Statement on Racist Comments Made by Congressman Lance Gooden

WASHINGTON - February 24, 2023 - Equality California, the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang in response to the racist comments made by Congressman Lance Gooden in an interview on Fox News questioning Congresswoman Judy Chu.

"The comments made by Rep. Lance Gooden on Fox News are shameful, dangerous and flat-out racist. The Asian American Pacific Islander community continues to face violent attacks driven by hate and lies spread by far-right conservative extremists like Rep. Gooden. His comments disregard the lives lost in mass shootings earlier this year and feed the fear that AAPI people continue to face due to racism and xenophobia - Rep. Gooden needs to understand his racist remarks lead to detrimental consequences against the AAPI community.

"Equality California stands in solidarity with Congresswoman Judy Chu, the AAPI community, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and California's Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. No American should ever face suspicions of disloyalty or treason due to their ethnicity, nation of origin, or that of their family members."

Equality California is the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org