PFLAG presented U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) with the “2025 PFLAG National Champion of Justice” award at its annual “Love Gets Justice” event in Washington.
Waters has represented California’s 43rd Congressional District, which includes much of Los Angeles, since 1991 and has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights since being sworn in.
Her accomplishments include opposing the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as only between a man and a woman. Co-sponsored the Respect for Marriage Act, which would ultimately require all U.S. states to recognize same-sex marriages performed by other states. And he is a longtime supporter of the Equality Act, which would codify comprehensive protections for LGBTQ Americans.
In addition to her work on marriage equality, she also founded the Minority AIDS Initiative, which helps address the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on minority communities, particularly communities of color.
The award was presented to Waters on Tuesday at the American Federation of Teachers’ headquarters by openly gay former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.). Frank praised Waters’ unwavering support for the LGBTQ community and lifelong commitment to advancing equality for all.
“One of the most heartening developments in the fight for human rights is the failure of those who traffic in all forms of prejudice, including the prejudice that divides the Black community and the LGBTQ+ community,” said Frank, who came out in 1987 while still in office. “No one deserves more credit for strengthening our unity than Maxine Waters.”
During the reception, Waters spoke about the extensive history of LGBTQ advocacy on Capitol Hill and emphasized that her ideas for government are about uplifting the most vulnerable and threatened communities.
“Since the beginning of my public life, I have believed that government must protect vulnerable people, including LGBTQ+ people, who have been marginalized, criminalized, and told that their lives and loves don’t matter,” Waters said. “There is no discrimination in our laws.”
She went on to add that the discrimination that LGBTQ people have dealt with and continue to deal with is unconstitutional and wrong.
“I am proud to stand with LGBTQ+ families against efforts to write discrimination into the Constitution and deny people jobs, housing, health care, and basic dignity because of who they are or who they love,” she said.
Waters joins a number of LGBTQ advocates who have received this award, starting with the late Georgia Congressman John Lewis in 2018. Past recipients include Oakland (California) Mayor Barbara Lee, who was then a member of the House of Representatives, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Frank Frank, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who was then a member of the House of Representatives, and Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi. (California D).
PFLAG CEO Brian Bond commented on the continuing fight for LGBTQ rights in the United States, as anti-transgender rhetoric and policies from Presidents Trump and Vance intensify weekly.
“LGBTQ+ people and their families, and all of you here, know all too well the reality of the political climate, public attitudes, and utter lack of respect that LGBTQ+ people experience in today’s world. There is no end to the hostile barrage of harmful laws, city ordinances, and regulations, especially against our beloved transgender people,” Bond said. “This special moment in history requires advocacy at all levels of government to step up and strengthen our efforts.”
He ended on a note of hope, reminding the LGBTQ community that they have faced discrimination and injustice in the past, but stood up and changed the law, and said we can do it again.
“PFLAG members and supporters are uniquely suited to this moment because we are fighting for and with our LGBTQ+ loved ones. We know our love is greater… and love and freedom are inseparable,” Bond said.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
