Leading into the March 15 Primary election in Illinois, volunteer organizers supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders for president have announced a preliminary list of endorsers. Community members from across the area have come forward declaring their support for the senator from Vermont.
Ryne Poelker, homeless advocate and strong Sanders supporter, stated "there is no question about what the Senator will do once he is elected our next president. Bernie Sanders won't changehe cosponsored the Uniting Families Act which keeps families of immigrants together, he was a strong advocate of employment rights as a cosponsor of ENDA, has been a long time advocate of equal pay and civil rights and a cosponsor of the Student Non-Discrimination Act which addresses bullying among high school students."
Whether he was consistently voting NO on DOMA or voting YES on ending discrimination in the military when it wasn't popular to do so, Sanders has worked hard to address the issues that effect LGBTQ people everywhere and will continue to do so, organizers stated.
The following LGBT leaders and community members have endorsed Sanders:
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Names have been added since the original publication of this list.]
Ald. Carlos Rosa, Chicago's 35th Ward
Robert Castillo, Community Activist
Jan Rodolfo, National Nurses United Outreach Director
Ed Mullen, Delegate, Attorney and Political Activist
Emmanuel Garcia, Immigrant Rights Activist and LGBT Youth Mentor
Lynette Aria Jackson, LGBT Scholar and Writer
Michael Harrington, Delegate, Chicago Teachers Union's Director of Union Operations
Ryne Poelker, Housing and Anti-Displacement Activist
Sukie De La Croix, LGBT Historian, Novelist and Photographer
Paul Law, Delegate, Lake City LGBT Activist
Matty Zaradich, LGBT Political Activist
Alex Garza, Labor Organizer and Worker Advocate
Latham Zearfoss, Artist and Organizer
Staci Robinson, Social Worker and LGBT Housing Specialist
Natalie Alford, LGBT Musician and Political Activist
Blake Monroe, Sex-Worker Advocate
Alex Forgue, LGBT Political Activist and Labor Advocate
Corrine Mina, LGBT Musician and Co-Founder of Join The Impact Chicago
Jackie Rose, LGBT Healthcare Worker
Gerardo Calvillo, Housing and Anti-Displacement Activist
Bryan Bautista- Gutierrez, PrEP Health Professional
Gabriela Zapata-Alma, Social Worker and LGBT Substance Abuse Specialist
Andrew Sa, LGBT Singer and Songwriter
Mallory O'Price, Social Worker and LGBT Therapist
Curtis Cassel, Designer
Nicholas Zahn, Gallery Owner/Curator
Joshua Ryan Marburger, Chicago Teacher and Education Activist
Ryan McIntyre, President Local 291 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union ( RWDSU )
Wayne Besen, Progressive Radio Talk-Show Host
Jeff Graubart, LGBT historian and novelist
Marcus Fogliano, Police Community Relations Commissioner for the City of Peoria