House LGBT Caucus Announces Largest Membership in Caucus History with 165 Members in the 116th Congress
420 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20003
Date: March 11, 2019 Contact: Aliya Bean, (202) 225-2305
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
House LGBT Caucus Announces Largest Membership in Caucus History with 165 Members in the 116th Congress
Membership includes a majority of all House Democrats
*[Updated June 18] Ten members have joined since the original publication*
Washington D.C. – The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus announced its membership list for the 116th Congress today. With eight openly LGBT Co-Chairs, nineteen Vice Chairs, and 165 total members, this is the largest LGBT Equality Caucus in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives.
"Fairness and equality are core American values. Unfortunately, as he has shown again and again, the President does not share these ideals. That's why it's more important than ever that Members of Congress stand up for the rights of the LGBT community," said LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. David Cicilline (RI-01). "As I prepare to re-introduce the Equality Act, I am delighted that so many of my House colleagues – the largest number on record, in fact – are committed to fighting for full LGBT equality as members of this important caucus."
"In November, the people voted for change and they got it – we have the most diverse Congress in American history, and that includes the largest number of LGBTQ representatives ever. The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is positioned to achieve historic milestones for the LGBTQ community including passing the Equality Act, banning conversion ‘therapy,' and fighting back against the Trump Administration's ongoing attacks on LGBTQ Americans," said LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18).
"With a record number of LGBTQ Americans serving in Congress and the LGBT Equality Caucus experiencing its largest membership in history, we are on track to make remarkable progress in the fight for equality. Representation is the key to ensuring that some of the most critical issues LGBTQ Americans face are front and center, and I'm excited to have so many allies who will fight for legislation and change throughout the 116th Congress," said LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02). "From employment and housing, to health care and family support, we have so much to do and I look forward to working with all of my colleagues to make a difference."
"The 116th Congress is the most diverse Congress in our history, and I am so proud that a record number of openly LGBTQ Members are contributing to that diversity," said LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41). "The gains we have made to advance representation in the House and the Senate should be cause for celebration and serve as a testament to the success of our efforts to promote acceptance and equality in America – but there is still so much work ahead of us. With the support of the LGBT Equality Caucus, I'm confident that this Congress will make important strides to further the cause of equality by passing the Equality Act and establishing federal protections for LGBTQ people everywhere in America."
"It's an honor to Co-Chair the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus to address the work we have left to do to end discrimination that still exists in housing and employment, and in particular stand with the transgender community," said LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02). "We now have the largest membership in our caucus history, and we will continue to work until every LGBTQ American has the rights and respect they deserve."
"I'm looking forward to Co-Chairing the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and building on its progress in the fight for LGBT equality," said LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Sharice Davids (KS-03). "With the largest membership in the caucus history, we have a unique opportunity to enact real change on LGBT issues and further expand and protect the rights of the LGBT community in the U.S. and around the world."
"It's not a coincidence that the 116th Congress is the youngest and most diverse in history – it's a call to action. I am so proud to serve as a Co-Chair of the largest LGBT Equality Caucus in Congressional history, because now more than ever our communities are demanding representation to ensure their voices are heard," said LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Katie Hill (CA-25). "As the first openly bisexual woman elected to Congress from the state of California, I am proud to further the fight to end discrimination and uplift our community."
"With a historic number of LGBTQ members and allies, the 116th Congress fundamentally understands that our strength and potential as a nation is rooted in our diversity," said LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01). "No one should be discriminated against because of who they are or who they love, and it is our responsibility to ensure everyone can live an open and full life. I am proud to serve in Congress alongside so many colleagues who are committed champions of equality."
The Caucus is Co-Chaired by the eight openly LGBT members of the House of Representatives: David N. Cicilline (RI-01), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mark Takano (CA-41), Angie Craig (MN-02), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Katie Hill (CA-25), and Chris Pappas (NH-01).
The Caucus also announced the nineteen Vice Chairs who will assist the Co-Chairs in leading the Caucus and promoting LGBT equality in the House: Judy Chu (CA-27), Theodore E. Deutch (FL-22), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Debra A. Haaland (NM-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Joseph P. Kennedy, III (MA-04), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ted W. Lieu (CA-33), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Grace Meng (NY-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Adam B. Schiff (CA-28), Darren Soto (FL-09), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23).
The Caucus' 138 general members are: Pete Aguilar (CA-31), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Karen Bass (CA-37), Ami Bera (CA-07), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Anthony Brindisi (NY-22), Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Ed Case (HI-01), Sean Casten (IL-06), Salud O. Carbajal (CA-24), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), André Carson (IN-07), Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Gilbert R. Cisneros (CA-39), Katherine M. Clark (MA-05), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-16), Joe Courtney (CT-02), TJ Cox (CA-21), Charlie Crist (FL-13), Jason Crow (CO-06), Joe Cunningham (SC-01), Susan A. Davis (CA-53), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01), Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Eliot L. Engel (NY-16), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Bill Foster (IL-11), Lois Frankel (FL-21), Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), Jesús G. "Chuy" Garcia (IL-04), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Jared F. Golden (ME-02), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Al Green (TX-09), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Denny Heck (WA-10), Brian Higgins (NY-26), James A. Himes (CT-04), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Hakeem S. Jeffries (NY-08), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), William R. Keating (MA-09), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Daniel T. Kildee (MI-05), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Ann M. Kuster (NH-02), Conor Lamb (PA-17), James R. Langevin (RI-02), John B. Larson (CT-01), Susie Lee (NV-03), Andy Levin (MI-09), Mike Levin (CA-49), David Loebsack (IA-02), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Nita M. Lowey (NY-17), Elaine G. Luria (VA-02), Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Doris O. Matsui (CA-06), Ben McAdams (UT-04), A. Donald McEachin (VA-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Gwen S. Moore (WI-04), Joseph D. Morelle (NY-25), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), Stephanie N. Murphy (FL-07), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-1), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Scott H. Peters (CA-52), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Katie Porter (CA-45), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), David E. Price (NC-04), Kathleen M. Rice (NY-04), Max Rose (NY-11), Harley Rouda (CA-48), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Bradley S. Schneider (IL-10), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), José E. Serrano (NY-15), Donna E. Shalala (FL-27), Brad Sherman (CA-30), Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Jackie Speier (CA-14), Greg Stanton (AZ-09), Haley M. Stevens (MI-11), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Lori Trahan (MA-03), David J. Trone (MD-06), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02), Juan Vargas (CA-51), Marc A. Veasey (TX-33), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Peter Welch (VT-00), Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), Susan Wild (PA-07), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).
Please contact Aliya Bean at 202-225-2305 or aliya.bean@mail.house.gov with press inquiries.
Founded in 2008, the mission of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. The Caucus, which is led by the eight openly LGBT members of Congress, is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBT people in the U.S. and around the world.