Lawless Receives Support of Gay and Lesbian Community

GLBT Newspaper InNewsweekly Endorses Jennifer Lawless for U.S. Congress

WARWICK, RI – Jennifer Lawless, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District, today announced that she has been endorsed by In Newsweekly, New England’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender newspaper.

In its endorsement, the paper notes, “Over the past six years, Langevin has largely been a go-along-to-get-along Democrat, instead of an advocate for the gay community. Lawless promises to be such an advocate.”

Lawless said, “On too many issues, Jim Langevin is out of touch with Rhode Islanders – too often not on our side, and too often failing to lead. From ending the war in Iraq, to protecting women’s reproductive freedom and the right to privacy, to fighting for real marriage equality, I am going to be the strong, outspoken Democrat in Congress that Rhode Island deserves. In Congress, I will fight hard on behalf of all Rhode Islanders.”

The endorsement reads, in part: “Gay and lesbian Democrats in the state’s 2nd Congressional District have a choice – incumbent Congressman Jim Langevin or Brown University Professor Jennifer Lawless. [GLBT voters] could do a lot worse than reelecting [Langevin]. But in this race, there is a stronger and more impressive choice in Lawless.”

The paper added, “As far as some core Democratic issues, Langevin is more conservative. He is anti-choice on the issue of abortion rights and Lawless has been critical of Langevin’s initial support of the Patriot Act.

“Langevin does not support marriage equality, while Lawless does, telling InNewsweekly, ‘I believe in protecting civil rights and I think this is a civil right.’”

In Newsweekly joins over ten local and national organizations, including Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC, and RI Youth in Political Action, in endorsing Lawless.

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