Rick Zbur
Rick Zbur | |
---|---|
Born | New Mexico, U.S. | March 2, 1957
Education | Yale University (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
Known for | LGBT civil rights HIV/AIDS activism Environmental movement |
Political party | Democratic |
Rick Chavez Zbur (born March 2, 1957 in New Mexico) is an American attorney, LGBT activist, and former United States House of Representatives candidate.[1] He is a well-known LGBT civil rights advocate and is active in the environmental movement. Zbur is also notable as the first openly gay non-incumbent U.S. congressional primary candidate to win an election.[2]
Zbur practiced environmental law for about three decades before retiring in 2014.[3] In 1996, Zbur ran for the United States House of Representatives in California's 38th congressional district.[4] Since 2014, Zbur has led Equality California, the largest LGBT civil rights organization in California.[5] Zbur has also been a chair of the California League of Conservation Voters board of directors from 2011 to 2017.[6]
In April 2020, Zbur announced that he would be running for Los Angeles City Attorney.[7]
Congressional campaign[]
In 1996, Zbur ran for the United States House of Representatives in California's 38th congressional district against Republican incumbent Steve Horn. He became the first openly gay non-incumbent congressional primary candidate to win an election when he won the Democratic primary election on March 26, 1996.[2]
During his congressional campaign, Zbur's key legislative priorities included environmental protection, Social Security, and Medicare.
Activism[]
LGBT rights[]
Zbur identifies as gay and has been a vocal leader in the LGBT civil rights movement for nearly four decades. In 2014, Zbur became the executive director of Equality California, the largest LGBT civil rights organization in California.[5]
HIV/AIDS[]
In the early 1980s, Zbur campaigned to fight against HIV/AIDS. He also helped found the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation. In 1992, together with the LGBT community in Los Angeles, Zbur organized fundraisers for Bill Clinton, then a governor, and Barbara Boxer, then a congresswoman) who was running for the U.S. Senate.[8]
Environmental movement[]
As an environmental lawyer, Zbur has been active in the environmental movement in California. He served as president of the California League of Conservation Voters from 2011 to 2017.[9]
Personal life[]
Zbur grew up on a farm in the Rio Grande Valley of rural New Mexico with his mother, Erlinda Chavez Zbur. He currently lives in Los Angeles.[5]
References[]
- ^ California's 38th Congressional District. Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
- ^ a b "Statement of the Vote, March 26, 1996: United States Representative in Congress by District" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
- ^ "Richard (Rick) S. Zbur". www.lw.com. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
- ^ Shuit, Douglas P. (1996-10-25). "Democrats Use All Their Weapons to Try to Unseat Horn". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
- ^ a b c "Rick Zbur takes helm of Equality California". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
- ^ "Equality California's Rick Zbur honored as an environmentalist". Los Angeles Blade: LGBT News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. 2018-11-28. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
- ^ Laird, Cynthia. (2020-04-07). "EQCA's Zbur to run for LA city attorney". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
- ^ "Rick Zbur to Take Helm as EQCA Executive Director". Outword Magazine. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
- ^ "Rick Zbur". California League of Conservation Voters. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
External links[]
- 1957 births
- 20th-century American politicians
- American environmentalists
- California lawyers
- Environmental lawyers
- California Democrats
- Equality Federation
- HIV/AIDS activists
- LGBT people from New Mexico
- LGBT rights activists from the United States
- Living people
- Yale University alumni
- Harvard Law School alumni