Political organizations across southern California have come out overwhelmingly in support of Senator Jenny Oropeza in the special election for the 37th Congressional District. During the past week and a half, she received the endorsements of the Stonewall Democratic Club of Los Angeles; the Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club of Orange County; the Stonewall Young Democrats; and the Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club.
 
“Given Jenny’s long-term support for issues we care about and her track record in the Legislature, it was clear she is the best candidate for all people in the 37th Congressional District,” said Robert Hildebrand, President of Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club.
 
After reviewing interviewing all of the Democratic candidates who returned a completed questionnaire to Lambda Democrats, the PAC Committee made a recommendation which was brought to the entire membership for a vote on June 6th. Hildebrand said Oropeza, D-Long Beach, received more than 80 percent of the vote to win the endorsement, which came after many of the candidates spoke to the group.
 
The following day, the Board of Directors of the Eleanor Roosevelt Stonewall Democratic Club voted to endorse Oropeza as the best candidate to represent the 37th congressional district.
 
“Senator Oropeza has a solid history of commitment to fairness and equality,” said Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club Chair, Christopher Prevatt. “She worked to bring Project 10 to Long Beach as a School Board member and was one of the key supporters who helped Long Beach adopt a domestic partnership program when she was  on the City Council.  As a legislator, she has been an unwavering ally of the LGBT community.”
 
Oropeza, who has been a co-sponsor and strong supporter of Assemblyman Mark Leno’s Marriage Equality Bill, was chosen by Lambda to present Leno with an award at last year’s Human Rights Award Banquet. These endorsements underscore Oropeza’s strong support in the LGBT community.
 
“Jenny Oropeza’s support for the LGBT community and our issues is a lifelong affair extending all the way from her opposition to the Briggs initiative in her youth to her co-sponsorship this year of California’s landmark civil marriage equality legislation.  Support for equality and human rights is in her blood.  It’s an integral part of who she is,” says Hildebrand. “Combined with the depth of her policymaking experience from her years on the Long Beach School Board, the City Council and in the State Legislature, she will be a great advocate in Washington for the 37th Congressional District.  I am proud to personally endorse her and am delighted that Lambda has voted overwhelmingly to do the same.”