Equality California, a prominent LGBTQ+ advocacy group, has reportedly been involved in a significant exchange of funds with members of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.
According to the organization's website, its mission is to amplify "the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve.
As per the Daily Caller News Foundation's review of public campaign filings, "Current members of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus collectively solicited more than $1,100,000 for Equality California between 2019 and 2023, while Equality California and its employees donated over $80,000 to caucus members campaigns.
The report further elucidates that under California's behested payments system, public officials can solicit payments from individuals or organizations to another entity for a legislative, governmental, or charitable purpose. "These payments, often from large corporations, tech companies and non-profits, included sponsorships of Equality Californias Equity Awards, sponsorships of the Los Angeles Equality Awards and sponsorships of the Equality California San Francisco Gala.
Tax filings scrutinized by the DCNF reveal that Equality California expended $300,000 on lobbying efforts to influence legislation in 2020 and over $250,000 in 2019.
The report also highlights that "Democratic California Assemblymember Christopher Ward solicited roughly $680,000 in payments made out to Equality California between 2021 to 2023. Democratic California state Sen. Scott Wiener solicited nearly $150,000 in payments made out to Equality California between 2019 to 2023.
Equality California reportedly donated approximately $14,000 to Wieners Senate campaigns and about $8,000 to Wards Assembly campaigns. The organization also endorsed the two politicians' legislation, including Wieners bill that prevents courts from enforcing out-of-state court orders revoking custody for parents who permitted their children to undergo sex changes in the state and Wieners bill that reduces the penalty for knowingly transmitting HIV to another person.
Login