Equality PAC is a leadership political action committee (PAC), which is a type of committee created by a current federal officeholder, and the political arm of the Congressional Equality Caucus, a group of Democratic U.S. House members focused on advancing policies aligned with LGBT activists. The PAC endorses and financially supports openly LGBT candidates and pro-LGBT Democrats running for federal office. ¹

The group has channeled millions of dollars towards U.S. House races for left-of-center candidates who align with its agenda. ² The group is closely affiliated with national LGBT advocacy organizations, and is listed as a partner of Defend the Vote Action Fund, a hybrid PAC that funds groups supporting Democratic candidates and left-of-center election priorities. ³

Political Activities

Since its founding in 2014, Equality PAC has endorsed and contributed to candidates who align with its policy priorities related to LGBT activism and gender-identity legislation. In the 2024 election cycle, Equality PAC joined with the Human Rights Campaign PAC and the National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund to endorse the re-election campaign of then-President Joe Biden and then-Vice President Kamala Harris, the first time these organizations had jointly endorsed a presidential ticket. ⁴

Equality PAC endorsed the Equality Act, a federal bill that aims to redefine sex discrimination to include gender identity. ⁵ Critics of the legislation argue it would override women’s privacy in restrooms and locker rooms, undermine fairness in women’s sports, and compel individuals and religious institutions to affirm gender identity policies that violate their beliefs. ⁶

For the 2026 election cycle, Equality PAC endorsed openly LGBT Democratic candidates for U.S. House seats, including Daniel Hernandez (D-AZ), Angie Craig (D-MN), Becca Balint (D- VT), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Emily Randall (D-WA), and Eric Sorensen (D-IL). The PAC highlights these candidates for their alignment with its policy priorities, and also for being LGBT firsts, such as Craig being the first openly LGBT mother in Congress and Balint the first woman and openly LGBT member of Congress elected from Vermont. Additional endorsements included Julie Johnson (D-TX), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mark Takano (D-CA), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Sarah McBride (D-DE), and Sharice Davids (D-KS). ⁷

Expenditures

During the 2023–2024 election cycle, Equality PAC reported total expenditures of $12,422,283, surpassing its total receipts of $12,199,511.⁸  Of this amount, $3,996,915 was allocated to independent expenditures supporting federal candidates, with nearly 60 percent of that spending occurring during the general election. ⁹

The PAC contributed $406,950 directly to federal candidates, all of whom were Democrats. ¹⁰ Additionally, Equality PAC made $222,500 in contributions to other Democratic PACs and party committees. ¹¹

On December 31, 2024, Equality PAC reported an ending cash balance of $596,061 and no outstanding debts. ⁸

Funding

During the 2023–2024 election cycle, Equality PAC raised a total of $12,199,511. ⁸ Notably, $7,119,086 of these contributions came from individual donors who gave $200 or more. ¹² The PAC also received $222,500 in contributions from other Democratic PACs and party committees. ¹¹

People

The co-chairs of Equality PAC were Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) as of May 2025. ¹ Jennifer May was the treasurer of Equality PAC. ¹³

1.  Equality PAC. “About.” Accessed May 5, 2025. https://lgbtequalitypac.org/about/
2. Washington Blade. “Equality PAC Raises Record $20.7 Million for LGBTQ House Candidates.” October 28, 2024. https://www.washingtonblade.com/2024/10/28/equality-pac-raises-record-20-7-million-for-lgbtq-house-candidates/
3. Defend the Vote Action Fund. “DTV and DTV Action Fund Partners.” Accessed May 5, 2025. https://wedefendthevote.org/dtv-and-dtv-action-fund-partners/
4. Equality PAC. “Nation’s Leading LGBTQ+ Groups Endorse Biden-Harris 2024.” Accessed May 5, 2025.  https://lgbtequalitypac.org/nations-leading-lgbtq-groups-endorse-biden-harris-2024/
5. Equality PAC. “Equality PAC Statement on the Reintroduction of the Equality Act.” Accessed May 5, 2025. https://lgbtequalitypac.org/equality-pac-statement-on-the-reintroduction-of-the-equality-act/
6. The Heritage Foundation. “The Equality Act.” Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.heritage.org/gender/heritage-explains/the-equality-act
7. Equality PAC. “Endorsements.” Accessed May 14, 2025. https://lgbtequalitypac.org/endorsements/
8. OpenSecrets. “Equality PAC: Summary.” Accessed May 14, 2025. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/equality-pac/C00550970/summary/2024
9. OpenSecrets. “Outside Spending by Equality PAC.” Accessed May 14, 2025. https://www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/detail/2024?cmte=C00550970
10. OpenSecrets. “Equality PAC: Candidate Recipients.” Accessed May 14, 2025. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/equality-pac/C00550970/candidate-recipients/2024
11. OpenSecrets. “Equality PAC: PAC-to-PAC Transfers.” Accessed May 14, 2025. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/equality-pac/C00550970/pac-to-pac/2024
12. OpenSecrets. “Equality PAC: Donors.” Accessed May 14, 2025. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/equality-pac/C00550970/donors/2024
13.  OpenSecrets. “Equality PAC: Summary (2022 Cycle).” Accessed May 15, 2025. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/equality-pac/C00550970/summary/2022