Alex Mohajer named one of the 50 most influential LGBTQ+ voices in the nation

Queerty, one of the nation’s leading LGBTQ+ publications, announced on Tuesday that California State Senate candidate Alex Mohajer has been named one of this year’s #Pride50, honoring the 50 most influential and inspiring LGBTQ+ voices in the nation.

Mohajer, 38, is running a grassroots campaign to be Orange County, California’s first openly LGBTQ+ legislator and the first openly gay Iranian man elected anywhere in the world.

The 2023 Queerty Pride50 honors “50 incredible LGBTQ+ people who have made an impact and inspired us over the last year,” said Queerty Editor-in-Chief Graham Gremore. “From actors to activists, politicians to drag queens, this year’s Pride50 honorees represent a wide range of backgrounds and identities, but they all have one thing in common: not only have they achieved professional breakthroughs, but they make us proud!”

Mohajer is President of the California-based Stonewall Democrats, which was founded in 1975 and is one of the oldest LGBTQ+ political advocacy organizations in the US. On March 15th, he announced his campaign for California State Senate in District 37, the seat currently held by Senator Dave Min, who is running for Congress. The seat represents Irvine, Costa Mesa, Orange, Fullerton, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Tustin, and Aliso Viejo.

Orange County has recently digressed on LGBTQ+ issues, with the Orange County Board of Supervisors joining the Huntington Beach City Council to ban the Pride flag on government property.

“I am honored to be selected as one of this year’s #Pride50,” said Mohajer in a statement. “Fighting for the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people, women, and the people of Iran is at the core of why I’m running. Especially as these communities are under unprecedented assault, now is the time to send a new generation of intersectional, diverse, and young leaders into elected office.”

Mohajer has centered working-class families, climate change, and health care in his campaign, and is seeking to represent Southern California’s large Iranian and AAPI diaspora in the legislature, which currently has no Iranians representatives.

On June 12th, Mohajer and the other #Pride50 honorees were celebrated at a gala and reception in New York City. Other honorees include Congress members Robert Garcia and Ritchie Torres, actors Colman Domingo and Nathan Lane, and filmmaker Pedro Almodovar.

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Alex Mohajer is a candidate for California State Senate in the 37th Senate District. His campaign website is www.alexforca.com or visit him on social media @alexmohajer. For media inquiries, please contact [email protected].