FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Media Contact:
Jonathan Ng
Communications Director
jonathan@edmarkey.org

BOSTON, Mass. – Advocates for Trans Equality, one of the nation’s leading transgender rights organizations, today endorsed Senator Ed Markey for re-election, citing his decades-long record of standing with transgender and LGBTQ+ people and his leadership as the author of the Transgender Bill of Rights.

“This is a deeply consequential race for transgender people in Massachusetts and across the country. We are confronting a wave of anti-trans legislation, rhetoric, misinformation, and violence, with trans children bearing the brunt of it – and this race needs a proven defender of trans rights,” said Andrea Hong Marra, Chief Executive Officer of Advocates for Trans Equality. “Ed Markey will never throw trans kids under the bus. He is the Senate’s leading voice for transgender rights, he authored the Transgender Bill of Rights, and he works in partnership with the trans community to ensure his legislation reflects the realities facing our community that this moment demands. Senator Markey understands that trans people deserve the opportunity to participate and succeed in American life, and we are proud to endorse him.”

“I am deeply honored to earn the endorsement of Advocates for Trans Equality. When the rights and well-being of vulnerable communities are threatened, I take seriously my responsibility in Congress to fight for their rights,” said Senator Ed Markey. “Trans rights are human rights. Trans lives are not political talking points. I will always stand with trans people, I will never throw trans kids under the bus to score political points, and I will keep fighting alongside the trans community until equality is not just promised, but guaranteed.”

Advocates for Trans Equality’s support of Senator Markey builds on the previous endorsements from other civil rights groups, including the Human Rights Campaign and Christopher Street Project.

Senator Markey's Record on LGBTQ+ Rights in the 119th Congress:

• Transgender Bill of Rights: In February 2026, Senator Markey and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal reintroduced the Transgender Bill of Rights, a landmark resolution that reaffirms the federal government's duty to protect and codify the rights of transgender and nonbinary people under the law and ensure their access to medical care, shelter, safety, and economic security.
• Transgender Health Care Access Act: In November 2025, during Transgender Awareness Week, Senator Markey introduced the Transgender Health Care Access Act with Congresswoman Becca Balint to protect access to competent, compassionate, and affirming health care for transgender Americans – including expanding provider training in gender-affirming care and increasing capacity at community health centers.
• Fighting Trump's Assault on Transgender Health Care: In February 2026, Senators Markey and Wyden led a group of Senate Democrats calling on the Trump administration to withdraw two proposed regulations that would condition hospital participation in Medicare and Medicaid on not providing gender-affirming care for minors and ban the use of federal Medicaid and CHIP funds for such care.
• GLOBE Act: In June 2025, Senator Markey and Rep. Dina Titus introduced the Greater Leadership Overseas for the Benefit of Equality (GLOBE) Act to establish the United States as a global leader in LGBTQ+ rights protection – including creating a permanent Special Envoy for LGBTQ+ human rights at the State Department, authorizing sanctions against individuals who commit anti-LGBTQ+ human rights violations abroad, and establishing LGBTQ+ identities as a protected social group for asylum claims.