an artificial left arm) Steve understands you have to fight against discrimination.
His website includes this statement: "The Declaration of Independence says that we all have the right to 'the pursuit of happiness.' I believe that to be true to that principle, we need marriage equality."
GIVE TO AL FRANKEN FOR US SENATE (D-MN)
Letter from Donor | Donate to Al Franken | Al Franken website
Franken supports all Equality Goals, and his chances of defeating the Republican incumbent are considered likely.
"Look I have been married for 32 years. My marriage is so important to me that I wouldn't want to deny it to anyone. And I don’t see gay marriage as
a threat to my marriage. What I think is a more important issue is
employment, is ENDA. Thirty-three states say it is legal to fire
someone for being gay and I think that’s a bigger issue."
GIVE TO LINDA KETNER FOR US HOUSE (D-SC)
Letter from Donor | Donate to Linda Ketner| Linda Ketner website
Linda is the first eQualityGiving Advisory Board Member
to run for office and one of the most prominent lesbian donors in the
country. Her campaign prospectus is impressive because it highlights
her many qualifications and shows she can upset an unpopular Republican
incumbent in a district that should be represented by a Democrat.
If elected, she would be the second open lesbian in Congress, joining Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, an Equality Hero.
Running against
Marilyn Musgrave, the author of the discriminatory Marriage Protection Amendment, Betsy supports equal rights for everybody, including gays and lesbians.
Polis is pro-equality and would be a vote in the US House to repeal
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," pass ENDA and Hate Crimes, and repeal the
Defense of Marriage Act.
If elected, he would be the first openly gay man to be elected to Congress as a freshman.
As a Marine and a lawyer from immigrant parents, Madia served in Bagdad
in '05 and '06. He stands fearless in his support for equality,
including marriage.
"I support gay marriage because it's time that our society became
truly equal and stopped discriminating against people based on who they
love. I think leaders need to show courage in standing up for marriage
and equality."
Burner is pro-equality because she supports marriage equality and all the Equality Goals. She supports including transgender protections in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. In 2006, she nearly beat the Republican incumbent, and this time around she very well may.
"I am deeply committed to the principle of equal treatment under the
law. It is the bedrock of our democracy; our founding principle is that all
persons are created equal."
Famous for his 1996 speech on the Iowa Statehouse floor in favor of marriage equality, he now has the opportunity to bring his pro-equality message to the US House floor.
"By singling out gay and lesbian marriages as a union unacceptable in the eyes of the law, we fuel the fires of ignorance, intolerance, and hatred."
Kroger is a law professor, an ex-marine, and a former federal prosecutor. As Attorney General, he would be enthusiastic in his responsibility to enforce Oregon's new Domestic Partnership law.
"Personally, I believe in same-sex marriage. Though religious
organizations must be free to recognize their own rules, I believe the
state should not discriminate by providing marital benefits to some,
but not others."
OTHER ENDORSED CANDIDATES
These candidates up for election this year deserve to be endorsed since they are pro-equality, but funding their campaigns is not as strategic because they are not in a competitive race (either they consistently poll ahead of the opponent by more than 10 points or they trail the opponent consistently by more than 10 points). Should any of these heroes find themselves in close races, they will be listed as an Endorsed Candidate to Fund, and an alert will be send to inform the donors. To propose a candidate to endorse, please complete this form in full. Check the endorsement criteria.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY PELOSI
CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK
CONGRESSWOMAN TAMMY BALDWIN
CONGRESSMAN DENNIS KUCINICH
CONGRESSMAN JESSE JACKSON JR.
CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE
CONGRESSMAN JIM MORAN
CONGRESSMAN JEROLD NADLER
CONGRESSWOMAN ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
Marine Corps Veteran WILLIAM MEYERS (Candidate for US House in Iowa)
Check also: Endorsement Criteria | Form to Endorse Candidates | Heartbreaking Candidates | Candidates to Defeat
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