Rep. Ted Deutch has been a major supporter of LGBT rights for many years. In fact, he says that he was “born this way.”

“I’m proud of my strong record of support for legislative efforts to bring full equality to the LGBT community,” said the Congressman who as State Senator in 2007, got the first, and so far only, LGBT equality bill passed in committee in the Florida State Senate.

"This Congress I joined with Reps. Patrick Murphy and Suzanne Bonamici to introduce the “Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act,” named in honor of LGBT activists Ruthie Berman and Connie Kurtz,” he said. Rep. Deutch is cautious about the future.

“From the anti-LGBT initiatives we’ve seen in a number of states to the continued disproportionate homeless and suicide rates among LGBT people, we know that the fight is far from over,” he said. “There is more to do on a federal, state, and local level, and I am committed to working toward full equality.”

Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, said “Rep. Deutch has been an outstanding supporter of LGBT equality for years. As State Senator, he managed to get a bi-partisan vote in the Commerce Committee for a gay rights bill, an astounding accomplishment.”