Pride Fund Endorses Chris Murphy for U.S. Senate (CT), Andrew Gillum for Governor (FL), Ann Kirkpatrick for Congress (AZ-2), and Maura Healey for Attorney General of MA
LGBTQ PAC Established After Pulse Shooting Makes Key Endorsements of Gun Reform Champions
October 16, 2018 -- Washington, DC - Pride Fund to End Gun Violence PAC – America’s only national LGBTQ political organization focused solely on gun violence prevention – announced today its endorsement of candidates Chris Murphy for U.S. Senate (CT), Andrew Gillum for Governor (FL), Ann Kirkpatrick for Congress (AZ-2), and Attorney General Maura Healey (MA).
Pride Fund believes that Americans deserve leaders who will stand up for what is right, and who will stand up to the gun lobby. With the approach of the 2018 midterm elections, the race for important seats in Congress and throughout the country is becoming more crucial than ever. Pride Fund is proud to stand and fight with our newly endorsed candidates who are standing up to the NRA, taking action, and making progress toward a safer America.
CHRIS MURPHY
“Senator Chris Murphy has been one of the strongest gun reform advocates in the U.S. Senate and we could not be more excited to endorse his re-election bid,” said Jason Lindsay, Executive Director of Pride Fund to End Gun Violence. “After the shooting at Pulse in 2016, Murphy stood up for LGBTQ Americans and against the gun lobby by holding one of the longest Senate filibusters on record. We need members of the Senate like Chris, who will not be afraid to stand up for sensible gun reform and the safety of American families,” said Lindsay.
Senator Murphy has been a supporter of universal background checks, closing loopholes allowing dangerous individuals access to firearms, banning high-capacity magazines, and banning military-grade assault weapons. Along with sensible gun reform, Senator Murphy has been an ally to LGBTQ Americans by standing up for basic civil rights, like employment nondiscrimination, and ensuring healthcare for all Americans.
ANDREW GILLUM
“Andrew Gillum has shown Florida what it means to stand up to the gun lobby and the NRA in Florida. We are so excited to help him continue that fight as Governor,” said Jason Lindsay, Executive Director of Pride Fund to End Gun Violence. “As Mayor of Tallahassee, Andrew has proven that he is up to the task of passing common sense gun reform legislation across Florida and has built a gun violence prevention coalition in the wake of the Pulse and Parkland tragedies in his state. We can’t wait to see what he can accomplish as Governor,” said Lindsay.
Andrew Gillum has the unique opportunity to be Florida’s first Democratic Governor in almost 20 years. We are proud to be supporting him this November during this historic election in Florida. Gillum has shown his commitment to common sense gun reform by successfully taking on the gun lobby and the NRA in his tenure as Mayor of Tallahassee. In 2014, the NRA took action against Gillum for refusing to allow guns to be fired in city parks, but Gillum fought back and defeated the dangerous initiative by the gun lobby. We can’t wait to see him continue fighting for the safety and dignity of all Americans as Governor of Florida.
ANN KIRKPATRICK
“We’re excited to support Ann Kirkpatrick in her return to Congress this election cycle,” said Jason Lindsay, Executive Director of Pride Fund to End Gun Violence. “Ann has dedicated her life to making communities safer in Arizona by representing her state in Congress and advocating for gun safety. We are proud of the activist stance she took in the wake of the Pulse shooting by participating in a sit-in in the House of Representatives to protest senseless gun violence and are looking forward to hearing her voice in Congress again,” said Lindsay.
Ann Kirkpatrick has served her community in Arizona her entire life, advocating for Arizona families in both the Arizona House of Representatives and in the U.S. House of Representatives. Kirkpatrick has spent her career fighting for comprehensive policy reform for Native American communities, veterans, and LGBTQ Americans. This election cycle, Kirkpatrick has the opportunity to flip AZ-2 and continue advocating for pro-LGBTQ, pro-gun reform policies in Congress.
MAURA HEALEY
“Maura Healey has proven herself to be one of the fiercest advocates for LGBTQ rights and common sense gun reform, and we are so excited to support her re-election campaign for Massachusetts Attorney General this November,” said Jason Lindsay, Executive Director of Pride Fund to End Gun Violence. “She has taken on the gun lobby without backing down. Her efforts on assault weapons after the Pulse shooting deserve extra recognition. We need to keep her bold leadership as Attorney General another term,” said Lindsay.
During her career as a civil rights attorney and her tenure as Attorney General of Massachusetts, she successfully argued the Massachusetts Attorney General’s challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act and has continued to further the civil rights of LGBTQ Americans. In 2015, Healey was elected as the first openly gay attorney general in the United States and represents an essential voice in the national conversation on LGBTQ civil rights. Healey has worked tirelessly to promote the safety of Massachusetts residents by working with the Massachusetts legislature to pass a statewide ban on bumpstocks and assault weapons as well as support universal background checks for individuals seeking to purchase firearms.