U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee and AFT President Randi Weingarten Honored at “Love Takes Justice”

WASHINGTON—Last night, LGBTQ+ people and their advocates and allies gathered on Capitol Hill for PFLAG National’s “Love Takes Justice” reception. The event honored Congresswoman Barbara Lee as the “2024 PFLAG National Champion of Justice,” and Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, with the “2024 PFLAG National Flag Bearer Award.”

“I want to thank everyone at PFLAG for honoring me with this award and for all of the work they do every day to create a world more caring, just, and joyful world for our LGBTQ+ brothers, sisters, and siblings,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (she/her). “I am proud to be in this fight together for the rights, freedoms, and livelihoods of the LGBTQ+ community.”

The PFLAG National Champion of Justice Award recognizes an elected official who champions fairness, equality, and justice for all people in the U.S. and around the world, through the power of their elected office and as a community influencer. The award was first presented to the late Rep. John R. Lewis in 2018. Additional honorees include Senator Tammy Baldwin, Congressman Barney Frank (ret.), then-Congressman, now Gov. Jared Polis, and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.

“Throughout her career, Rep. Barbara Lee has been a trailblazing catalyst for change who has fought tirelessly for the respect and dignity of vulnerable populations, and in particular for those with HIV. We are proud to honor her as the 2024 PFLAG National Champion of Justice,” said Brian K. Bond (he/him), CEO of PFLAG National. “As a parent, an advocate, and an LGBTQ+ ally, Rep. Lee embodies ideals shared by PFLAG to create an equitable, just, and affirming world, and she has championed the right for every person, across race, gender, and income, to have the freedom to thrive.”

The PFLAG National Flag Bearer Award acknowledges the accomplishments of individuals, businesses, and organizations outside of PFLAG that have made lasting contributions to the safety and equality of LGBTQ+ people, families and allies. AFT President Randi Weingarten is awarded as a PFLAG National Flag Bearer for her advocacy for public education funding, and as a driving force for diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools. She has championed fair wages, safe working conditions, and inclusive education policies, and inspired countless people toward a society where education is a fundamental right and a pathway to opportunity. Previous recipients of this award include Coretta Scott King, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Rev. James Martin, Bishop Gene Robinson, Sen. Russ Feingold, and the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund.

“It is my honor to be recognized as a PFLAG National Flag Bearer, as we—parents, teachers, students and schools are together in this fight for the freedom to learn,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten (she/her).

“We are proud to honor Randi Weingarten, the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected President of a national American labor union with the PFLAG National Flag Bearer award. Her accomplishments are many, and to the parents, students, teachers and librarians who are part of PFLAG, she is a warrior in the fight against book bans. PFLAG National is a member of the Banned Books Week coalition, and we are proud to honor this educator and advocate for the freedom to learn as we kick off that national week of advocacy,” said Bond.

Safe, welcoming and inclusive schools and accurate, LGBTQ+ inclusive curricula have been integral components of the work of PFLAG for 37 years. Since 2022, PFLAG has partnered with the Banned Books Week coalition and in communities, schools, and libraries in the work to oppose censorship. While the 2024/25 school year has only just begun, efforts to ban or outright remove LGBTQ+ inclusive books and curricula from schools continue to escalate. With the prospect of a federal administration policy agenda to eliminate the Department of Education entirely, the fight to secure the freedom to learn is monumentally important in this moment.

PFLAG’s “Love Takes Justice” reception took place on Wednesday, September 18th at Washington Marriott Capitol Hill. Learn more at PFLAG.org/Events/Love-Takes-Justice.