I’m running for Congress because I believe everyone no matter your race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, income, or zip code deserves dignity, safety, and opportunity. America’s story is one of expanding the circle of “We the People,” of movements that fought to include those who were once excluded. But right now, we’re seeing a dangerous backlash. Too many of our neighbors are being told by extremist politicians and pundits that they don’t belong. We see it in the attacks on LGBTQ+ youth who are just trying to live as themselves. We see it in efforts to erase Black history and ban books in our schools. We see women’s rights under assault, rising antisemitism and anti-Asian hate, and attempts to strip away hard-won civil rights protections. This is a perilous moment for equality in America, and neutrality is not an option. I won’t just speak up against hate and bigotry. I’ll stand up and take action to ensure all people are valued and protected under the law.

Here’s what I’ll fight for: 

• Enshrine LGBTQ+ protections into federal law. It’s past time to pass the Equality Act, which would explicitly outlaw discrimination against LGBTQ+ Americans in employment, housing, education, credit, and public accommodations. No one should be fired or denied an apartment or refused service because of who they are or whom they love. I will make this a top priority. Love is love, and everyone deserves equal protection under the law. 

• Defend transgender youth and LGBTQ+ families. I will vehemently oppose the wave of hateful laws targeting trans and non-binary youth. These laws whether they ban gender-affirming care, bar trans kids from sports, or force teachers to out LGBTQ+ students are cruel and have no place in a free society. I’ll use my platform to affirm that trans rights are human rights, and I’ll support legislation that protects trans people’s right to health care, to safe schools, and to live openly without discrimination. We must also ban so-called “conversion therapy” nationwide. A pseudoscientific torture that has no place in America and invest in mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth, who face higher risks of suicide and homelessness due to stigma. 

• Strengthen civil rights enforcement and hate crime prevention. I will work to restore and expand the Voting Rights Act (in addition to the democracy reforms below) because equality at the ballot box is foundational. I’ll also push for vigorous enforcement of the Civil Rights Act in workplaces and schools including boosting the budgets of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the EEOC. To confront the surge in hate crimes, we need better tracking and tougher responses: I’ll support grants to help local law enforcement prevent and prosecute hate-based violence, as well as community programs that foster dialogue and reconciliation. No one should live in fear because of who they are. 

• Advance disability rights and inclusion. Disability rights are human rights. I’ll fight to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to support students with disabilities, and eliminate loopholes that still allow paying disabled workers less than a fair wage. I’ll also champion making public infrastructure accessible from transit stations to housing by enforcing and updating the ADA, and expand programs that help people with disabilities live independently and access employment. Every person deserves the chance to participate fully in society. 

• Ensure equal access to healthcare, education, and opportunity for all marginalized communities. We must break down the historic barriers that communities of color, women, and others have faced. That means fighting maternal mortality disparities (as noted above), but also supporting minority-owned small businesses with access to capital, ensuring multilingual access to government services, and addressing racial bias in everything from mortgage lending to policing. I will support efforts to diversify our teaching workforce and incorporate ethnic studies in education so that every kid sees their heritage respected. I’ll also back policies like robust equal pay laws to close wage gaps (women in Illinois still earn only ~78¢ for every $1 a man earns) and strong enforcement of Title IX to protect gender equity in education. 

Equality isn’t about erasing our differences. It’s about embracing the inherent worth of every person. In IL-17, I want every community to know: You are seen. You are valued. And you deserve a voice at the table. We rise or fall together, and I will never stop fighting for a society where everyone can live openly and safely, free from discrimination and bigotry.