A prominent list of LGBTQ+ leaders from across New Jersey have announced their support of Vice President Joe Biden’s Presidential campaign, organized by Joe Forte, member of Biden’s LGBTQ+ Finance Council.

“As President, Biden will stand with the LGBTQ+ community to ensure equality for all,” stated Forte. “He will make human rights a priority and advance LGBTQ+ equality at home and abroad.”

“Biden was a force behind Obama evolving on the issue of marriage equality,” said Marsha Shapiro and Louise Walpin. “As the first legally LGBTQ married couple in the State of NJ, we know that Vice President Biden will fight for all.”

“As the first openly LGBT elected official in Red Bank, and as an Obama/Biden LGBT delegate to the DNC convention in 2012, it is an honor and privilege to endorse VP Biden for president in 2020,” commented Councilman Ed Zipprich, Red Bank. “Joe Biden supported gay marriage as Vice President and as President will support and fight for LGBTQ+ rights for the future of all Americans.”

“Joe Biden is the person who has successfully worked across the party lines, keeping the interests of citizens of all backgrounds and persuasions, and he gets things done! As Obama’s principal advisor, Joe pushed for the recognition of marriage equality, worked to increase job opportunities, and pay equity for women and people of color. He has matured into the leader this nation needs more than ever,” stated Carol J Rizzo, Committeewoman for Neptune Township.

“As Asbury Park NJ leading employer and an employer of over 500 people in the state of NJ, for me personally and for our company and our employees, equality is a key issue and given Joe Biden was the highest-ranking American official to publicly support marriage equality in the very early days, we fully support him in his presidential bid,” said David Bowd, Founder and Chief Executive of Salt Hotels.

“The first time I saw Joe was in 2008. He was debating on TV. He was the only one on the stage that could say “LGBTQ.” Right there … I knew he was a true leader,” commented Eileen Della Volle, former LD 10 candidate for New Jersey State Assembly.

The full list of members is below. Those looking to add their names to this group, or host/attend an event; please email LGBTQforBidenNJ@gmail.com.

Bob Zuckerman
South Orange Village Trustee
Brenda Sue Fulton
Army veteran, West Point graduate
Brett Cannon
Councilman Borough of Matawan
Bruce Meltzer
Carol J Rizzo
Committeewoman and a Former Mayor of Neptune
Chris Hillmann
Councilman Of Hasbrouck Heights
David Bowd
David Grant
Vice-Chair of the LGBTQ Democratic Caucus
David Parano
Edward Zipprich
Councilman, Borough of Red Bank
Hon. Eileen Dellla Volle
Jackie Cornell
Jason Bergman New Jersey Young Democrats National Committeeman and Young Democrat’s of America LGBTQ Caucus Regional Director
Jennifer Sciortino
Jess Alaimo
President Asbury Park Young Democrats
Joe Forte
John Stewart, Jr.
Jonathan Petro
Marsha N. Shapiro and Louise Walpin
Michael Spadoro
Michael Warren
Former Committeeman, Rochelle Park Township
Nick DiDomizio
Pedro Trivella
Peter Yacobellis
Candidate for Councilman of Montclair
Reginald Bledsoe
Member-Newark Board of Education
Richard Green III
Metuchen Democratic Committeeman, District 11
Shaheed M. Morris
Shannon Cuttle First openly trans non-binary elected official in NJ
Steve Remming
Candidate for Borough Council, South Plainfield
Wartyna Nina Davis
Bloomfield Councilwoman at large