San Diego LGBT leaders joined the Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization – in endorsing Rep. Scott Peters for re-election to Congress, citing Peters for being ā€œsteadfast in his support of marriage equality in California and across the country.ā€
Rep. Scott Peters. Official photo.
Rep. Scott Peters. Official photo.ā€œScott Peters has proved himself to be a leader and a strong advocate for equality,ā€ said Fred Sainz, the HRC’s vice president for communications, in a statement. ā€œAs the nation moves rapidly to embrace full LGBT equality, Scott’s voice on Capitol Hill will echo those of his fair-minded constituents and Americans across the country.ā€
ā€œI’ve been proud to work alongside HRC for years in the fight for full equal rights for everyone,ā€ Peters said. ā€œMy father fought for racial equality during the civil rights movement when I was young, and I’m proud to continue that legacy at the forefront of the battle for full LGBT equality, the most important civil rights issue of our time.ā€
At the announcement on Wednesday, members of HRC San Diego were joined by City Council President Todd Gloria, former State Senator Christine Kehoe, and Stampp Corbin, former co-chair of the 2008 Obama for America presidential campaign’s National LGBT Leadership Council.
County Supervisor Dave Roberts also issued an endorsement statement, saying, ā€œCongressman Scott Peters deserves the support of the LGBT community. He has been a stalwart supporter of equality.ā€
Peters, a Democrat, will face Republican Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego City Council member who is opening gay and who recently released a campaign ad in which he holds hands with his partner.
Peters is a former San Diego City Council president and Port Commission chairman. He represents the 52nd District, which includes Poway, Coronado, and a large part of the city of San Diego. He was elected to Congress in 2012.

Chris Jennewein is Editor & Publisher of Times of San Diego.