Nancy Pelosi, retiring from Congress, leaves a record as a champion of LGBTQ+ equality

"In a video from the march, a reporter observed that Pelosi was one of the few members of Congress participating. She replied that she was there not only to show solidarity with the many San Franciscans who had traveled to D.C. for the event but to demonstrate support for a gay civil rights bill and increased funding to address the AIDS crisis (her first speech to the House dealt with AIDS)."

"For instance, the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which banned federal government recognition of same-sex marriages, had support from numerous Dems, including then-U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Pelosi not only voted against DOMA but spoke out against it, saying, "I rise in strong opposition to this ill-named 'Defense of Marriage Act,' and I do so on the basis of conscience, Constitution, and"

"U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who announced Thursday that she will not seek another term, will leave with one of the most pro-LGBTQ+ rights records of any member of Congress. Pelosi, a Democrat, has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1987, when she won a special election to represent a San Francisco district. She was a House leader, either as speaker or minority leader, depending on whether Democrats held a majority, for 20 years until she stepped down from leadership in 2023."

Nancy Pelosi built a longtime record of pro-LGBTQ+ advocacy through votes, public demonstrations, and leadership. She joined the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in her first year in office, emphasized solidarity with San Franciscans, supported a gay civil rights bill, and pushed for increased AIDS funding; her first House speech addressed AIDS. Pelosi participated in AIDS Walks and Pride parades in San Francisco. She opposed the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and voted against it, speaking in strong opposition. Pelosi served in the House since 1987 and led Democrats as speaker or minority leader for 20 years, stepping down from leadership in 2023.

Read at Advocate.com