There couldn't possibly be more reasons to get out the LGBT vote this election year, especially for the June 3 California primary.
Hillary, Obama, and McCain aside, we are entering a critical political battle that will determine whether we will continue to have the necessary votes in the Legislature to pass LGBT rights legislation – including a marriage bill – next year.
This election will also decide whether we will maintain California's LGBT Legislative Caucus, and it gives the community the rare opportunity to elect California's first openly transgender Superior Court judge. Much of this will be decided on June 3, when there is typically low voter turnout, and not during the November general election. Absentee ballots for June 3 are expected to begin arriving in mailboxes the first week of May.
There is truly a great deal at stake.
Equality California's political action committee only endorses candidates who support full equality for the entire LGBT community. That includes marriage equality. That includes transgender equality. That includes protections for youth and seniors.
The statistics are staggering. This election season alone, we will lose 20 pro-marriage votes in the Legislature due to term limits. In addition, if we fail to elect LGBT candidates, we could see the size of the LGBT Legislative Caucus dwindle or even lose it entirely.
EQCA PAC has already endorsed numerous pro-equality and LGBT candidates across the state, including our first-ever endorsement in a judicial race where we have the chance to make history by electing California's first openly transgender Superior Court judge. But unless we have your vote – unless our community gets engaged in this essential election cycle – we could lose some of the progress we've worked so hard to achieve in California.
If we are to continue our work to achieve full equality for all Californians, we need to not only elect pro-equality candidates, but we also need a strong LGBT Legislative Caucus supporting us. Having the kind of personal advocacy these members of the Legislature provide when talking to their fellow lawmakers and other policy makers has proven extremely effective to EQCA's legislative work in Sacramento. That's why maintaining and growing the Caucus is a top priority for EQCA PAC this year.
It should be your priority, too.
The six openly LGBT candidates receiving endorsement for the Assembly include San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano (District 13), Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington (District 14), West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon (District 8), business owner and former Deputy State Controller Laurette Healey (District 40), former Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency Commissioner John Perez (District 46), and Cathedral City Councilmember Greg Pettis (District 80).
In the Bay Area, our community has the historic opportunity to elect a highly-qualified transgender woman to the Alameda County Superior Court bench.
EQCA PAC has endorsed Victoria Kolakowski, a longtime community leader, attorney, and judge who is openly transgender. Currently an administrative law judge for the California Public Utilities Commission, Kolakowski will be a fair-minded judge. In addition, she will add much-needed diversity to the bench in Alameda County.
Kolakowski's election will inspire transgender youth and adults across the world and help educate the public about our community.
We need the entire LGBT community to rally behind Kolakowski and our strong LGBT Assembly candidates who support full equality and fairness.
Our movement simply cannot afford to take a step back. We are under attack – literally – every day by anti-gay activists and organizations who want to strip us of our rights and treat us like second-class citizens. They are attacking marriage equality. They are attacking LGBT youth protections. They are attacking the rights of the entire community.
You can help ensure our equality by getting involved. Support the campaigns of these LGBT candidates. Volunteer. Donate. Tell your friends and neighbors that we need their vote.
And make sure you're there on June 3 to help EQCA PAC get out the LGBT vote.
Geoff Kors is executive director of the Equality California PAC, a sponsored committee of EQCA. Founded 10 years ago, EQCA is California�s leading LGBT organization. For more information, visit http://www.eqca.org. Editor's note: Candidate Victoria Kolakowski is the domestic partner of Bay Area Reporter news editor Cynthia Laird.