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Frontiers LA: Sandra Fluke to Vie with Ben Allen for California Senate District 26

By Kurt Gonska on June 11, 2014


8th-post-featured

By Karen Ocamb on the Frontiers LA Frontiers Blog

The Los Angeles News Group called it—endorsing both educator Ben Allen and reproductive rights activist Sandra Fluke in their Daily News and Daily Breeze newspapers to succeed the South Bay State Senate seat being vacated by Ted Lieu. Allen, a member of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, won 21.9% of the vote, becoming the top vote-getter out of eight candidates vying for the open seat.

Fluke, a public interest attorney and West Hollywood resident, came in second with 19.4% of the vote. She and Allen will battle it out in November.

 

Former Assemblymember and long time LGBT ally Betsy Butler came in fourth with 16.5%, behind independent Seth Stodder who registerd 17.7% of the vote. Manhattan Beach Mayor Amy Howorth won15.6%. In his first shot at public office, openly gay Dr. Vito Imbasciani garnered 3,999 votes or 4.4%. 


“We are very excited over here,” Allen said in a 1:30 a.m. interview with the Daily Breeze. "It’s an incredible feeling. It is sort of a combination of humility and surprise and gratitude and excitement.”

The Breeze noted (as Frontiers did in our pre-primary analysis) that Allen “was helped by generous independent expenditures from Republican-turned-independent Bill Bloomfield, a wealthy businessman and former congressional candidate. Bloomfield, who said he did not know Allen well, nonetheless spent about $600,000 on Allen’s behalf. A lot of that money went to fund mailers.”

Those mailers and TV campaign ads helped give the little-known Allen name recognition. That was not a problem for the nationally-known Sandra Fluke, who I suggested sounded like a younger version of Elizabeth Warren. In fact, Fluke was an activist before Rush Limbaugh called the then-Georgetown University law student a “slut” – for which he later apologized. For instance, MRC TV (Media Research Center) criticized her with what at times seems as if they are making a breath-taking discovery in an anonymous article entitled Sandra Fluke, Gender Reassignment, and Health Insurance:

However, as I discovered today, birth control is not all that Ms. Fluke believes private health insurance must cover. She also, apparently, believes that it is discrimination deserving of legal action if "gender reassignment" surgeries are not covered by employer provided health insurance. She makes these views clear in an article she co-edited with Karen Hu in the Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law.
The title of the article, which can be purchased in full here, is Employment Discrimination Against LGBTQ Persons and was published in the Journal's 2011 Annual Review. I have posted a transcript of the section I will be quoting from here. In a subsection of the article entitled "Employment Discrimination in Provision of Employment Benefits" starting on page 635 of the review Sandra Fluke and her co-editor describe two forms of discrimination in benefits they believe LGBTQ individuals face in the work place:

"Discrimination typically takes two forms: first, direct discrimination limiting access to benefits specifically needed by LGBTQ persons, and secondly, the unavailability of family-related benefits to LGBTQ families."

Their "prime example" of the first form of discrimination? Not covering sex change operations:

"A prime example of direct discrimination is denying insurance coverage for medical needs of transgender persons physically transitioning to the other gender."

This so called "prime example" of discrimination is expounded on in a subsection titled "Gender Reassignment Medical Services" starting on page 636:

"Transgender persons wishing to undergo the gender reassignment process frequently face heterosexist employer health insurance policies that label the surgery as cosmetic or medically unnecessary and therefore uncovered."

To be clear, the argument here is that employers are engaging in discrimination against their employees who want them to pay for their sex changes because their "heterosexist" health insurance policies don't believe sex changes are medically necessary.

No wonder Fluke was endorsed by Masen Davis, executive director of the Transgender Law Center.

After voting with her family and winning a top two spot, Fluke released a statement:

"I am immensely proud of my campaign. I want to start by thanking the grassroots supporters who stood with me. We ran a campaign that shows what kind of elected official I will be: one who is accountable to the individuals who voted me into office, not to special interests. I want to thank the more than two thousand individual donors and volunteers who truly fueled this campaign. We had an incredible team.

I also want to acknowledge the other candidates. There were a number of incredibly talented and passionate candidates in this race who deeply care about their communities. I look forward to continuing to work with them to make our neighborhoods better.

Now is the time to turn my focus towards the general election. I'm looking forward to continuing to talk with voters about the issues important to us all: education affordability and access, environmental protection and water conservation, economic security and more. I'm proud the voters know that I will be the kind of progressive leader who isn't afraid to stand up for what is right, and will always fight for them."

Don’t be surprised if you see Fluke walking around West Hollywood.

Stand with Sandra


    Latest News

  • LA Weekly: Sandra Fluke Endured Rush Limbaugh's Attacks. Now She Wants a Seat in the California Senate
    October 21, 2014 by Kaya Masler
  • Daily Breeze Reports: Attorney General Kamala Harris endorses Sandra Fluke for South Bay Senate seat
    October 21, 2014 by Kaya Masler
  • Daily Breeze Reports: Sandra Fluke claims fundraising lead over opponent Ben Allen in Senate race
    October 17, 2014 by Kaya Masler

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Endorsements

  • Sandra Fluke is a champion for California women and their families. She bravely spoke up on Capitol Hill in defense of contraceptive coverage and has been a tireless advocate in California on behalf of legislation like last year’s Abortion Access Bill (AB 154, Atkins). She is not only a pro-choice candidate, but part of a new generation of progressive leaders fighting for reproductive justice. In the Senate, Sandra will join a committed pro-choice majority. Endorsing Sandra was an obvious choice, because we know that she will be a champion and leader for reproductive rights in Sacramento. We’re so excited to help her get there.

    -Amy Everitt, State Director, NARAL Pro-Choice California

  • She is one of a fresh, new generation of feminists, and it is exciting to see her take this step in her political career. I know Sandra will fight in Sacramento for progressive values and change to better the lives of everyone in her district. I look forward to supporting her campaign from now until Election Day!

    -Gloria Steinem

  • Although I would have loved to have her as a colleague in Congress, the people of the 26th Senate District will be lucky to have Sandra fighting for them. Sandra will be able to create the progressive change in Sacramento that unfortunately Congress is unable to achieve in this political climate. This is a great first step for Sandra’s political career and I wholeheartedly endorse her for State Senate.

    -Congresswoman Janice Hahn

  • I am thrilled to endorse Sandra’s bid for State Senate. She is a true progressive leader who has already worked to pass important legislation here in California. As chair of the Education Committee, I know the importance of early childhood education, one of many issues Sandra has championed. Her future constituents will be lucky to have her be their voice in Sacramento.

    -Carol Liu

  • I’ve had the privilege of working with Sandra Fluke several times. I’m impressed with her expertise and eloquence. She is just the kind of advocate with a fresh perspective that we need in Sacramento. I’m confident Sandra will stand up for what is right to protect reproductive freedom, and she’ll be a strong voice as a leader from within a new generation of progressives. I’m proud to support her for election to the California Senate.

    -Sarah Weddington, Attorney who argued the Roe v. Wade case

  • I am pleased and delighted to endorse Sandra for the State Senate. Sandra and I have worked together on legislation to advance issues of gender equality and reproductive justice and as Vice Chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus, I am proud to offer her my support.

    -State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson

  • I am proud to stand with Sandra Fluke in her bid for California State Senate. Sandra is a strong, hardworking, and dedicated individual with an impressive passion for public service. She is a strong role model and is the right choice to fight for equality and progress in Sacramento.

    -Jennifer Siebel Newsom

  • I am proud to stand with Sandra Fluke in her bid to serve in the California State Senate. Sandra has long been a fearless advocate for women’s rights especially those of women veterans. I am confident that she will, with unwavering courage and endless commitment, continue to serve all who have served our country.

    -Kristen Kavanaugh, Chair, CDP Veterans’ Caucus, Committee on Women Veterans

  • During my 2012 campaign, Sandra came to Rochester and stood with me. I got to know her and I was deeply impressed with her willingness to fight for what she believed in. She remains a champion for women’s health, and has spoken out this year in support of equal pay and access to contraception. She also speaks out for issues that don’t get as much coverage: human trafficking, skyrocketing student loan debt and workers’ rights. I’m proud to support Sandra’s run for State Senate.

    -U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter (NY-25), Ranking Member on the House Rules Committee

  • Sandra Fluke is a fighter, and I know she will make a real difference in the lives of her constituents. Sandra is an incredibly effective champion for the issues that matter to Angelenos. I’m impressed by the work she’s done for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence, as well as her legislative advocacy for worker protections and access to education. I’m proud to endorse Sandra Fluke for State Senate.

    -Honorable Joy Picus, Former Los Angeles City Councilmember

  • I’m proud to endorse Sandra Fluke for State Senate. From our water crisis, to fracking, to the region’s significant transportation challenges – we need an environmental champion in the State Senate fighting every day to protect our communities, and Sandra is that champion. Sandra is a pragmatic and experienced leader who will be a strong advocate for the environment.

    -Nancy Sutley, Former Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality

  • As a veteran and survivor of sexual assault in the military, I have learned that real strength is the courage to stand up in the face of adversity regardless of how tall the challenge may seem. I support Sandra Fluke because she has the strength and dedication required to represent women and veterans and will ensure that veteran issues are a top priority when she goes to Sacramento.

    -Kate Weber, Mom, Veteran, Advocate, Survivor. 2013 Veteran of the year by the California Democratic Party and Woman Veteran Leader of the Year by Cal Vet

  • In 2012 when I was running for Congress, Sandra came and stood with me. I got to know her as we campaigned together, and I was incredibly impressed by her commitment to California and her willingness to fight for change. Sandra is definitely never one to back down from a challenge! I’m proud to stand with her now and I fully endorse her campaign for State Senate.

    -Congressman Scott Peters

  • I’m endorsing Sandra’s run for California State Senate. She represents a new generation of progressive leadership and she’ll be a fresh voice in government. I’m standing with Sandra and I hope you will, too.​

    -Congressman Joaquin Castro

  • I am so happy to endorse my friend, Sandra Fluke! Sandra has been a strong advocate for social justice and the LGBTQ community. Even before she was known on the national stage, she co-founded a statewide coalition that passed legislation to eliminate discrimination against LGBTQ people in family court, helping protect parents like mine. I know she’ll be a fighter for her constituents and she’ll bring to Sacramento a fresh perspective on progressive issues.

    -Zach Wahls, LGBTQ Rights Activist

  • I strongly admire Sandra’s public service on a number of issues and I am so excited for her to step forward and run for State Senate. Sandra Fluke will be an effective voice for her community and her generation.

    -Christine Pelosi, Chair, Women’s Caucus, California Democratic Party

Paid for by Stand with Sandra Fluke for State Senate 2014 FPPC ID # 1363476
PO Box 146, Agoura Hills, CA 91376

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