Early Endorsements Err by Omission

This week's by erstwhile gay-rights group Equality California has left many in West Hollywood and the soon-to-be 50th Assembly District scratching their heads. Were the two qualified gay and lesbian candidates in the race even considered, and why not?

Since declaring itself to be a socio-justice organization earlier this year, Equality California has circled the drain, losing board members, donors, staff, and with thier latest move, credibility.

By blindly and only backing incumbent legislators, EQCA's early endorsement prove that organization is not an adjunct of the Democratic Party (as some have alleged), but an active accessory to the Sacramento political establishment.

Two LGBT candidates in West Hollywood's 50th Assembly District, and Brad Torgan, would be invaluable members of their caucuses in Sacramento. While Butler's record on gay and lesbian issues is stellar, by making an early endorsement, Equality California turned its back on members of the community it once claimed to represent.

Already, dozens have signed a petition asking EQCA to back all three candidates, as all would be equally qualified advocates on gay and lesbian issues. Then, we can judge the candidates on the other issues, like how they would fix the State's financial mess.

Equality California should consider the model that guides the Victory Fund's endorsement process—advocating the election of gay and lesbian candidates principally.

Yet even the Victory Fund can make mistakes. Violating their own rules, which require waiting until filing closes for a race and not endorsing where there are multiple gay or lesbian candidates, Victory Fund jumped the gun in our Assembly race as well.

My advice for any group looking to wade into these races with an early endorsement would be to wait until you can give all of the candidates a fair shake, and if you make a mistake, as EQCA and Victory Fund have, admit your errors and correct them immediately if you want your endorsements to matter in the future.