Rep. Maxine Waters to be Honored as the 2025 PFLAG National Champion of Justice
November 7, 2025
WASHINGTON—PFLAG National is proud to announce that Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) has been named the 2025 PFLAG National Champion of Justice. A fearless advocate for LGBTQ+ people, women, people of color and working families, “Auntie Maxine” will be presented with the honor by her friend and former colleague, Rep. Barney Frank (ret.) at PFLAG National’s “Love Takes Justice” event on Tuesday, Nov. 18 in Washington, D.C.
“I am proud to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, because everyone—no matter who we are or who we love; no matter our race or how much we have in our wallets—deserves to have the freedom to thrive in this country. I have always fought for those values, and as we endure an administration that strives to strip away our freedoms, I am proud to be among the allies, parents and LGBTQ+ people of PFLAG to defend them,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters upon learning of the forthcoming honor. “I am deeply honored to receive the Champion of Justice Award from PFLAG National because love and liberty are inseparable.”
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. One of the most powerful women in American politics, Rep. Waters has proudly opposed the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, co-sponsored the Respect for Marriage Act, and has long supported the Equality Act to ensure comprehensive protections for LGBTQ+ Americans. She also created the Minority AIDS Initiative to address the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS in communities of color and continues to be a vocal ally in the fight for justice and equality.
“One of the most encouraging developments in our fight for human rights is the failure of efforts by advocates of either variety of bigotry to drive a wedge between the Black and LGBTQ+ communities. No one deserves more credit for this than Maxine Waters,” said retired Congressman Barney Frank, who had previously been honored by PFLAG with this same award.
The Champion of Justice Award was first presented to the late Rep. John R. Lewis in 2018. In addition to retired Rep. Frank, previous honorees include Mayor Barbara Lee, who was then a U.S. Representative; U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin; Gov. Jared Polis, who was then a U.S. Representative; and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.
“I am personally humbled to honor Congresswoman Maxine Waters with the PFLAG National Champion of Justice Award. She is a fierce advocate for equality for LGBTQ+ people, families, and people of color, across healthcare, housing and access to wealth. Moreover, thanks to research funding and programs Auntie Maxine has championed, gay and bisexual men like me now have access to PrEP and HIV/AIDS prevention, detection, treatment, and care that makes it possible to live fully,” said Brian K. Bond, CEO of PFLAG National.
In addition to her LGBTQ+ advocacy, Congresswoman Waters made history as the first woman and first African American to Chair the House Financial Services Committee, an office held by Rep. Frank until his retirement from Congress in 2013. On that committee, she has championed affordable housing, consumer protections, and economic opportunity. Re-elected to her seventeenth term, Congresswoman Waters remains a tireless leader for equity, dignity, and human rights for all.
PFLAG National’s “Love Takes Justice” reception is a ticketed event that takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 18th at 5:30p.m. in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Proceeds from the event support PFLAG National’s critical advocacy work across the country, which particularly includes fighting for laws to respect transgender youth and families’ rights to make health decisions through PFLAG v. Trump, fighting bad state bills targeting LGBTQ+ people, and supporting the growth of new chapters in small towns and rural areas to keep LGBTQ+ people and their families safe. Learn more at PFLAG.org/Events/LoveTakesJustice2025.
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ABOUT U.S. REP. MAXINE WATERS (CA-43)
Congresswoman Maxine Waters represents California’s 43rd Congressional District and is widely recognized as one of the most powerful women in American politics. Over her more than 40 years of public service, she has been a fearless advocate for women, people of color, working families, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Congresswoman Waters proudly opposed the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, co-sponsored the Respect for Marriage Act, and has long supported the Equality Act to ensure comprehensive protections for LGBTQ+ Americans. She also created the Minority AIDS Initiative to address the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS in communities of color and continues to be a vocal ally in the fight for justice and equality.
In addition to her LGBTQ+ advocacy, Congresswoman Waters made history as the first woman and first African American to Chair the House Financial Services Committee, where she has championed affordable housing, consumer protections, and economic opportunity. Re-elected to her seventeenth term, she remains a tireless leader for equity, dignity, and human rights for all. For Congresswoman Waters’ complete biography, visit https://Waters.House.gov/About-Maxine.
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ABOUT RETIRED U.S. REP. BARNEY FRANK
Rep. Barney Frank (MA-4, 1981-2013, Ret.) was the first Member of Congress to self-disclose as a gay man and served as a champion for LGBTQ+ civil rights, co-author of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 as Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, and a leading advocate on laws to combat HIV/AIDS. Before federal service, Frank was MA State Rep. for seven years and served as assistant to Boston Mayor Kevin White for three years, following serving as Assistant to U.S. Rep. Michael F. Harrington. He was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, on March 31, 1940, and attended Harvard University for undergraduate studies, a postgraduate government teaching fellowship, and then completed law school in 1977. Among his many awards and accolades, Frank was honored in 2018 as a PFLAG National Champion of Justice. Frank is the author of and subject of many books and is currently completing his memoirs.
Love Takes Justice Event Photos
About PFLAG
PFLAG is an organization of LGBTQ+ people, parents, families, and allies who work together to create an equitable and inclusive world. We are hundreds of thousands of people and hundreds of chapters from coast to coast who are leading with love to support families, educate allies, and advocate for just, equitable, and inclusive legislation and policies. Since our founding in 1973, PFLAG works every day to ensure LGBTQ+ people everywhere are safe, celebrated, empowered and loved. Learn more, find support, donate, and take action at PFLAG.org.