Pride Fund Makes First Endorsement: Stephanie Murphy for FL-7

The newly-launched Pride Fund to End Gun Violence PAC announced its first candidate endorsement since its formation in the wake of the Orlando Pulse nightclub mass shooting. Pride Fund endorses Democratic candidate Stephanie Murphy in Florida’s 7th Congressional District race. Murphy is challenging incumbent Republican John Mica, who holds an “A+” rating from the National Rifle Association.

“No community should ever go through what we experienced here in Orlando, and we must do everything in our power to prevent these types of massacres from happening again,” said Murphy. “I’m proud to accept the endorsement of Pride Fund and to work together as we strengthen LGBTQ rights and pass long-overdue common sense gun security legislation. It’s time to hold a dysfunctional and irresponsible Congress accountable on both these issues because America’s promise is more than life and liberty, it’s also the pursuit of happiness.”

Pride Fund announces its first candidate endorsement in a congressional district with dozens of families directly affected by the June 12 mass shooting of 102 victims, 49 of whom were killed.

“We are here to challenge the status quo,” said Jason Lindsay, an Iraq War veteran who is Founder and Executive Director of Pride Fund. “We are giving the LGBTQ community and our allies a voice in the fight against gun violence, and we’re starting with this election cycle. Pride Fund supports Stephanie Murphy in the District 7 race because she is prepared to support common sense gun reform legislation, from restricting sales of assault weapons to preventing suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms.”

Stephanie Murphy is challenging 12-term congressman John Mica, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump’s candidacy and the RNC’s 2016 platform, the most anti-LGBTQ platform in modern history. He also has a consistent record of pro-gun lobby votes, including voting to repeal the assault weapons ban and preventing the expansion of background checks.