LAS VEGAS — Silver State Equality, Nevada’s statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization, announced a joint endorsement with Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization, of Mayor Pete Buttigieg for President of the United States on Thursday. The decision was reached unanimously by the groups’ joint presidential endorsement committee following a lengthy process that included a detailed questionnaire, thorough evaluation of the candidates’ viability and policy positions, staff engagement and interviews with the candidates. The 2020 Nevada Caucus will be held on Saturday, February 22. For the first time, California’s primary will be held on Super Tuesday in March, and California voters will begin casting mail-in ballots on Monday, February 3.
Silver State Equality released the following statement from State Director André Wade:
“Today, we are proud to announce Silver State Equality’s enthusiastic endorsement of Mayor Pete Buttigieg for president of the United States. “We believe that Mayor Pete Buttigieg has the boldest, most comprehensive agenda to achieve full, lived equality for all LGBTQ people of any presidential candidate in the nation’s history. His comprehensive plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, his commitment to make our schools safe and supportive for LGBTQ students, his specific funding and policy priorities to protect and empower the transgender community — especially transgender women of color, who face an epidemic of violence and persecution — and his plans to invest in the Black and Latinx communities in Nevada and across the country are particularly compelling. “Mayor Pete will be our champion in the fight for a world that is healthy, just and fully equal for all LGBTQ people, and we believe he is the best candidate to take on Donald Trump and win this November. “While we did not endorse Mayor Pete simply because he’s gay, the historic nature of his candidacy certainly has already had a transformational impact on the LGBTQ community. Electing the first openly LGBTQ president has the power to inspire millions of LGBTQ youth across the country and give hope and pride to LGBTQ seniors who came of age at a time when LGBTQ people couldn’t serve openly in the federal government and now have the opportunity to cast their ballot for the first viable LGBTQ candidate for president of the United States. “Every four years, Nevada plays a critical role in selecting the next president. Silver State Equality is ready to roll up our sleeves, get out the vote and take back the White House with Mayor Pete.”
“Today, we are proud to announce Silver State Equality’s enthusiastic endorsement of Mayor Pete Buttigieg for president of the United States.
“We believe that Mayor Pete Buttigieg has the boldest, most comprehensive agenda to achieve full, lived equality for all LGBTQ people of any presidential candidate in the nation’s history. His comprehensive plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, his commitment to make our schools safe and supportive for LGBTQ students, his specific funding and policy priorities to protect and empower the transgender community — especially transgender women of color, who face an epidemic of violence and persecution — and his plans to invest in the Black and Latinx communities in Nevada and across the country are particularly compelling.
“Mayor Pete will be our champion in the fight for a world that is healthy, just and fully equal for all LGBTQ people, and we believe he is the best candidate to take on Donald Trump and win this November.
“While we did not endorse Mayor Pete simply because he’s gay, the historic nature of his candidacy certainly has already had a transformational impact on the LGBTQ community. Electing the first openly LGBTQ president has the power to inspire millions of LGBTQ youth across the country and give hope and pride to LGBTQ seniors who came of age at a time when LGBTQ people couldn’t serve openly in the federal government and now have the opportunity to cast their ballot for the first viable LGBTQ candidate for president of the United States.
“Every four years, Nevada plays a critical role in selecting the next president. Silver State Equality is ready to roll up our sleeves, get out the vote and take back the White House with Mayor Pete.”
In particular, Silver State Equality and Equality California were impressed by Mayor Buttigieg’s comprehensive plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, his understanding that making schools safe and supportive requires bold investments in teacher training and mentorship programs for LGBTQ students, his specific policy and funding priorities to protect and empower the transgender community, his plan to transform the criminal legal system into one that truly promotes justice and instead of one that furthers racial injustice and his proposals for fixing our broken immigration system by protecting refugees and asylum seekers and providing millions of LGBTQ undocumented people, their friends and family with a pathway to citizenship.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg released the following statement in reaction to Silver State Equality and Equality California’s endorsement:
“I’m honored to receive the endorsements of Equality California and Silver State Equality, two organizations that have been unrelenting in their fight for LGBTQ+ people and our push for full 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 for all Americans.”
Every top tier 2020 presidential candidate sought Silver State Equality and Equality California’s endorsement — a testament to the LGBTQ community’s role as a key voting bloc in both important states and across the country. The Trump-Pence Administration is an existential threat to the LGBTQ community and the diverse communities to which LGBTQ people belong, and Silver State Equality and Equality California’s top priority in 2020 will be defeating Donald Trump and Mike Pence and putting a pro-equality president back in the White House. Both organizations have committed to supporting the Democratic nominee in the 2020 general election.
Although Silver State Equality and Equality California determined that Mayor Pete presented the boldest, most comprehensive plan for full, lived LGBTQ equality and is the best candidate to take on Donald Trump and win, the organizations were also impressed by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Tom Steyer, who both have extremely strong, compelling pro-equality policy agendas and participated in robust interviews with the joint presidential endorsement committee. Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Andrew Yang also submitted questionnaires outlining their strong support for LGBTQ civil rights and social justice.
Prior to dropping out of the race, Senator Kamala Harris participated in Equality California and Silver State Equality’s endorsement process, submitted an extremely strong, compelling questionnaire and participated in events with Equality California. After two decades of working with her, Equality California has immense respect and admiration for Senator Harris, and LGBTQ Californians are lucky to have her fighting for civil rights and social justice in the U.S. Senate.
2020 will be one of the most consequential election years for LGBTQ people in modern American history, and Silver State Equality and Equality California plan to run substantial get out the vote efforts in elections up and down the ballot. Silver State Equality has endorsed U.S. Representatives Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford — three incredible pro-equality champions — for reelection and plans to announce additional endorsements at the state and local levels in the coming months before the June primary election.
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As Nevada’s statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization, Silver State Equality brings the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in Nevada and throughout the U.S. Silver State Equality strives to create a world that is healthy, just and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. Silver State Equality is a Nevada-based program affiliated with and supported by Equality California and Equality California Institute, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. More information at SilverStateEquality.org.
