Congressional Equality Caucus

Last updated

Congressional Equality Caucus
Chair Mark Takano
Founded2008
Ideology LGBTQ rights
Seats in the House
195 / 432
Seats in the House Democratic Caucus
195 / 212
Seats in the House Republican Caucus
0 / 220
Seats in the United States Senate
0 / 100
Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus Members at the Kick-off Press Conference from left to right: Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Jose E. Serrano (D-NY), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Lois Capps (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Mike Honda (D-CA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Chris Shays (R-CT) Lgbtcaucusmembers.jpg
Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus Members at the Kick-off Press Conference from left to right: Niki Tsongas (D–MA), José E. Serrano (D–NY), Xavier Becerra (D–CA), Hilda Solis (D–CA), Jerry Nadler (D–NY), Barbara Lee (D–CA), Tammy Baldwin (D–WI), Lois Capps (D–CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R–FL), Linda Sánchez (D–CA), Mike Honda (D–CA), Jim McGovern (D–MA), Barney Frank (D–MA), Chris Shays (R–CT)

The Congressional Equality Caucus, formerly the Congressional LGBTQ+ Caucus, was formed by openly gay representatives Tammy Baldwin and Barney Frank on June 4, 2008, to advance LGBT+ rights. [1] [2] The caucus is chaired by the most senior member and is co-chaired by nine of the United States House of Representatives' ten current openly LGBT members; during the 118th Congress, the caucus is chaired by Representative Mark Pocan and is co-chaired by representatives Becca Balint, Angie Craig, Sharice Davids, Robert Garcia, Chris Pappas, Mark Pocan, Eric Sorensen, Mark Takano, and Ritchie Torres. [3]

Contents

With 195 members, the Congressional Equality Caucus became the largest caucus during the 118th United States Congress session.

Mission

The mission of the caucus is to work for LGBTQ rights, the repeal of laws discriminatory against LGBTQ persons, the elimination of hate-motivated violence, and improved health and well-being for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. [4] The caucus serves as a resource for Members of Congress, their staffs, and the public on LGBTQ issues. [4] Unlike the Congressional Black Caucus, famous for admitting only black members, the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus admits any member who is willing to advance LGBTQ rights, regardless of their sexual identity or orientation; it has historically been co-chaired by every openly-LGBTQ member of the House.

Equality PAC

In February 2016, the caucus formed the Equality PAC to support candidates running for federal office who are LGBTQ or seek to advance LGBTQ rights. On March 14, 2016, the board of the Equality PAC voted to endorse Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential election. [5]

Task forces

During the 114th United States Congress, the caucus formed the Transgender Equality Task Force (TETF) and the LGBTQ+ Aging Issues Task Force. The TETF is currently chaired by Pramila Jayapal and Sara Jacobs and is committed to pushing for legislative and administrative action to ensure that transgender people are treated equally and with dignity and respect. The LGBTQ+ Aging Issues Task Force is currently chaired by Suzanne Bonamici and works to push for legislative and administrative action to protect the dignity and security of elderly LGBTQ people. [6]

Membership

Congressional Equality Caucus in the 118th United States Congress

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Democratic members (195)
Democratic non-members (17) LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus in the 118th Congress.svg
Congressional Equality Caucus in the 118th United States Congress
  Democratic members (195)
  Democratic non-members (17)

The below table summarizes the number of caucus members by party over a number of legislative sessions; the drop in membership numbers in the 114th congress was predominantly due to this being the first year that caucus members were charged fees for their membership ($400 per member, $2,100 per vice chair, $7,500 per co-chair): [7]

CongressDemocraticRepublicanTotal
111th 90191 [8]
112th 1013104 [9]
113th 1122114 [10]
114th 55055 [11]
115th 1132115 [12]
116th 1641165 [13]
117th 1750175 [14]
118th 1950195 [15]

Chairs

The CEC structures to have all incumbent LGBT members as co-chairs. It was initially founded in 2008 under Tammy Baldwin and Barney Frank as co-chairs, who both departed the House in 2013. [16] Jared Polis was then the most senior LGBT member, and his office served as host for its website and congressional staff support alongside lead sponsorship of its marquee bill (the Employment Non-Discrimination Act) until his departure from the House in 2019. [17] [18] These duties were taken up by David Cicilline, now the lead sponsor of the Equality Act. [19] In 2021, Cicilline was being described as the lead chair among the co-chairs through the end of the 117th Congress in January 2023. [20] Mark Pocan was then formally named as chair, stating the caucus had moved to a rotating system where the most senior co-chair would formally become the lead chair for a congressional term. [21] Mark Takano was then named as chair in 2025. [22]

118th Congress

Co-chairs

Vice chairs

Members

Former co-chairs

Former members

See also

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References

  1. "House Members Form LGBT Equality Caucus: Goal is Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Americans" (Press release). LGBT Equality Caucus. June 4, 2008. Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  2. "U.S. House Members Form First Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus", The Advocate , February 5, 2008, retrieved April 7, 2010
  3. "Hoyer Congratulates Leaders of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus for the 117th Congress". December 18, 2020. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Mission". LGBT Equality Caucus. June 12, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  5. Equality PAC latest to endorse Clinton
  6. "Task Forces". LGBT Equality Caucus. March 25, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  7. "Membership in LGBT caucus may decline in 114th Congress". February 4, 2015.
  8. "LGBT Equality Caucus Membership List". Archived from the original on February 3, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  9. "LGBT Equality Caucus Membership List". Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  10. "Previous Membership". LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. January 5, 2015. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  11. "House Equality Caucus Announces Membership for the 114th Congress". Congressional Equality Caucus. February 23, 2015. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  12. "House LGBT Caucus Announces Bipartisan, 102 Person Membership in the 115th Congress | LGBT Equality Caucus". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  13. "House LGBT Caucus Announces Largest Membership in Caucus History with 165 Members in the 116th Congress". March 11, 2019. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  14. "Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus Members". February 8, 2022. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  15. "Congressional Equality Members". July 13, 2024. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  16. https://web.archive.org/web/20080712221917/http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2008%2F06%2F04%2F3
  17. "Equality Caucus praises Senate passage of ENDA | Congressional Equality Caucus". November 8, 2013.
  18. "Roddy Flynn joins the Equality Caucus as Executive Director | Congressional Equality Caucus". June 17, 2015.
  19. "House LGBT Caucus Announces Largest Membership in Caucus History with 165 Members in the 116th Congress | Congressional Equality Caucus". March 11, 2019.
  20. "Equality Caucus Applauds Early Pro-LGBTQ+ Actions of Biden Administration | Congressional Equality Caucus". January 21, 2021.
  21. "Congressional Equality Caucus Announces Congressman Mark Pocan as its Chair for the 118th Congress | Congressional Equality Caucus". January 9, 2023.
  22. "Mark Takano Announced as Next Congressional Equality Caucus Chair | Congressional Equality Caucus".