Equality California announced today that it has endorsed City Councilmember Ginny Foat for Palm Springs mayor in the November 3, 2015 municipal election. EQCA endorses exceptional LGBT candidates in races for local government.“We were fortunate that the current slate of candidates presented us with three qualified LGBT candidates from which to choose,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of EQCA. “But Ginny Foat, with her 11 years on the city council and extensive experience both as an administrator and working on behalf of the LGBT community, stood out. She represents our best opportunity to elect an LGBT mayor and will be an effective leader for all Palm Springs residents.”

Foat is an 11-year veteran of the Palm Springs City Council and is executive director of the Mizell Senior Center in Palm Desert, but her involvement in LGBT causes and organizations stretches back to the 1970s. She has supported many notable LGBT organizations, including the Palm Springs Pride Center, precursor to the current Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Center; the California Alliance for Pride and Equality, which later became Equality California; National Coming Out Day; the 1987 and 2000 LGBT Marches on Washington; and others. She also was active in the campaigns against the Briggs Initiative and Proposition 8, and she previously served as co-chair of the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV/AIDS Services, executive director of Caring for Children and Families with AIDS and as regional director of the YWCA.

Equality California endorses viable candidates who have a proven track record of supporting equal rights and legal protections for LGBT Californians and who are committed to advancing these goals in their capacity as elected officials.

Equality California is California’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization focused on creating a fair and just society. Our mission is to achieve and maintain full and lasting equality, acceptance and social justice for all people in our diverse LGBT communities, inside and outside of California. Our mission includes advancing the health and well-being of LGBT Californians through direct healthcare service advocacy and education. Through electoral, advocacy, education and mobilization programs, we strive to create a broad and diverse alliance of LGBT people, educators, government officials, communities of color and faith, labor, business, and social justice communities to achieve our goals. www.eqca.org