John, as we close out Pride Month, I want to reflect for a moment on the strides we've made towards equality and the work still ahead of us.

Nine years ago today, the Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which ruled that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples. 

I’ll never forget how hopeful I felt waking up to the news that morning. It felt like real progress, a significant step towards equality and acceptance for all. 

Just seven years earlier in 2008, Prop 8 passed here in California, which banned same-sex marriage. And up until 2011, LGBTQ+ Americans weren’t allowed to serve openly in the military thanks to Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. 

We’ve made a lot of progress in recent years, but that doesn’t mean the fight for equality is over. 

There's still work to be done to ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals are fully protected under the law in all aspects of life. And conservative justices on the Supreme Court have already signaled that they’d be willing to revisit cases like Obergefell. 

As for our legislators in Congress, we’re continuing to see anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment from much of the modern day GOP. In 2022, 169 Republicans voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, and just last year elected Mike Johnson as Speaker, one of Congress’ biggest homophobes. 

It's more important than ever to elect leaders who will protect our rights at the federal level. We cannot risk falling back into the shadows and be treated as second-class citizens. I’ve spent my entire career fighting to uphold the Constitution and I pledge to continue being an advocate for us all. 

Here in CA-41, our work starts by unseating extremists like my opponent Ken Calvert who have undercut our freedoms from the beginning. Chip in $3 today to send him packing.

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Thank you,

Will