Jason Howe

In response to the draft federal budget released today by the Trump Administration, Equality California National Policy Director Valerie Ploumpis issued the following statement: “The Trump Administration’s grotesquely-named ‘‘A New Foundation for American Greatness” budget is an all-out assault on the social bedrock of the health and wellbeing of middle and lower-income Americans, and a naked gift to the wealthiest. Over the next ten years, this cruel budget would eviscerate the very programs that were put in place to support our nation’s most vulnerable. It would cut Medicaid by $1.4 trillion and $193 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program […]

In response to yesterday’s vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to overturn an Obama-era rule prohibiting states from denying federal family planning funding to Planned Parenthood or other organizations because they also offer abortion care, Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur issued the following statement: “While the House did not vote outright to end federal funding of Planned Parenthood, yesterday’s vote is still an assault on vital health services for women and for hundreds of thousands of LGBT people across the country. Federal rules already prohibit federal funds from supporting abortion services. If also approved by the Senate, the […]

Equality California has endorsed Eric Bauman for chair of the California Democratic Party. If elected, Bauman would be the first openly LGBT person to head either major political party in California. Bauman has served as vice chair of the California Democratic Party since 2009 and is in his eighth term as chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, the largest local Democratic Party organization in the nation. He is senior adviser to California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and directs the Speaker’s Office of Member Services. He served in the same role for former Speakers Toni Atkins and John Pérez. […]

Equality California today announced that 109 of its 116 endorsed candidates won enough votes in their individual races in the California primary election to advance to the November 8 general election or to win their race outright.“This election year is of enormous importance to the LGBT community,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California. “With the future of the U.S. Supreme Court in play, an open U.S. Senate seat and the strength of the California LGBT Legislative Caucus at stake, this is not an election year for LGBT people to choose not to vote.  We congratulate all of our […]

Today, the 28th annual observance of World AIDS Day, Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur issued the following statement:“This is a time of great promise.  For the first time in the history of the AIDS epidemic, treatments are available that can stem or even stop the spread of HIV.  Living with the virus itself is now a manageable long term condition rather than a debilitating and fatal disease. But remember that for far too many people in the LGBT community, including in communities of color and around the world, that promise is still far off.  In the United States, transgender […]

Equality California announced today that it has endorsed City Councilmember Ginny Foat for Palm Springs mayor in the November 3, 2015 municipal election. EQCA endorses exceptional LGBT candidates in races for local government.“We were fortunate that the current slate of candidates presented us with three qualified LGBT candidates from which to choose,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of EQCA. “But Ginny Foat, with her 11 years on the city council and extensive experience both as an administrator and working on behalf of the LGBT community, stood out. She represents our best opportunity to elect an LGBT mayor and will be […]

Equality California will honor its former executive director Geoff Kors with the first-ever award in his name at its annual Palm Springs Equality Awards dinner on Saturday, October 10, 2015. EQCA announced today the establishment of the Geoff Kors Leadership Award, which will be given periodically in the future to an LGBT Californian whose work has significantly advanced LGBT civil rights or social justice on a national level. In addition, Equality California is excited to honor the lifetime achievements of civil rights legend Dolores Huerta, who has made equality and social justice for all communities her life’s work. Also receiving […]