Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus

The Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus was formed by openly gay representatives Tammy Baldwin and Barney Frank June 4, 2008, to advance LGBT+ rights. The caucus had 165 members (164 Democrats and one Republican, Jeff Van Drew) in the 116th United States Congress. The caucus is co-chaired by the United States House of Representatives' nine openly LGBTQ members: Representatives David Cicilline, Angie Craig, Sharice Davids, Mondaire Jones, Sean Patrick Maloney, Chris Pappas, Mark Pocan, Mark Takano, and Ritchie Torres.

With over 175 members the LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus became the largest caucus during the 117th 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. The caucus serves as a resource for Members of Congress, their staffs, and the public on LGBTQ issues. 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.Equality PAC latest to endorse Clinton
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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, Marie Newman, and Jennifer Wexton 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 Ted Deutch and works to push for legislative and administrative action to protect the dignity and security of elderly LGBTQ people.

Membership

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):

List of Caucus members in the 117th Congress:

Co-chairs

* David Cicilline (D–Rhode Island)
* Angie Craig (D–Minnesota)
* Sharice Davids (D–Kansas)
* Mondaire Jones (D–New York) Lost renomination in 2022 due to redistricting.
* Sean Patrick Maloney (D–New York) Lost re-election in 2022.
* Chris Pappas (D–New Hampshire)
* Mark Pocan (D–Wisconsin)
* Mark Takano (D–California)
* Ritchie Torres (D–New York)

Vice chairs

*Suzanne Bonamici (D–Oregon)
*Judy Chu (D–California)
*Charlie Crist (D–Florida) Retired in 2022.
*Lloyd Doggett (D–Texas)
*Ruben Gallego (D–Arizona)
*Pramila Jayapal (D–Washington)
*Raja Krishnamoorthi (D–Illinois)
*Barbara Lee (D–California)
*Ted Lieu (D–California)
*Alan Lowenthal (D–California) Retiring in 2022.
*Grace Meng (D–New York)
*Jerrold Nadler (D–New York)
*Marie Newman (D–Illinois) Lost renomination in 2022.
*Chellie Pingree (D–Maine)
* Mike Quigley (D–Illinois)
*Jamie Raskin (D–Maryland)
* Mary Gay Scanlon (D–Pennsylvania)
*Adam Schiff (D–California)
*Darren Soto (D–Florida)
* Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D–Florida)
* Jennifer Wexton (D–Virginia)

Members

*Pete Aguilar (D–California)
*Colin Allred (D–Texas)
*Jake Auchincloss (D–Massachusetts)
*Nanette Barragán (D–California)
*Karen Bass (D–California)
*Ami Bera (D–California)
*Don Beyer (D–Virginia)
*Earl Blumenauer (D–Oregon)
*Lisa Blunt Rochester (D–Delaware)
*Jamaal Bowman (D–New York)
*Brendan Boyle (D–Pennsylvania)
* Anthony Brown (D–Maryland) Retiring in 2022.
*Julia Brownley (D–California)
*Cori Bush (D–Missouri)
*Cheri Bustos (D–Illinois) Retiring in 2022.
*Salud Carbajal (D–California)
*Tony Cárdenas (D–California)
*André Carson (D–Indiana)
*Matt Cartwright (D–Pennsylvania)
*Ed Case (D–Hawaii)
*Sean Casten (D–Illinois)
*Kathy Castor (D–Florida)
*Joaquin Castro (D–Texas)
* Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D–Florida)
*Katherine Clark (D–Massachusetts)
*Yvette Clarke (D–New York)
*Lou Correa (D–California)
*Jim Costa (D–California)
* Joe Courtney (D–Connecticut)
*Jason Crow (D–Colorado)
*Danny K. Davis (D–Illinois)
* Madeleine Dean (D–Pennsylvania)
*Diana DeGette (D–Colorado)
*Suzan DelBene (D–Washington)
*Val Demings (D–Florida)
*Mark DeSaulnier (D–California)
*Debbie Dingell (D–Michigan)
* Veronica Escobar (D–Texas)
*Anna Eshoo (D–California)
*Adriano Espaillat (D–New York)
* Dwight Evans (D–Pennsylvania)
*Teresa Leger Fernandez (D–New Mexico)
*Lizzie Fletcher (D–Texas)
* Bill Foster (D–Illinois)
* Lois Frankel (D–Florida)
*Sylvia Garcia (D–Texas)
*Chuy García (D–Illinois)
*Jared Golden (D–Maine)
*Jimmy Gomez (D–California)
*Josh Gottheimer (D–New Jersey)
*Al Green (D–Texas)
*Raúl Grijalva (D–Arizona)
*Jahana Hayes (D–Connecticut)
*Brian Higgins (D–New York)
*Jim Himes (D–Connecticut)
*Eleanor Holmes Norton (D–District of Columbia)
*Steven Horsford (D–Nevada)
*Chrissy Houlahan (D–Pennsylvania)
*Jared Huffman (D–California)
*Sara Jacobs (D–California)
*Hakeem Jeffries (D–New York)
*Eddie Bernice Johnson (D–Texas)
*Hank Johnson (D–Georgia)
*Kai Kahele (D–Hawaii)
* Bill Keating (D–Massachusetts)
*Robin Kelly (D–Illinois)
*Ro Khanna (D–California)
*Dan Kildee (D–Michigan)
*Derek Kilmer (D–Washington)
* Andy Kim (D–New Jersey)
*Ann McLane Kuster (D–New Hampshire)
*Conor Lamb (D–Pennsylvania)
*James Langevin (D–Rhode Island)
*John B. Larson (D–Connecticut)
*Susie Lee (D–Nevada)
*Andy Levin (D–Michigan)
* Mike Levin (D–California)
*Zoe Lofgren (D–California)
*Elaine Luria (D–Virginia)
*Stephen F. Lynch (D–Massachusetts)
*Tom Malinowski (D–New Jersey)
*Carolyn Maloney (D–New York)
*Kathy Manning (D–North Carolina)
* Doris Matsui (D–California)
*Don McEachin (D–Virginia)
* James McGovern (D–Massachusetts)
* Jerry McNerney (D–California)
*Gwen Moore (D–Wisconsin)
*Joseph Morelle (D–New York)
*Seth Moulton (D–Massachusetts)
* Frank J. Mrvan (D–Indiana)
*Stephanie Murphy (D–Florida)
*Grace Napolitano (D–California)
*Joe Neguse (D–Colorado)
*Donald Norcross (D–New Jersey)
*Tom O'Halleran (D–Arizona)
*Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D–New York)
*Ilhan Omar (D–Minnesota)
*Frank Pallone (D–New Jersey)
*Jimmy Panetta (D–California)
*Ed Perlmutter (D–Colorado)
* Scott Peters (D–California)
*Dean Phillips (D–Minnesota)
*Katie Porter (D–California)
*Ayanna Pressley (D–Massachusetts)
* David Price (D–North Carolina)
*Kathleen Rice (D–New York)
*Deborah K. Ross (D–North Carolina)
*Lucille Roybal-Allard (D–California)
* Raul Ruiz (D–California)
*John Sarbanes (D–Maryland)
*Jan Schakowsky (D–Illinois)
*Brad Schneider (D–Illinois)
* Kim Schrier (D–Washington)
* Bobby Scott (D–Virginia)
*David Scott (D–Georgia)
*Brad Sherman (D–California)
*Mikie Sherrill (D–New Jersey)
*Elissa Slotkin (D–Michigan)
*Adam Smith (D–Washington)
*Abigail Spanberger (D–Virginia)
*Jackie Speier (D–California)
*Melanie Stansbury (D–New Mexico)
*Greg Stanton (D–Arizona)
*Haley Stevens (D–Michigan)
*Marilyn Strickland (D–Washington)
*Eric Swalwell (D–California)
*Dina Titus (D–Nevada)
* Rashida Tlaib (D–Michigan)
* Paul Tonko (D–New York)
*Norma Torres (D–California)
*Lori Trahan (D–Massachusetts)
*David Trone (D–Maryland)
*Lauren Underwood (D–Illinois)
*Juan Vargas (D–California)
* Marc Veasey (D–Texas)
*Nydia Velázquez (D–New York)
* Bonnie Watson Coleman (D–New Jersey)
* Peter Welch (D–Vermont)
*Susan Wild (D–Pennsylvania)
*Nikema Williams (D–Georgia)
*Frederica Wilson (D–Florida)

Former co-chairs

*Tammy Baldwin (D–Wisconsin; elected to Senate in 2012)
*Barney Frank (D–Massachusetts; retired in 2013)
*Jared Polis (D–Colorado; elected to become Governor of Colorado in 2018)
*Kyrsten Sinema (D–Arizona; elected to Senate in 2018)
* Katie Hill (D–California; resigned in 2019)

Former members

*Neil Abercrombie (D–Hawaii; resigned to successfully run for Governor of Hawaii in 2010)
*Rob Andrews (D–New Jersey; resigned in 2014)
*Gary Ackerman (D–New York; retired in 2013)
*Xavier Becerra (D–California; appointed California Attorney General in 2017)
*Shelley Berkley (D–Nevada; unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2012)
*Howard Berman (D–California; defeated in 2012)
*Bob Brady (D–Pennsylvania)
*Bruce Braley (D–Iowa; unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2014)
*Anthony Brindisi (D–New York; defeated in 2021 after contested election)
*Tim Bishop (D–New York; retired in 2015)
*Lois Capps (D–California; retired in 2017)
*Michael Capuano (D–Massachusetts)
* Gil Cisneros (D–California; defeated in 2020)
*Hansen Clarke (D–Michigan; defeated in 2012)
*Gerry Connolly (D–Virginia)
*John Conyers (D–Michigan)
*TJ Cox (D–California; defeated in 2020)
* Joe Cunningham (D–South Carolina; defeated in 2020)
*Carlos Curbelo (R–Florida; defeated in 2018)
* Susan Davis (D–California; retired in 2021)
*Peter DeFazio (D–Oregon)
*Bill Delahunt (D–Massachusetts; retired in 2011)
* John Delaney (D–Maryland)
*Rosa DeLauro (D–Connecticut)
* Antonio Delgado (D–New York, resigned in 2022 to become Lieutenant Governor of New York)
*Ted Deutch (D–Florida, resigned in 2022 to head the American Jewish Comittee.)
*Mike Doyle (D–Pennsylvania)
*Keith Ellison (D–Minnesota)
*Eliot Engel (D–New York; defeated in primary in 2020)
*Elizabeth Esty (D–Connecticut)
*Chaka Fattah (D–Pennsylvania)
*Bob Filner (D–California; resigned to successfully run for Mayor of San Diego in 2012)
*Abby Finkenauer (D–Iowa; defeated in 2020)
* Marcia L. Fudge (D–Ohio)
*Tulsi Gabbard (D–Hawaii; unsuccessfully ran for Democratic Party Presidential Nominee in 2020, did not run for reelection)
*Gabby Giffords (D–Arizona; resigned in 2012)
* Charlie Gonzalez (D–Texas; retired in 2013)
*Luis Gutierrez (D–Illinois)
*Deb Haaland (D–New Mexico; resigned to become United States Secretary of the Interior in 2021)
*Janice Hahn (D–California; elected to Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 2016)
*Colleen Hanabusa (D–Hawaii; unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Hawaii in 2018)
*Richard L. Hanna (R–New York; retired in 2017)
* Phil Hare (D–Illinois; defeated in 2010)
*Jane Harman (D–California; resigned in 2011)
*Alcee Hastings (D–Florida; died in 2021)
* Nan Hayworth (R–New York; defeated in 2012)
*Denny Heck (D–Washington; successfully ran for Lt. Governor of Washington in 2020)
*Martin Heinrich (D–New Mexico; elected to Senate in 2012)
*Maurice Hinchey (D–New York; retired in 2013)
*Mazie Hirono (D–Hawaii; elected to Senate in 2012)
*Rush Holt Jr. (D–New Jersey; retired in 2015)
*Steve Israel (D–New York; retired in 2017)
*Sheila Jackson Lee (D–Texas)
* Joe Kennedy III (D–Massachusetts; unsuccessfully ran for Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020, did not run for reelection)
* Patrick J. Kennedy (D–Rhode Island; retired in 2011)
*Ruben Kihuen (D–Nevada)
*Mary Jo Kilroy (D–Ohio; defeated in 2010)
*Dennis Kucinich (D–Ohio; defeated in 2012)
* Sander Levin (D–Michigan)
*John Lewis (D–Georgia)
*Dave Loebsack (D–Iowa; retired in 2021)
*Nita Lowey (D–New York; retired in 2021)
*Michelle Lujan Grisham (D–New Mexico; elected to become Governor of New Mexico in 2018)
* Stephen Lynch (D–Massachusetts)
*Dan Maffei (D–New York; defeated in 2014)
*Ben McAdams (D–Utah; defeated in 2020)
*Carolyn McCarthy (D–New York)
*Betty McCollum (D–Minnesota)
*Jim McDermott (D–Washington; retired in 2017)
* Jim McGovern (D–Massachusetts)
*Michael McMahon (D–New York; defeated in 2010)
* Michael R. McNulty (D–New York; retired in 2008)
* George Miller (D–California; retired in 2015)
*Jim Moran (D–Virginia; retired in 2015)
*Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D–Florida; defeated in 2020)
*Chris Murphy (D–Connecticut; elected to Senate in 2012)
* Patrick Murphy (D–Pennsylvania; defeated in 2010)
* Patrick Murphy (D–Florida; unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2016)
*Grace Napolitano (D–California)
*Beto O'Rourke (D–Texas)
*Bill Pascrell (D–New Jersey)
*Gary Peters (D–Michigan; elected to Senate in 2014)
*Laura Richardson (D–California; defeated in 2012)
*Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R–Florida; retired in 2019)
*Max Rose (D–New York; defeated in 2020)
* Steven Rothman (D–New Jersey; defeated in 2012)
*Harley Rouda (D–California; defeated in 2020)
* Gregorio Sablan (D–Northern Mariana Islands)
*Loretta Sanchez (D–California)
*John Sarbanes (D–Maryland)
*Kurt Schrader (D–Oregon)
*Allyson Schwartz (D–Pennsylvania; unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2014)
*José E. Serrano (D–New York; retired in 2021)
*Joe Sestak (D–Pennsylvania; defeated in 2010)
*Donna Shalala (D–Florida; defeated in 2020)
*Chris Shays (R–Connecticut; defeated in 2008)
*Carol Shea-Porter (D–New Hampshire)
*Adam Smith (D–Washington)
*Hilda Solis (D–California; resigned to become United States Secretary of Labor in 2009)
*Pete Stark (D–California; defeated in 2012)
*Betty Sutton (D–Ohio; defeated in 2012)
*Xochitl Torres Small (D–New Mexico; defeated in 2020)
* Edolphus Towns (D–New York; retired in 2013)
* Jeff Van Drew (R–New Jersey; left caucus in 2020, rejoined in 2021, and left again in 2022)
*Chris Van Hollen (D–Maryland; elected to Senate in 2016)
*Nydia Velázquez (D–New York)
* Tim Walz (D–Minnesota; elected to become Governor of Minnesota in 2018)
*Robert Wexler (D–Florida; resigned to become president of the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation in 2010)
* Lynn Woolsey (D–California; retired in 2013)
*David Wu (D–Oregon; resigned in 2011)

See also

*Congressional caucus
*Caucuses of the United States Congress
*List of LGBT members of the United States Congress
* California Legislative LGBT Caucus
* Pennsylvania LGBT Equality Caucus
*New York City Council LGBT Caucus

References

External links

LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus
— official website
LGBT Equality Caucus
— web archived 115th Congress

''The Advocate (LGBT magazine), The Advocate'' (Gay.com), June 4, 2008.
DiGuglielmo, Joey. "Frank, Baldwin launch LGBT Equality Caucus"
''The Washington Blade,'' June 4, 2008.
"Keith Ellison is Proud to be Named Vice-Chairman of Bipartisan Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus," ''Re-Elect Keith Ellison for U.S. Congress,'' retrieved July 20, 2008.

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