Congressional Equality Caucus Statement on Rep. Cicilline’s Selection to Lead Rhode Island Foundation

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Congressional Equality Caucus released the following statement on Co-Chair David N. Cicilline's (RI-01) announcement that he will be leaving Congress later this year to serve as President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.

"Congressman Cicilline is a tireless champion for the LGBTQI+ community. Our community has greatly benefited from his leadership, including his work as the lead sponsor of the Equality Act, and the victories he has secured on our behalf," Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan (WI-02) said. "David represents his district honorably. He is a mentor to many of our LGBTQI+ Co-Chairs and has become a close friend and colleague of mine during our time in Congress. I will miss serving with him, but I look forward to seeing all the great work he will continue to do for the people of Rhode Island in his new role with the Rhode Island Foundation."

Since joining Congress in 2011, Congressman Cicilline has been a champion for LGBTQI+ equality. Congressman Cicilline is a leader in ensuring explicit nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQI+ community as the lead sponsor of the Equality Act, which passed the House in the 117th and 116th Congresses. He is also a leader in the fight for global LGBTQI+ equality; he introduced the Global Respect Act, which also passed the House last Congress, and successfully led efforts to increase international LGBTQI+ funding throughout the 117th Congress. Congressman Cicilline co-led the introduction of the Respect for Marriage Act, which repeals the Defense of Marriage Act and ensures critical protections for same-sex and interracial marriages at the federal level and helped shepherd the bill through the House. It was signed into law in December 2022.

Congressman Cicilline served as a Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus from 2011-2020, as Chair of the Equality Caucus from 2021-2022, and currently serves again as one of its Co-Chairs in the 118th Congress. During his tenure as Chair, the Equality Caucus helped ensure the passage of 10 Equality Caucus-endorsed bills in the House—with four being signed into law, coordinated member comments to proposed federal regulatory changes, held the first-ever Equality Caucus meeting with the President of the United States, organized a congressional amicus brief in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, and hosted dozens of educational briefings and events, among other activities.

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Founded in 2008, the mission of the Congressional Equality Caucus is to promote equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. The Caucus is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBTQI+ people in the U.S. and around the world.