LGBTQ PAC established after Pulse endorses U.S. Navy veteran for key congressional race
August 9, 2018 -- Washington, DC — Pride Fund to End Gun Violence PAC – America’s only national LGBTQ political organization focused solely on gun violence prevention – announced today its endorsement of Democrat Gil Cisneros for California’s 39th District. Pride Fund endorsed Cisneros based on his commitment to championing LGBTQ equality and his support of common sense gun safety reform.
“We support Gil Cisneros due to his commitment to bettering our communities by calling for common sense gun reform policies and giving amazing educational opportunities to both students and veterans alike,” said Jason Lindsay, founder and executive director of Pride Fund, “as an Iraq war veteran for the US Army, I’m proud to support a candidate with a military background who knows firsthand about the detrimental impact assault weapons have, and is prioritizing public safety over the gun lobby.”
“An overwhelming majority of Americans understand that public safety is our elected Representatives top priority, and support universal background checks for gun purchases and preventing domestic abusers and terrorists from buying firearms. Unfortunately, my opponent, Ed Royce, does not agree, and has voted time and time again against keeping our communities safe. Royce’s fealty to the gun lobby is dangerous for the families of the 39th Congressional District,” said Cisneros.
The son of a public school cafeteria worker and a Vietnam veteran, Gil attended college on a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship, and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from George Washington University. He also holds an MBA from Regis University and an M.A. in Urban Education Policy from Brown. As the first in his family to graduate from college, Gil will fight Republican attempts to cut education funding and Pell Grants; tools that empower not just students, but entire communities.
Gil has worked to strengthen schools and promote access to quality education by supporting Yellow Ribbon programs for Veterans, establishing scholarships, and creating an endowment for the dependents of former Navy Supply Corps personnel, so tuition costs are not a barrier to educational opportunities. Through ten years of service as a U.S. Naval Officer, Gil was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for his exemplary service to his country.