Rick Zbur

Rick Chavez Zbur (born March 2, 1957 in New Mexico) is an American attorney, LGBT activist, and former United States House of Representatives candidate.[1] He is a well-known LGBT civil rights advocate and is active in the environmental movement. Zbur is also notable as the first openly gay non-incumbent U.S. congressional primary candidate to win an election.[2]

Rick Zbur
Born (1957-03-02) March 2, 1957
New Mexico, United States
NationalityAmerican
OccupationAttorney and Civil Rights activist
OrganizationEquality California
Known forLGBT civil rights, HIV/AIDS activism, environmental movement

Zbur practiced environmental law for about three decades before retiring in 2014.[3] In 1996, Zbur ran for the United States House of Representatives in California's 38th congressional district.[4] Since 2014, Zbur has led Equality California, the largest LGBT civil rights organization in California.[5] Zbur has also been a chair of the California League of Conservation Voters board of directors from 2011 to 2017.[6]

In April 2020, Zbur announced that he would be running for Los Angeles City Attorney.[7]

Congressional campaign
Further information: 1996 United States House of Representatives elections and 1996 United States House of Representatives elections in California

In 1996, Zbur ran for the United States House of Representatives in California's 38th congressional district against Republican incumbent Steve Horn. He became the first openly gay non-incumbent congressional primary candidate to win an election when he won the Democratic primary election on March 26, 1996.[2]

During his congressional campaign, Zbur's key legislative priorities included environmental protection, Social Security, and Medicare.

Activism

LGBT rights

Zbur identifies as gay and has been a vocal leader in the LGBT civil rights movement for nearly four decades. In 2014, Zbur became the executive director of Equality California, the largest LGBT civil rights organization in California.[5]

HIV/AIDS

In the early 1980s, Zbur campaigned to fight against HIV/AIDS. He also helped found the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation. In 1992, together with the LGBT community in Los Angeles, Zbur organized fundraisers for Bill Clinton, then a governor, and Barbara Boxer, then a congresswoman) who was running for the U.S. Senate.[8]

Environmental movement

As an environmental lawyer, Zbur has been active in the environmental movement in California. He served as president of the California League of Conservation Voters from 2011 to 2017.[9]

Personal life

Zbur grew up on a farm in the Rio Grande Valley of rural New Mexico with his mother, Erlinda Chavez Zbur. He currently lives in Los Angeles.[5]

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References
  1. California's 38th Congressional District. Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  2. "Statement of the Vote, March 26, 1996: United States Representative in Congress by District" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  3. "Richard (Rick) S. Zbur". www.lw.com. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  4. Shuit, Douglas P. (1996-10-25). "Democrats Use All Their Weapons to Try to Unseat Horn". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  5. "Rick Zbur takes helm of Equality California". The Desert Sun. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  6. "Equality California's Rick Zbur honored as an environmentalist". Los Angeles Blade: LGBT News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. 2018-11-28. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  7. Laird, Cynthia. (2020-04-07). "EQCA's Zbur to run for LA city attorney". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  8. "Rick Zbur to Take Helm as EQCA Executive Director". Outword Magazine. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  9. "Rick Zbur". California League of Conservation Voters. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
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