LGBTQ Community Affairs - Randy Downs for Ward 2

LGBTQ Affairs

The District has been a national leader on pro-LGBTQ policies for decades. From repealing the anti-sodomy law in 1993, establishing the Mayor’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs in 2006, and legalizing same-sex marriage in 2010, the District has been ahead of almost any other city in the nation.

While DC has the most LGBTQ residents per capita of any city in the United States, the Council has no LGBTQ members to represent and champion issues that directly affect this community.

During my service on Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2B, I advocated for stronger investments in affordable housing and protections for transgender residents and DC’s large LGBTQ community overall. I joined the ANC Rainbow Caucus to demand action from the city to stop discrimination and violence against LGBTQ residents. We cannot be silent on these issues, which represent people’s basic rights to equality, safety, and dignity.

In addition to my work on critical policies, as a member of the LGBTQ community I am consistently showing up and making sure that Ward 2 is a safe and welcoming place for everyone. For many years I have organized and fundraised for the 17th Street High Heel race, a regionally recognized event that celebrates our pride and individuality. I also led the initiative, in partnership with the Mayor’s office and the District Department of Transportation, to paint permanent rainbow and transgender pride flag crosswalks on 17th street in the Dupont Circle neighborhood.

The Council needs a leader who’s not just an ally, but who is a member of this proud community.

As your Councilmember, I will:

Focus on protecting the rights of transgender residents to be safe, find employment, and secure affordable housing.
Work to invest in LGBTQ senior and affordable housing.
Ensure the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs has enough resources to adequately serve the LGBTQ community.
Focus on serving LGBTQ residents experiencing homelessness and make sure they have access to comprehensive resources.

More Issue Areas

Browse the issues below and learn more about those principles.

Education

A high-quality education is a cornerstone to creating opportunities for each individual, and therefore to create an equitable and prosperous Ward and District overall.

Community-Focused Public Safety

The District should approach public safety with policies that are based on evidence. We should not entrust the safety of our communities with purely reactive measures but instead, invest in preventing crime and violence before they start.

Recovering from COVID-19

Since the onset of the pandemic, the city has taken important steps to address and minimize the spread of Covid-19. We know that helping each other stay healthy and safe means taking important steps like wearing a mask and social distancing.

Democracy and Voters’ Rights

The foundation of our democracy is the promise we keep to voters that elections are safe, accessible, and fair. Covid-19 changed many parts of our daily lives and our elections are no exception.

Housing Affordability

The high and rising cost of housing has made it hard for many residents to maintain the life they envision here in Ward 2. Our long-standing residents must be able to remain in their homes and new neighbors shouldn’t be deterred from joining our community by unaffordable housing.

Environment and Sustainability

We are experiencing a climate crisis that will negatively impact almost every aspect of our lives and threaten the future of our planet. Energy costs will get more expensive, food supply chains will be threatened, and temperatures will rise.

Jobs and Small Businesses

As a former service industry worker and restaurant manager, I know how small businesses struggle to keep their doors open in a tough market and an expensive city. Even before the pandemic, Ward 2’s commercial corridors were dealing with high vacancies as rents went up and business owners pinched and saved to get by.

Transportation and Public Spaces

While we’ve seen some progress towards preventing traffic injuries and fatalities, the District has generally moved incredibly slow at improving our transportation infrastructure and making our streets safe for everyone.