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Equity & Civil Rights

Equality under the law is supposed to be the promise of this country, but for far too many, that promise has never been fully kept. From LGBTQ+ rights to racial justice, disability access to equal pay and voting rights, hard-won protections are being rolled back by extremists in Washington and across the states.

Civil rights aren’t a “special interest.” They shape every part of our well-being – whether we can access healthcare, find safe housing, earn a fair wage, vote freely, or send our kids to schools that see and support them. When discrimination goes unchecked, it shows up in the economy, in health outcomes, in safety, and in opportunity itself.

In Congress, I will defend equal rights for all and fight to make sure every person, no matter their race, gender, income, ability, or ZIP code, can live with dignity and freedom.

Every person deserves the freedom to live, love, work, and worship without fear or discrimination. Equal protection under the law is not negotiable. The federal government has both a moral and constitutional duty to ensure that every American’s rights are protected.

Equality under the law is supposed to be the promise of this country, but for far too many, that promise has never been fully kept. From LGBTQ+ rights to racial justice, disability access to equal pay and voting rights, hard-won protections are being rolled back by extremists in Washington and across the states.

In Congress, I will defend equal rights for all and fight to make sure every person, no matter their race, gender, income, ability, or ZIP code, can live with dignity and freedom.

Priorities

  • Protect the right to vote by passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and Freedom to Vote Act to stop voter suppression, end gerrymandering, and ensure every American can cast a ballot freely.
  • Strengthen protections for LGBTQ+ Americans by passing the Equality Act to guarantee civil rights in housing, employment, healthcare, education, and public spaces.
  • Guarantee equal pay for equal work by advancing the Paycheck Fairness Act and enforcing wage discrimination laws so women are paid fairly.
  • Ratify and implement the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to enshrine gender equality in the Constitution and ensure protections against sex-based discrimination can’t be rolled back by changing political tides.
  • Advance racial justice and economic inclusion by investing in communities historically excluded from opportunity through fair housing, equitable lending, small business investment, and access to education and healthcare.
  • Protect and expand disability rights by modernizing and fully enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure accessibility in housing, work, transit, and digital spaces.
  • Protect reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare so no one is denied essential care because of gender, identity, or income.
  • End discrimination in housing, lending, and hiring by enforcing civil rights laws and holding corporations accountable for bias in modern systems.

Why it Matters

Attacks on civil rights aren’t happening in isolation. They’re coordinated efforts to divide people while everyday life grows more expensive and less secure for all of us. When a woman is denied healthcare, when a Black family is turned away from a mortgage, when an LGBTQ+ person loses their job for being themselves, or when a disabled neighbor can’t access basic services, we all lose ground.

Across the country, hard-won rights are being eroded:

  • Over 400 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in 2024, many targeting trans youth and their families.
  • Women of color face the largest pay gaps in America – with Black and Latina women earning far less than white men. Overall, women still earn only about 84 cents for every dollar paid to men.
  • More than 30 states have passed or proposed new voting restrictions since 2020.
  • One in four adults lives with a disability, yet disabled Americans are twice as likely to live in poverty.
  • Black and Latino homebuyers are denied mortgages at roughly double the rate of white applicants.
  • Hate crimes are rising sharply nationwide, particularly against LGBTQ+ people, Jewish and Muslim communities, and people of color, reminding us that discrimination doesn’t just deny opportunity. It endangers lives.

In Northern California, these national trends hit home. Rural voters face long drives to polling places and fewer voting resources. LGBTQ+ youth in small towns often struggle to find safe, affirming spaces or healthcare providers who understand their needs. Families of color still face barriers to home loans and economic opportunity. And people with disabilities, including veterans and older adults, often can’t access the transportation, housing, or care they deserve.

When we protect and expand civil rights here at home, we’re not just upholding fairness and safety. We’re strengthening the fabric of every community in Northern California.

What I Believe

Every person deserves the freedom to live, love, work, and worship without fear or discrimination. Equal protection under the law is not negotiable. I believe the federal government has both a moral and constitutional duty to ensure that every American’s rights are protected, and that justice isn’t determined by zip code, income, race, or identity.

I believe progress happens when we widen the circle of belonging: when LGBTQ+ youth see a future for themselves, when Black and Brown families can build wealth through homeownership, when women earn what they deserve, when disabled Americans can fully participate in public life, and when every voter has equal access to the ballot. Civil rights are not a side issue. They are the foundation of every other freedom.

How I'll Lead

  • Codify protections for all marginalized groups by supporting comprehensive civil rights laws covering sexual orientation, gender identity, race, disability, and religion.
  • Strengthen enforcement and accountability by fully funding the DOJ Civil Rights Division, EEOC, and Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
  • Protect voting access by restoring federal oversight of discriminatory laws, expanding early voting, and safeguarding vote-by-mail.
  • Promote equity across systems by requiring federal housing, healthcare, and education programs to measure and close racial, gender, and disability gaps.
  • Support LGBTQ+ youth and families by safeguarding students’ rights to learn safely and access affirming care.
  • Champion disability inclusion by expanding accessibility standards, investing in inclusive design, and removing barriers that limit full participation.
  • Expand economic opportunity through small business programs that prioritize women-, minority-, and LGBTQ+-owned enterprises and enforce fair access to credit.
  • Fight pay discrimination and workplace harassment by holding employers accountable for compliance with equal pay and anti-harassment laws.
  • Champion intersectional justice by partnering with communities of color, women, LGBTQ+ advocates, disability-rights leaders, and civil rights organizations to remove barriers across housing, labor, education, and healthcare.

When we defend civil rights, we strengthen democracy itself. Protecting equality isn’t just about fairness. It’s about ensuring that every person has the chance to build a safe, secure, and dignified life.

Proven Leadership in Times of Crisis

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