The OUT Against Big Tobacco coalition supported by Equality California Institute launched a pledge today urging California legislators and candidates to voluntarily refuse campaign contributions from the tobacco industry. A total of sixteen legislators and candidates have taken the pledge thus far, with more expected to sign on as the 2022 campaign season gets underway.

The pledge was launched in conjunction with the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, a national day in recognition of tobacco users who are looking to quit tobacco for good. LGBTQ+ people are more than TWICE as likely to smoke as our non-LGBTQ+ peers, and nearly 30,000 LGBTQ+ people across the country die every year of tobacco-related causes.

Initial signers of OUT Against Big Tobacco’s pledge not to take tobacco industry campaign contributions include:

• Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach)
• Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine)
• Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)
• Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona)
• Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (D-Encinitas)
• Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach)
• Annie Cho, candidate for Assembly District 38
• Supervisor Matt Haney, candidate for Assembly District 17
• Daniel Hertzberg, candidate for Senate District 18
• Mayor Christy Holstege, candidate for Assembly District 42
• Bilal Mahmood, candidate for Assembly District 17
• Mayor Lily Mei, candidate for Senate District 10
• Caroline Menjivar, candidate for Senate District 18
• Andrea Rosenthal, candidate for Assembly District 36
• Dr. Sion Roy, candidate for Assembly District 50
• Rick Chavez Zbur, candidate for Assembly District 50

“For decades, Big Tobacco has used their profits to place themselves as friends of our community. This year we are kicking them OUT; out of our Pride, out of our organizations, and out of our politics,” said Equality California Program Manager, Dr. Shannon Kozlovich. “We are calling all 2022 California State legislative candidates to stand with us and pledge to run tobacco free campaigns.

“The tobacco industry is killing our children, killing people of color, killing people that have underlying health conditions. We have to take a stand by not accepting tobacco contributions!” said Senator Lena Gonzalez.

In California’s 2020 Senate and Assembly election cycle, tobacco companies spent $6 million on campaign contributions, while spending millions more lobbying against legislation to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products — products disproportionately targeted towards LGBTQ+ people, people of color and our young people. 

“The tobacco industry serves no purpose other than to make people sick. Tobacco money is not essential for people to win,” said Senator Scott Wiener. 

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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ+ 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 LGBTQ+ 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. www.eqca.org