Washington, DC – Today, Equality PAC Co-Chair and founder Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) announced that Equality PAC’s Member Board has unanimously voted to name Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY) as one of Equality PAC’s Co-Chairs, replacing Congressman David Cicilline
(D-RI) who will be leaving Congress on June 1st.
“I want to congratulate Congressman Ritchie Torres on his appointment to serve as an Equality PAC Co-Chair,” said Equality PAC Co-Chair Ranking Member Mark Takano. “Congressman Torres is one of Equality PAC’s greatest and proudest success stories. We all know that representation matters – and that is why Equality PAC was the first major national organization to endorse his congressional campaign in 2019. As the first LGBTQ Afro-Latino ever elected to Congress, Congressman Torres is a living example of Equality’s PAC mission to make Congress look like America — and that includes LGBTQ America. Immediately after his 2020 primary win, Congressman Torres went to work, expressing his intention to pay it forward and help other LGBTQ persons have a seat at the table and humanize our community’s concerns. Over the past three years, he has assisted us in working to elect and re-elect other LGBTQ candidates, raising funds, hosting events, and serving as a mentor — especially to Black and Latino LGBTQ candidates that Equality PAC had recruited and endorsed. As Equality PAC’s Co-Chair, Congressman Torres will help Equality PAC build on our successes and become an even greater voice in the fight for LGBTQ rights.”
“I’m humbled and grateful for the opportunity to have been elected to serve as the next Co-Chair of Equality PAC, an organization that has meant a great deal to me personally and professionally over the years,” said Congressman Torres. “It’s especially an honor to be following in the footsteps of my dear colleague and friend, Rep. Cicilline, whose leadership, vision, and commitment to fighting for equal rights is unparalleled and will be sorely missed in the halls of Congress. I am eager to get to work, continuing the vital mission of Equality PAC to support and elect LGBTQ candidates and allies, and look forward to strengthening our steadfast commitment of fighting to ensure full and equal civil rights and protections under the law for all LGBTQ-identifying Americans.”
Congressman Ritchie Torres was first elected in November 2020 to represent New York’s 15th Congressional District which covers most of the South Bronx. He was re-elected in 2022 to serve a second term. Prior to serving in Congress, Congressman Torres was a member of the New York City Council from 2014 to 2020. During the 2022 election cycle, Congressman Torres mentored, fundraised, and helped elect a diverse and record-setting number of LGBTQ candidates.
Equality PAC is the political arm of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus and is dedicated to the full legal and societal equality for LGBTQ Americans. All funds raised into Equality PAC are spent supporting and electing openly LGBTQ individuals and strong LGBTQ allies to the United States Congress who are committed to passing the Equality Act and to ensuring full civil rights and protections for all LGBTQ Americans.
