From all of us at Equality NC, Happy LGBTQ+ History Month! We're only days away from the early voting. At ENC, we're taking a moment to reflect on the powerful stories of our Out Electeds – openly LGBTQ elected officials – whose work is central to building a more equitable North Carolina for us all.
Today, we're uplighting the story of US House candidate Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, whose election would position her to become the first openly LGBTQ+ congressperson in the South. Jasmine, and her organization The Campaign for Southern Equality, have played an integral role in spurring LGBTQ+ acceptance across the South, and we're thrilled to call her one of our endorsed candidates.
Jasmine is a minister and an organizer at heart, and she holds those identities at the center of her approach to the political process. During her eight years as a Buncombe County Commissioner, Jasmine has used her office to ensure that the diverse voices within our communities have a seat at the table as we fight for a more equitable North Carolina, including trans youth who have seen countless attacks over recent years.
"We need to send a resoundingly clear message to LGBTQ youth in every corner of NC - you are loved, you belong, and we've got your back. The platform of elected office is an important way to spread this message and to counter the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric that is all too common." –Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
As a potential history-maker, Jasmine would bring a lens of compassion and a breadth of experience working with marginalized communities to the halls of Washington. She, and the rest of our endorsed candidates in key races, need your support now more than ever as we head into the early voting period.
Can you donate today to support our slate of key, pro-equality candidates in the Midterm elections?
"Western NC has become ground zero for a dangerous extremist movement in our state - sending Mark Meadows to Congress, and then Madison Cawthorn," Jasmine told ENC. "My opponent, Chuck Edwards, is another extremist - he opposes the freedom to marry and supports a nationwide abortion ban. It is critical that we double down in districts like NC-11 - not just to stop extremism in its tracks, but to build a different kind of politics, one based on the values of love, hope, empathy and how we move forward together."
Early voting starts in just five days, and our key candidates like Jasmine are all facing tough races across this state. Your contribution – no matter the size – will go directly towards funding our pro-equality efforts.
Thank you, Jasmine, for all that you're doing for our communities this election cycle. Happy LGBTQ+ History Month!
