During her time in office, Tubbs Jones voted against banning gay adoptions in DC, strongly favored same-sex domestic partnership benefits, fought for increased funding for AIDS treatment & prevention and supported more funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes.

In 2007, she voted for the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, legislation which would prohibit job discrimination based upon sexual orientation. In 2006 she voted against constitutionally defining marriage exclusively between a man and a woman. She also voted in 2004 against banning gay marriage and in 1999 voted against banning gay adoptions.

Tubbs Jones also championed a number of other progressive issues in the areas of education, environment, healthcare, gun control, and foreign policy. At the time of her death, she sat as Chair of the Committee on Standards, was a member of the Ways and Means Committee, and subcommittees on Health, Oversight and Social Security.

Leslye Huff, Esq. of Cleveland, OH and a member of NBJC Board of Directors had this to say about Congresswoman Tubbs:

Our state, our city, the U.S. Congress and the nation has lost a clarion voice for the cause of justice and equality. She will be missed by us all. We celebrate her contributions and send our heartfelt condolences to her family.

Congresswoman Tubbs Jones was a leader like none other. She spent the last 10 years of her life in congress serving the state of Ohio and the nation with decisiveness, fairness, and integrity. She will be deeply missed by all who loved and admired her.

The National Black Justice Coalition, www.nbjc.org , is a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Our mission is to end racism and homophobia.

As America's only nationwide Black gay civil rights organization, we are the authoritative source on LGBT issues as they affect Black communities.