Leadership Circle & Capitol Club Newsletter | Spring 2020

EQUALITY CALIFORNIA’S QUARTERLY JOURNAL FOR LEADERSHIP CIRCLE AND CAPITOL CLUB MEMBERS

Capitol Club

Leadership Circle

We created most of the content for our Capitol Club Spring 2020 newsletter before the COVID-19 health crisis, so while it may not reflect the urgency of what is happening in the world right now, we’re sharing it with all of you so you can see all of the inspiring work that you have made possible.

SPRING 2020

SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT

A MESSAGE FROM OUR ASSOCIATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR Dear Friends, It is hard to overstate how much is at stake for the LGBTQ+ community with the 2020 Census – the redrawing of district lines, distribution of representative seats, and over 300 federal programs and $900 billion in federal funds that are important to meeting the needs of LGBTQ+ Californians.

With so much on the line, Equality California launched a comprehensive $1 million statewide LGBTQ+ outreach and education campaign to make census outreach and participation a priority for our diverse LGBTQ+ community.

Equality is Non-Partisan

Since the launch of our census campaign, I’m proud to share we have attended over 20 LGBTQ+ community events throughout the state, had face-to-face conversations with over 11,000 community members, collected 5,255 pledge postcards (commitments to complete the 2020 Census) and contracted with 18 LGBTQ+ serving organizations that serve particularly hard-to-count (HTC) subsects of the LGBTQ+ community to help reach and improve self-response rates of these HTC communities.

Fullerton City Councilmember Ahmad Zahra joined the Equality California board of advisors in 2019 in an expression of his passion and drive to support his constituents in Orange County. As the first LGBTQ+ Muslim person ever elected to a public office in the United States, Ahmad understands the necessity of protecting all the identities that make up our diverse LGBTQ+ community. He is committed to using his platform to help showcase who we are as the broader LGBTQ+ community and to ensure that we’re included in the discussions to find solutions to societal problems that affect us.

In addition, Equality California’s census campaign includes digital advertising on Facebook and Grindr, peer-to-peer text messaging, 10 regional LGBTQ+ census assistance kiosks, door-to-door canvassing in Los Angeles County, technical support, grant funding and community engagement resources for local LGBTQ+ and allied community partners.

So far, it has been an incredible journey and we can’t wait to see what the coming weeks brings – the launch of our door-to-door canvass program and grand opening of our regional LGBTQ+ kiosks.

We will be counted in the 2020 Census and I hope you will join us in making your voice heard by taking the 2020 Census right now: my2020census.gov In solidarity, Jeremy Payne Associate Program Director

Supporter Spotlight on Councilmember Ahmad Zahra

The one thing that people don’t realize is that equality is non-partisan.

One issue that is especially important to Ahmad is homelessness.

Homelessness disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ youth, who make up 40% of the nation’s homeless population.

Ahmad has partnered with Equality California to host events which raise awareness about this and other issues to make sure our LGBTQ+ community is not overlooked.

In an effort to increase representation and highlight the scale of the LGBTQ+ population in Fullerton, Ahmad has been collaborating with local nonprofit and community organizations to better assess the multifaceted barriers which face his constituents in regard to 2020 Census outreach. In doing so, he is working to ensure every member of the diverse community in which he serves is counted and supported by the data that will be collected.

Ahmad, when asked about party politics and fear surrounding the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, offers an incredibly important insight: “The one thing that people don’t realize is that equality is non-partisan. This gets lost in the conversations. If people feel or are upset about national policy and are frustrated by what they see on TV, they can get involved locally.”

RACE TO WATCH Candidate: Scott Wiener Office: California Senate, District 11 2020

Election Date: November 3, 2020 Current Position: California Senator & Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Chair

Fun Fact: Senator Wiener was named Legislator of the Year by the California Sexual Assault Investigators Association and California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, for his work with Equality California to reform our criminal justice system.

Equality California Around the State (and in Nevada!)

December 10: Capitol Club members gathered for a Holiday Party hosted by our PAC Board President Jerry Bloom in the Hollywood Hills. The evening was headlined by our Leadership Academy alum Dr. Diandra Bremond as guest speaker and artist Jack-Henry Day, who provided holiday tunes throughout the evening.

February 11: Executive Director Rick Chavez Zbur joined Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Senator Lena Gonzalez in Sacramento for the introduction of SB 961, a bill to protect people living with HIV from insurance discrimination.

February 22: After endorsing Mayor Pete Buttigieg for president, members and staff of Equality California and Silver State Equality hit the road and volunteered for Pete ahead of the Nevada Caucus!

February 27: Our Bay Area supporters gathered at Jolene’s for a Kickoff Reception leading up to the San Francisco Equality Awards in September. Local drag icon Donna Sachet and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman headlined this exciting night.

March 3: From San Jose to the Central Valley to SoCal, our staff and board members were literally all over the state getting out the vote for the California Primary.

March 5: Equality California kicked off the year with our first Capitol Club and Leadership Circle appreciation event in the Coachella Valley, graciously hosted by G. Paul Kowal and Jefferson Hills with special guest speaker Hon. James Williamson.

Legislative Update Tami Martin, Equality California’s Sacramento-based Legislative Manager, is overseeing a comprehensive legislative package that addresses disparities in health and well-being that LGBTQ+ communities face. This year’s bill topics include improving school equity, expanding access to HIV prevention medications, criminal justice reform, protecting and affirming transgender people, and more. As the state turns its attention to COVID-19 response, Tami’s advocacy will also focus on ensuring that the LGBTQ+ community is accounted for in any new legislative, budget, and administrative proposals. This rapidly-shifting policy landscape makes Equality California’s presence in Sacramento even more important than ever. The work may be evolving quickly, but the work is far from done.

2019 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD

National Policy Director Valerie Ploumpis kept up a blistering pace in the first three weeks of February: She met with the offices of every Member of Congress from California and Nevada – 60 lobbying meetings in all! The purpose of these meetings was to urge Members to support 14 pieces of Federal legislation, including bills related to foster and adoption, immigration, civil rights, women’s health and access to abortion, safe schools, LGBTQ+ inclusive sex education, insurance coverage for PrEP and PEP, conversion therapy, and more. To learn about Equality California and Silver State Equality’s federal priorities, visit eqca.org/legislation/.

Equality California and Silver State Equality 2019 Federal Legislative Scorecard | 1

Revised Dates for the 2020 Equality Awards!

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and in an effort to protect public health, several of the Equality Awards events have been postponed with the new event dates listed below. As these dates are subject to further change, please check eqca.org/events for the most up-to-date information.

Sacramento Equality Awards

San Diego Equality Awards

San Francisco Equality Awards

Palm Springs Equality Awards

August 18, 2020 - Golden 1 Center

October 3, 2020 - Humphrey’s by the Bay

September 11, 2020 - The Fairmont

October 17, 2020 - The Riviera

Los Angeles Equality Awards

September 26, 2020 - JW Marriott at LA Live

We Want to Hear From You! Do you want to hear more about a particular part of the work we do? Let us know! Please reach out to DonorRelations@eqca.org to request topics or provide any feedback.

Want to double the impact of your next contribution? Participate in our Match for Equality campaign by visiting: eqca.org/m4e

Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LBGTQ+) civil rights organization.

Equality California brings the voices of LBGTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LBGTQ+ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve.

Los Angeles Headquarters 3701 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 725 Los Angeles, CA 90010 Phone: (323) 848-9801 email: email@eqca.org