As the chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, out U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan’s commitment to advancing the rights of LGBTQ+ people is more than just legislative — it’s personal.
Pocan, who represents Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District, has been serving in Congress since 2013. His political journey spans over three decades across local, state, and federal levels. Before his tenure in Congress, Pocan was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1999 to 2013. But it’s his role in the current political climate, where Republicans, including the new GOP Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, don’t even acknowledge that LGBTQ+ people have a right to dignity, especially as an openly gay man in Congress, that has increased the significance of his advocacy.
At the heart of Pocan’s mission is his determination to advance LGBTQ+ rights federally despite the partisan divide, he tells The Advocate, especially in an era when the Republican Party’s alignment with former President Donald Trump poses significant challenges to LGBTQ+ rights.
“It is a little bit difficult given that the Republican Party has become a bit of a cult of personality around Donald Trump,” Pocan says.
The congressman pointed out the direct impact of this political allegiance on legislative actions, noting a surge in anti-trans legislation and attempts to strip away LGBTQ+ symbols and rights. In 2024, anti-trans bills continue to be introduced across the country. This includes legislation that seeks to block trans people from receiving medical care, education, legal recognition, and the right to exist publicly. In 2024, the ACLU has been tracking over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills. At the federal level, numerous anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced, and Republicans have added language to riders that stripped funds from LGBTQ-inclusive projects.
Courtesy Congressman Mark Pocan via facebook
Pocan elaborated on the emergence of anti-trans legislation and other measures aimed at marginalizing LGBTQ+ people, including prohibitions on Pride flags outside government buildings and baseless claims about funding for drag shows in Ecuador.
“On appropriations where I serve, we watched the slippery slope go from anti-trans [bills] to, ‘Oh by the way, no Pride flags outside the Department of Agriculture because God forbid what would happen,” he explains, illustrating the broad reach of discriminatory policies.
Pocan’s observations revealed a disconnect between some Republicans’ private understanding and their public votes, influenced by Trump’s dominion over the party’s direction, he says. “The craziness started with the imaginary idea of a drag show somewhere getting taxpayer money, and then it really culminated with some of the worst tactics because generally, we leave each other’s earmarks alone.”
The Democratic lawmaker explicitly pointed out attempts by Maryland GOP Rep. Andy Harris to target appropriations meant for LGBTQ+ centers.
Last fall, during the appropriations process, Harris was one of several Republicans who objected to funding projects from other members of Congress if funds went to LGBTQ+ causes.
“Andy Harris decided to go after three earmarks out of 2,500 in the Transportation Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill because they went to LGBTQ centers,” Pocan says.
“What I found, though, is that when I would debate those in committee, I even watched the chair of the committee, Kay Granger, nod her head as I said, ‘It’s not right to do this,’ Pocan says. “She’s nodding her head in agreement, and we know other people on that side understand that as well, yet their votes don’t match their actions, and that’s because the great orange Jesus has spoken, and they are going to follow.”
Yet, he remains hopeful, acknowledging Republicans who privately disagree with their party’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues. Pocan suggests a potential for future shifts in policy and perspective, attributing possible change to the diversity and resilience of the out members of Congress and their capacity to foster understanding and collaboration.
Courtesy Congressman Mark Pocan via facebook
He hopes that at some point soon, the temperature of political conversation will be turned down. “I think all that progress is there, and once we can be normal again—and by normal, I mean post-Trump—I think that’s where the progress happens,” he says.
A top priority for Pocan is seeing the first transgender member of Congress elected.
He expressed enthusiastic support for Delaware state Sen. Sarah McBride, who is on the cusp of making history as the first transgender member of Congress if elected in November. He says he saw McBride’s potential election as a pivotal moment, not just for representation but for advancing understanding and acceptance.
Pocan says that it’s imperative to elect a trans member of Congress. “I’m so excited that she’s running for Congress because just having her as a presence is going to be really, really important, not just only in Congress, but nationally,” Pocan says, adding, “I’ve been a fan of hers for a long time.” He believes that McBride, along with other visible transgender figures, can significantly impact public perception and contribute to a broader acceptance of transgender people.
Drawing a parallel between the historical demonization of the gay community and the current challenges faced by transgender individuals, Pocan says, “When people got to know someone [who was gay or lesbian], and it was their nephew or their coworker, suddenly it became different because a lot of people need to have that kind of firsthand experience.”
Because the fear of others and opposition to those one knows diminishes after being exposed to people from different walks of life,
Pocan’s critique of the far right extends beyond the halls of Congress to the broader political landscape, where extremists, like Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and hate influencer Chaya Racihik, who runs Libs of TikTok, continue to leverage anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric for political gain.
However, he also notes a shift in public opinion, where attacks on the LGBTQ+ community increasingly fail to resonate with the American populace. “It seems to me just from even the elections in November when Moms for Liberty candidates were defeated that the American people are not buying this attack,” Pocan observes.
Speaking on his relationships with Republican colleagues, Pocan highlighted how personal interactions can lead to unexpected friendships and mutual understanding, transcending political and ideological barriers. “I think that for the people who really care and who are here for the long term—and I don’t consider Marjorie Taylor Greene real or long-term—if they get to know me and I get to know them, we actually become fundamentally friends at that point,” Pocan notes.
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call
One particularly poignant anecdote Pocan shared involves a Republican colleague who, upon learning about Pocan’s husband, showed a fleeting moment of surprise before continuing their conversation as usual.
Pocan says that years ago, when Republicans had one of many votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act, he had made plans with his husband, but that because of votes, it wasn’t clear when lawmakers could leave.
“I was wondering when we would get home, and he went and found me on the other side of the floor to let me know so I could tell my husband when I’d be home—what the inside info was when we were finishing,” Pocan says.
Though it was only a small interaction, it still signaled something for Pocan.
“It may seem really, really small, but you just had someone who hasn’t been exposed to a lot of queer folks come out to make sure that my husband and I are going to be happier that weekend,” Pocan reflects. Such moments, he believes, chip away at preconceived notions and contribute to a more inclusive and understanding legislative environment.
Looking ahead to the 2024 election, Pocan sees both challenges and opportunities. The stakes are high, and depending on the election’s outcome, it could significantly impact LGBTQ+ rights. “I think our biggest challenge is just making people realize how important the November election is,” he says,
Pocan believes that a Trump defeat in the upcoming election could signal a pivotal shift in the Republican party and create new opportunities for advancing LGBTQ+ rights.
“I truly believe if Trump loses, he’s out of the picture nationally, and we can turn the page,” Pocan says.
