Leaders of House LGBT Caucus Create Equality PAC, Announce First Endorsements

Washington, DC - Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA), Co-Chairs of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, announced today the formation of Equality PAC. Equality PAC will work to increase the number of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people elected to federal office and support straight, cis-gender allies who champion LGBT equality.

Congressman Polis and Congressman Takano will serve as the Co-Chairs of Equality PAC. Equality PAC will also be led by a Board of Directors, comprised of the following Members of Congress: David Cicilline (D-RI), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Joseph Kennedy, III (D-MA), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Grace Meng (D-NY), and Gwen Moore (D-WI). Every Member of the Board of Directors is also a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.

The Equality PAC Board of Directors also announced its first endorsement of the 2016 cycle: Minnesota congressional candidate Angie Craig. Ms. Craig is running to represent Minnesota's 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. An executive of a Fortune 500 company, Ms. Craig lives in Eagan, Minnesota with her wife, Cheryl Greene, and their four sons.

The Equality PAC Board of Directors further announced the endorsements of two incumbent Members of Congress: Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY). Both Congresswoman Sinema and Congressman Maloney are Co-Chairs of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.

"I am thrilled to help launch the Equality PAC, which will help grow LGBT equality members, candidates and allies by providing our candidates with the resources they need to win," said Equality PAC Co-Chair Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO). "I am also enthusiastically supporting Angie Craig for Congress. Angie's unique experience and integrity ensures in her you will get a true public servant that knows what it takes and will fight for the chance for all American to succeed. It's time we build an inclusive America and restore the American Dream for every one, I look forward to working along side Angie to do just that."

"I couldn't be more excited to be helping launch the Equality PAC," said Equality PAC Co-Chair Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA). "By electing more LGBT members to the House, the Equality PAC will ensure that Congress better reflects the diversity of the American people. I am also proud that the PAC will be supporting Angie Craig's candidacy. I personally endorsed Angie in 2015 because it is clear that she has the right experience, values, and vision to bring new leadership to the House. I am certain that the support of the Equality PAC will make Angie one of many new LGBT members to be elected this November."

"I am honored to have the support of the leaders of Congressional LGBT Caucus," said Angie Craig. "My wife and I have worked tirelessly on behalf of the LGBT community and our families. While we have made tremendous progress in areas such as marriage equality, there is still much work left to do. When I'm elected to Congress, I will continue the fight to ensure that the LGBT community continues to make progress toward a country free from discrimination in the workplace, in housing and in all forms of civic life."

"Equality PAC is working with LGBT coalition partners to support candidates who are truly dedicated to full legal and societal equality for LGBT people," said Equality PAC Managing Director Roddy Flynn. "The PAC Board will make sure that its endorsed candidates, be they LGBT themselves or straight, cis-gender members of the LGBT Equality Caucus, pledge to be on the vanguard of the fight for LGBT equality by championing legislation like the Equality Act."