Congratulations Equality Ally Janice Hahn Elected to Congress

July 13, 2011, Melanie Nathan

Yesterday, Equality California Federal Political Action Committee (PAC) endorsed candidate Janice Hahn was elected to represent California’s 36th Congressional District. (Los Angeles).  Democrat Janice Hahn defeated Republican Craig Huey to win Tuesday’s special election to fill an open U.S. House seat from California.

Hahn, a Los Angeles City councilwoman, won the race which turned ugly early, with 54.6 percent of the vote compared to Huey’s 45.4 percent. (NPR)

“Congratulations to Janice Hahn on her well-deserved victory,” said Roland Palencia, Equality California Executive Director. “Hahn is a strong ally of our community who has fought long and hard for equal rights and vital protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. We look forward to working with Hahn as she continues the fight for equality in Congress.”

As a member of the Los Angeles City Council, Hahn voted to make marriage equality the official position of the City of Los Angeles and aggressively opposed Prop 8. She also voted to support federal legislation prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, and to support federal assistance to local governments to prosecute hate crimes motivated by bias because of the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Once in Washington, I will do everything I can to repeal the discriminatory DOMA and pass the Respect For Marriage Act. Marriage equality is about civil rights. It’s about whether we are going to have a just society, or whether we’re going to continue to make people second-class citizens because of who they love. I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with LGBT Americans in the fight for equality, respect and dignity for all. I am proud to have been endorsed by the Equality California Federal PAC.”

In addition to endorsing Hahn, Equality California Federal PAC mobilized its members and volunteers in support of her candidacy.

The Equality California Federal PAC is a related organization to EQCA, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians.