What’s In a Lesbian Super PAC?

A lesbian Super PAC? Sounds like a flannel-wrapped emergency kit consisting of hummus, dental dams, and a cheat sheet of Indigo Girls’ lyrics.

In reality, the lesbian Super PAC launched yesterday, LPAC, is “the first of its kind lesbian political action committee” that “sets out to positively influence policies that impact women by electing candidates who champion issues that impact lesbians and their families.”

LPAC has big-name support, including actor Jane Lynch and tennis legend Billie Jean King. It will be chaired by businesswoman Sarah Schmidt, along with an advisory board that includes Laura Ricketts, co-owner of the Chicago Cubs and a major donor to President Obama, and Urvashi Vaid, a long-time LGBT activist.

Schmidt explained in a press release, “Frankly, we created LPAC because we were shocked by this past year. Lesbians could no longer stand by and witness continued attacks on reproductive freedoms, marriage equality, and be immersed in a political sphere where women are not given a meaningful voice in politics.”

The bipartisan group will support a carefully selected list of city, state, federal, and ballot campaigns that will uphold:

• Ending discriminatory treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals and their families;
• Protecting access to reproductive freedom and quality healthcare; and,
• Furthering social, racial, and economic justice for all Americans.