Wendy's always been there for the LGBT community
My name is Ari Gutiérrez. As a passionate community and civil rights activist, I’ve been fighting for LGBT equality for a long time.
We’ve had a lot of good news lately – including a first-ever ruling by a US Court of Appeals that part of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, and that the denial of federal benefits to same-sex couples lawfully married according to state law violates the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection. This decision was closely followed by the full Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals refusing to rehear the Prop. 8 decision, a positive step on the road to full marriage equality.
We’ve made tremendous progress, and have come a long way in the last three decades. But we’re not done fighting. We are inching closer to a time when our LGBT friends, neighbors, and family are treated as equals in all communities across America.
And that’s why I’m writing to you today: I want to let you know why I’m supporting Wendy Greuel to be the next Mayor of Los Angeles.
From the start, Wendy’s been there for the LGBT community. As an aide to former Mayor Tom Bradley in the 1980s, when the HIV/AIDS epidemic exploded, Wendy was on the front lines of fighting to ensure the LA Gay and Lesbian Center kept its insurance. And she worked with Mayor Bradley in assuring that our community members received the health services they needed.
Wendy has been a leader on the city’s Equal Benefits Ordinance to provide equal treatment for all city employees, and has been a strong ally for LA Pride and our entire LGBT community.
And, as Mayor, Wendy will continue to fight on the frontlines - for marriage equality, and so every last Angeleno has the right to live, marry, and work in a city fully free from discrimination.
I’m standing with Wendy. And prominent LGBT allies like Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York (a national marriage equality champion) are also supporting her because we know that she stands with our community for civil rights and services for all Angelenos.
And that’s why, this weekend for LA Pride, Wendy will be marching in the Pride parade with many of our friends and family!
If you can make it, she’d love to see you out there. Happy Pride!
Ari Gutiérrez
