FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: press@streetforus.com

Philadelphia, PA — In a show of broad and diverse support from Philadelphia’s LGBTQ community, 25 community leaders—including activists, elders, attorneys, and organizational heads—have announced their personal endorsement of State Senator Sharif Street’s campaign for Congress. The announcement marks the first major public endorsement from LGBTQ leaders in the race—and the strongest show of queer community support for any candidate to date, signaling Street’s deep and longstanding ties across Philadelphia’s LGBTQ communities.

Each of the individuals listed is endorsing Senator Street in a personal capacity. Their affiliations are included for identification purposes only and do not imply institutional endorsements.

Street, a dues-paying member of Liberty City LGBTQ Democrats for over 25 years, has earned a reputation as one of the most consistent and vocal allies of the LGBTQ community in Pennsylvania politics. From championing statewide nondiscrimination protections and funding LGBTQ community organizations to serving meals at the John C. Anderson LGBT-friendly senior apartments, Street has paired policy leadership with personal engagement.

“No other candidate in this race has the record of fighting for our community that Sharif does,” said LGBTQ pioneer and Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal. “It’s likely he has more support from our community than all the other candidates combined. From supporting equal protection legislation to showing up for LGBT elders, he’s been there—consistently and unapologetically.”

Longtime trans activist Elizabeth Coffey Williams echoed that sentiment, noting Street’s inclusive and compassionate leadership. “Sharif has never had to be educated on why trans lives matter—he’s understood it from the start,” she said. “He’s proven it not just with words, but with action.”

Asa Khalif, a community organizer known for his activism around police accountability, housing justice, and LGBTQ liberation, praised Street’s grounded approach to leadership. “Sharif is not just a politician—he’s a neighborhood brother who’s been in the streets with us,” Khalif said. “He understands the systems that are broken because he’s fought to change them from the inside and outside. That kind of leadership is rare—and it’s exactly what we need in Congress.”

Sappho Fulton, executive director of Womxn Beyond Borders, emphasized Street’s attentiveness to the voices of queer womxn of color. “Sharif listens, supports, and elevates us in a way that feels rare in politics,” she said. “He’s earned the trust of our community through years of consistent advocacy.”

Street said he was “humbled and honored” by the endorsement. “I’ve stood with LGBTQ communities my entire career—not because it was politically easy, but because it was the right thing to do,” he said. “These leaders represent the heart and soul of queer Philadelphia, and I’m proud to have their support in this campaign.”

The full list of endorsers includes:

• David Acosta – Writer and Founder of GALAEI
• Wade Albert – Attorney
• Deja Alvarez – Trans Activist
• Chris Bartlett – Former Executive Director, William Way Center
• Jacen Bowman – President, Philadelphia Black Pride
• John Brady – President, Philadelphia Young Democrats
• Ryan Bunch – Author, Academic, and President of the International Wizard of Oz Club
• Tariem Burroughs – Former Co-Chair, Liberty City LGBTQ Democrats
• Matteo Busterna – Former President, University of Pennsylvania Democrats
• Elizabeth Coffey Williams – Trans Activist
• Franny DiCicco – LGBTQ Community Elder and Mayor of Folcroft
• David Fair – LGBTQ Community Elder and Activist
• Sappho Fulton – Executive Director, Womxn Beyond Borders
• Eric Gutshall – Partner, Pinnacle Collective; Former Biden-Harris Appointee at the U.S. Department of Education; Former Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Cabinet Member
• Gary Hines – Former Co-Chair, Liberty City LGBTQ Democrats; Former Member, William Way Community Center Board of Directors
• Asa Khalif – Community Activist
• Gregg Kravitz – Co-Chair, Liberty City LGBTQ Democrats
• Jason Landau Goodman – Community Advocate
• Kevin Levy, Esq. – Former President, Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association
• Jerry Macdonald – Child and Youth Advocate
• Darius McClean – Acting Executive Director, William Way Community Center
• Alex Olson – Former Co-Chair, Liberty City LGBTQ Democrats
• Mark Segal – LGBTQ Pioneer and Publisher, Philadelphia Gay News
• Dave Weinstein – Democratic Committee Person
• Heshie Zinman – Co-Founder, LGBT Elder Initiative

Street’s campaign, launched earlier this month, has already drawn support from key labor unions, Democratic ward leaders, and grassroots activists citywide. The endorsement from LGBTQ leaders adds momentum as the campaign continues to build a multiracial, intergenerational coalition ahead of the 2026 Democratic primary.

“I’ve always believed that government should be a tool for inclusion, justice, and dignity,” said Street. “That belief has guided my work—and it will guide me in Congress.”