being gay was still considered a crime

{NAME}, it's Will Rollins — the Democrat running in CA-41 against far-right businessman Ken Calvert! [If that's what you needed to hear, please chip in $10 or whatever you can between my campaign and Forward Blue to flip this critical district.](D4FK/OW1ha2JBUjNhelJRR1BVZ3R4YURsSHhaVE1SMkgvMXJqUlNZZ2d2czJVYnhPNklYTlJtcVdBdXJpTTAwTjRHbDVzall0aVQzM2pPeU5uTmdHcXdCb2NLSDFqRDN1eWVSZ3BLN2xmMTUzamx5all6MXNXNkdJZz09S0/alNoT3RkMG10N2IwRnZqbEhsQ2hmSG1lSXhhZVRrYThtNWxtS3RRZXE3R2dacWpBNVV5V2xqb09xcXNQK252YnFsTUpTSDZDN2VRRGo3UktlRmR3SjhtS0tuNjdHWldJVU1FNldBQmVxbmJZTWNGTFdsdnZYUGJNeTAvUUMzMVAxTkJKZ25CMEFxTHd5NFJpbERRdmlQSFE5Q0h3LzRobWJ3OVNHaW9ONWp2NitNZHY2OXBGN2tCTGRqWG1NSHk1S0) Like many, I came of age at a time when being gay was still considered a crime in many states. I often reflect back to when I was 17 years old in the wake of 9/11. I had a deep sense of duty to serve our country, but policies like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” discouraged me from joining the military. Thanks to the brave LGBTQ+ Americans who came before me and had the courage to come out, I eventually got the chance to work openly in law enforcement and counterterrorism. [Politico: The battle for the House is currently dominated by GOP fundraising]( Paolo and I recently at Palm Springs Pride. Despite the strides we've taken toward equality, the recent election of Speaker Mike Johnson proves the GOP is hell-bent on turning back the clock on LGBTQ+ rights. Johnson’s record reads like something out of an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group’s wish list. In addition to voting against marriage equality, he: - Is on record supporting the criminalization of sexual acts between consenting LGBTQ+ adults, - Previously worked with an organization that pushed so-called conversion therapy, - Claimed that a ‘homosexual agenda’ will destroy society and likened being LGBTQ+ to pedophilia and bestiality. Really. The fact that the Speaker of the House doesn’t respect Paolo's and my right to love is shocking — especially in 2024. And the fact that Ken Calvert and the entire Republican Party handed him the Speaker’s gavel is even more horrifying. We can send a clear message that rejects Johnson’s hateful agenda by turning the House blue this November. That starts by flipping CA-41. [Can you please split $10, or whatever you can afford, between Forward Blue and our campaign to help us flip CA-41, defeat Ken Calvert, and restore decency to Congress?](pWV9sW/OW1ha2JBUjNhelJRR1BVZ3R4YURsSHhaVE1SMkgvMXJqUlNZZ2d2czJVYnhPNklYTlJtcVdBdXJpTTAwTjRHbDVzall0aVQzM2pPeU5uTmdHcXdCb2NLSDFqRDN1eWVSZ3BLN2xmMTUzamx5all6MXNXNkdJZz09S0/alNoT3RkMG10N2IwRnZqbEhsQ2hmSG1lSXhhZVRrYThtNWxtS3RRZXE3R2dacWpBNVV5V2xqb09xcXNQK252YnFsTUpTSDZDN2VRRGo3UktlRmR3SjhtS0tuNjdHWldJVU1FNldBQmVxbmJZTWNGTFdsdnZYUGJNeTAvUUMzMVAxTkJKZ25CMEFxTHd5NFJpbERRdmlQSFE5Q0h3LzRobWJ3OVNHaW9ONWp2NitNZHY2OXBGN2tCTGRqWG1NSHk1S0) If you've stored your info with ActBlue Express, we'll process your contribution instantly: [Donate $10 ›››]( [Donate $24 ›››]( [Donate $50 ›››](/OW1ha2JBUjNhelJRR1BVZ3R4YURsSHhaVE1SMkgvMXJqUlNZZ2d2czJVYnhPNklYTlJtcVdBdXJpTTAwTjRHbDVzall0aVQzM2pPeU5uTmdHcXdCb2NLSDFqRDN1eWVSZ3BLN2xmMTUzamx5all6MXNXNkdJZz09S0/U0ZublVSd2ZGVzVyOFZZT29ocVVNSmVtQStKYXpZZFpCbnZqdWcxTXAyYWswS0FhK1FkV3NSeHhRVjVZUHpPTW80VzZDK0tmcDFoS2UwZGxMWitmTmJGbzhzTmFXTUNyUWFxeCtXWkdDZEMrTnNlL1R3UHpLQ3BmTVByb0lCVWVsd0J1aGRiZk5vaGw4UDdDTmtTUHlINkYyMDBuKzV5SW82ZStzeGlIY2R0SlpyaHgrc2Q4dEdZemtna2dXK2ErS0) [Donate $100 ›››](zBv_P8XCW/OW1ha2JBUjNhelJRR1BVZ3R4YURsSHhaVE1SMkgvMXJqUlNZZ2d2czJVYnhPNklYTlJtcVdBdXJpTTAwTjRHbDVzall0aVQzM2pPeU5uTmdHcXdCb2NLSDFqRDN1eWVSZ3BLN2xmMTUzamx5all6MXNXNkdJZz09S0/anc2QUd2OWFhSnNUNG05aXIwRngzZTJiejJ5ajR2TzJGRTNVQy9sdVQ0UHcvdWV6MDJDeENvakxBdy9GYnpzWWJRQjV4bWg3NkZScHBkZ2pzcmRlUnFZckg1MDEydEl0SHBYYlNJNVgvRDVTNXpQTzc0NmlFczg1SHo2MC96bjJwY2NOdkJoMXFDdXNoTFZWSURHTERnS0pibHIxTTlJZEJkS0xjK1pQRTB2ZEMrZ1czTngxeCtvWDl6NkhQeDRCS0) [Donate $250 ›››]( [Other amount ›››]( Thank you, Will Rollins We work tirelessly to ensure that every eligible voter has an opportunity to cast their ballot. As we build on our momentum toward Election Day, there is no room to slow down. We are full speed ahead to push for a progressive victory! [Donate Monthly ›››](BY/OW1ha2JBUjNhelJRR1BVZ3R4YURsSHhaVE1SMkgvMXJqUlNZZ2d2czJVYnhPNklYTlJtcVdBdXJpTTAwTjRHbDVzall0aVQzM2pPeU5uTmdHcXdCb2NLSDFqRDN1eWVSZ3BLN2xmMTUzamx5all6MXNXNkdJZz09S0/YkpCVjc4K1VMUXhicEkzcmErNXdQUkh0clRDem5EeGM4R2xKYUZNYUkyaDFHZW5kYjF2YkJ4eGtlL05KM3pvM095bFo4Y1NCeWd2YWNNYnM2U3Q5L2pGSGViMnlVcGdpelg1ZTJJMnBvSXczTGZYUUZhTHVqMThuVzluSjRmYjJxQTk3RXEwYXByV3NVbHVPOGFpWG9WVTFvL3JNZTU0ZGRNb0FQSnZ3QjlvbGFjR3ViUkNJekE9PQS2) This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Email is the most important way we keep in touch with supporters like you. However, if you would like to change your subscription preferences, here are some options: - [Receive Fewer Emails]( - [Unsubscribe]( To give by check: Forward Blue PO Box 702 Somers Point, NJ 08244 Email us: info@forwardblue.org Paid for by Forward Blue and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.