Issue Position: Social Justice

Issue Position

After spending more than a decade as House Majority Leader and today as the Chair of the Environment & Transportation Committee, Kumar has been on the front lines of the fight for Social Justice in Maryland. His progressive legislation made Maryland a leader in the fight for justice, and paved way for other states to enact similar reforms.

Choice: As the former Treasurer of Maryland NARAL, Kumar has spent his career defending reproductive freedom and choices. He has will stand up to efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and right-wing attempts to deny women access to health care and reproductive choices. Specifically, this year Barve worked to support Planned Parenthood in Maryland from the threat of Federal defunding under the Trump Administration.

Standing Up For What's Right: Kumar was a chief sponsor of Maryland's DREAM Act, which gives the children of undocumented immigrants the opportunity to attend the state's community colleges and state universities as well as being an early and vocal opponent against "English language only" legislation proposed by several Maryland counties.

Equality for All: Over the past two decades Kumar has fought for LGBTQ+ rights. He was the chief sponsor of Maryland's marriage equality bill, leading the way to becoming one of the first states in the nation to pass landmark marriage equality legislation. In addition, Kumar worked to outlaw discrimination of LGBTQ+ individuals in employment and accommodations.

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