Laphonza Butler Appointed as California’s First Openly LGBTQ U.S. Senator – Georgia Voice – Gay & LGBT Atlanta News

On Sunday night, California Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced he’s appointing Black overtly lesbian EMILY’s Listing President, Laphonza Butler, to the vacant seat of the late U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein who died Friday at age 90.

Butler’s spouse is Neneki Lee, the D.C.-based director for labor union SEIU’s Public Companies Division.

Information of Butler’s choice by Newsom was first reported by Politico’s California Bureau Chief Christopher Cadelago. A supply educated on the governor’s group advised Politico there have been no preconditions about whether or not she may run in 2024.

In an emailed assertion, Newsom stated:

“An advocate for girls and women, a second-generation fighter for working folks, and a trusted adviser to Vice President Harris, Laphonza Butler represents the perfect of California, and he or she’ll characterize us proudly within the U.S. Senate. As we mourn the large lack of Senator Feinstein, the very freedoms she fought for — reproductive freedom, equal safety, and security from gun violence — have by no means been underneath better assault. Laphonza will carry the baton left by Senator Feinstein, proceed to interrupt glass ceilings, and struggle for all Californians in Washington D.C.”

Equality California tweeted a press release praising Newsom’s motion:

Democrat Alex Padilla, now serving as California’s senior U.S. senator, launched the next assertion after Newsom appointed Butler to fill the emptiness created by the late Senator Feinstein:

“All through her profession, Laphonza Butler has been a robust voice for working households, LGBTQ rights, and a champion for rising ladies’s illustration in politics. I’m honored to welcome her to america Senate.

“Governor Newsom’s swift motion ensures that Californians keep full illustration within the Senate as we navigate a slim Democratic majority. I look ahead to working collectively to ship for the folks of California.”

Butler is a longtime chief in Democratic politics in California and past. She has been concerned in marketing campaign technique, and the labor motion for twenty years, and in keeping with her official biography she has devoted her life to empowering ladies and supporting them to find their voice, and utilizing it to make significant change.

Newsom’s workplace famous in its assertion:

“Butler, a longtime senior adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris, labor chief and advocate for girls and dealing folks, would be the first overtly LGBTQ individual to characterize California within the Senate. She may also be the primary Black lesbian to overtly serve in Congress in American historical past and the second Black girl to characterize California within the Senate following Vice President Kamala Harris.”

Previous to becoming a member of EMILYs Listing, Butler served as Director of Public Coverage and Campaigns in North America for Airbnb. She additionally was a associate at SCRB Methods, a political consulting agency the place she was a strategist for candidates working up and down the poll and a senior advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential marketing campaign.

With almost 20 years within the labor motion, Butler has served because the president of the most important union in California, and the nation’s largest house care staff union, SEIU Native 2015. She was elected to this place at simply 30 years outdated, one of many youngest to tackle this function. As president, Butler was the main voice, strategist, and architect of efforts to handle pay inequity for girls in California and a high advocate for elevating the state’s minimal wage to $15 an hour — the primary state within the nation to take action, benefiting tens of millions of working ladies in low wage jobs. That effort additionally gave lots of of 1000’s of house staff entry to paid time without work. She additionally served as an SEIU Worldwide Vice President and President of the SEIU California State Council.

All through her profession, Butler has been extremely thought to be a strategist working to elect Democratic ladies candidates in political places of work throughout California and nationally. A protracted-time supporter of Kamala Harris in her California runs, Butler was a key chief in Vice President Harris’ presidential marketing campaign. She served as a senior advisor to Hillary Clinton’s presidential marketing campaign in California through the major and basic elections. Most just lately, Butler was a marketing campaign operative behind the marketing campaign to make the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors all-women for the primary time in its historical past with the election of Supervisor Holly Mitchell.

She has been a member of the College of California Board of Regents and a member of the board of administrators for the Kids’s Protection Fund and BLACK PAC.

Laphonza grew up in Magnolia, Miss., and attended one of many nation’s premier HBCUs, Jackson State College. She lives in Maryland along with her spouse, Neneki, and collectively they’ve a daughter, Nylah.

EMILY’s Listing is an American political motion committee that goals to assist elect Democratic feminine candidates in favor of abortion rights to workplace. It was based by Ellen Malcolm in 1985. The group’s identify is an acronym for “Early Cash Is Like Yeast.” Malcolm commented that “it makes the dough rise.”

Story courtesy of the Washington Blade through the Nationwide LGBTQ Media Affiliation. The Nationwide LGBTQ Media Affiliation represents 13 legacy publications in main markets throughout the nation with a collective readership of greater than 400K in print and greater than 1 million + on-line. Be taught extra right here: https://nationallgbtmediaassociation.com/