The Pennsylvania LGBT Equality Caucus is an organization of sitting members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly who are in favor of equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pennsylvanians. It was formed on December 19, 2011, with Representatives Dan Frankel and Babette Josephs serving as the first co-chairs, [1] and is open to all sexual orientations and gender identities.
Ironically, unlike other LGBT-focused caucuses in other state or federal legislatures which are formed around openly LGBT sitting legislators (i.e., the LGBT Equality Caucus in the U.S. Congress), the Pennsylvania was formed without any openly LGBT sitting legislators, as none had yet been elected to political positions at the time of its formation.
The caucus now has two out members. They are Rep. Brian Sims (D – 182) and Rep. Mike Fleck (R – 81). Sims became the first openly gay man to be elected to the General Assembly in November 2012; Mike Fleck, an incumbent, came out after the election.
As of May 2013, 58 members of Pennsylvania General Assembly are members of the Pennsylvania LGBT Equality Caucus. [2]
Pennsylvania House of Representatives:
William J. Lippert, Jr., commonly known as Bill Lippert, is a legislator and gay rights activist from the U.S. state of Vermont who has served since 1994 in the Vermont House of Representatives as state representative of the Town of Hinesburg. He served as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee for ten years, and now serves as chairman of the House Health Care Committee.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two-year terms from single member districts.
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Babette Josephs was a Democratic politician and attorney, who served 28 years in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Josephs was first elected in 1984, representing the 182nd Legislative District, which encompasses Center City and South Philadelphia. She held office through November 30, 2012. Josephs served as the Democratic chair of the House State Government Committee from 2001 to 2012. She was the senior woman in the General Assembly and convener of the Women's Caucus. In her role as state representative, she was an unabashed champion of progressive causes. Josephs was one of a few members of the Democratic Socialists of America to be elected to public office at the time.
Evan Low is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat representing the 28th Assembly District, which encompasses parts of the Northern CA South Bay and Silicon Valley, including Cupertino, Campbell, and a portion of western San Jose. He is a member of the California Legislative LGBT Caucus, and the California Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.
Brian Kendall Sims is an American politician, activist and attorney. A Democrat, he has been a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 182nd district since 2012. Sims is also a lawyer and advocate for LGBT civil rights. Sims is the first openly-gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvania history. He won re-election on November 6, 2018. He was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania in 2022, finishing in second place behind Austin Davis with 25% of the vote.
Equality Pennsylvania is an organization which advocates throughout the state of Pennsylvania for LGBT rights. Equality Pennsylvania also attempts to "advance LGBT-friendly policy and legislative initiatives". The organization is a member of the Equality Federation.
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