I am a progressive Democrat. I am a progressive because I believe in social and economic equality. I see a future where the financial sector is more regulated, where corporations protect their workers and where we have fair trade.

I was an Occupy Wall Street protester during 2011, and I was there on the streets calling for the breaking up of the big banks and calling for the end of the massive college debt crisis.

I am a progressive that believes in expanding social security, expanding health care for all through either a public option or single-payer healthcare, free public college and university and a living wage.

I am a progressive who believes in paid family and medical leave and paid sick leave, paid parental leave, and paid vacation.

I am a progressive who believes in strengthening the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and additional funding for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and the Department of Labor (DOL).

I am a progressive who believes teaching social studies including Native American, Black, Latino, women’s, and LGBTQIA+ history, and comprehensive, evidence-based health and sex education that include LGBTQIA+ education.

I am a progressive who believes in the full support and enforcement of the Civil Rights Act (CRA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

I am a progressive who believes in full federal equality for LGBTQIA+ individuals and the passage of the Equality Act which will provide that equality.

I am a progressive who believes that government should be in the business of leveling the playing field so that everyone plays by the same rules and has an equal chance to get ahead in this world. I believe in a government that works for the protection of everyone and treats everyone equally.

This is what being progressive means to me.