Politicians we need to support

	⇐ DC Mayor Adrian Fenty "I think you can certainly anticipate that [gay marriage] is in the future of the District of Columbia. ...And I do believe that nationally there's movement on this issue. Just in the past six to 12 months -- you just announced Maine being the latest state to grant same-sex marriages. I think, just as marriage used to prohibit people from different races from being able to marry each other in this country, and that was done away with; I think prohibiting same-sex marriage will be done away with also in this country." [Metro Weekly]
⇒ Congresswoman Barbara Lee joined Oakland, Calif., Mayor Ron Dellums last year in officiating same-sex marriage ceremonies. She also voted last month in favor of a Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, for which she released a statement. She is chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, and her official Web site contains a section for gay and lesbian issues.
	⇐ Anthony Woods is a gay African-American, 29yr old, Army veteran, who received one of the nation's highest medals for bravery, has announced that he will add his name to the growing list of Democrats seeking to replace the outgoing U.S. Rep. Ellen Tauscher in the 10th Congressional District - California. Woods, who announced his candidacy [recently], immediately joins a crowded candidate field includes Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and freshman Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan. A West Point graduate who rose to the rank of captain in the Army, Woods served two tours in Iraq and was awarded the Bronze Star [and] ended his military career last year when he told his commanding officer that he was gay. "I just got tired of living a lie," the 29-year-old Woods told the Sacramento Bee during last weekend's California Democratic Party Convention. "I spent four years at West Point living and breathing the Honor Code. So I made the decision to tell my commander." Anthony Woods for Congress Facebook page
⇒ Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick stood by his daughter as she came out as a lesbian and marched with her in Boston's annual gay pride parade last year. Patrick previously led his state's effort to save same-sex marriages from a legal challenge that would have discontinued the practice in the state. Massachusetts was the first state to allow gay couples to wed in 2004. In explaining his position on marriage equality, he refers to the fundamental principle that "citizens come before their government as equals.” Elected in November 2006, Patrick is the first black governor of Massachusetts, and the third black governor in U.S. history. He plans to seek re-election in 2010.