Is Laphonza Butler Jewish or Christian? Delve into the religious identity of the newly appointed senator from California and her family details.
Laphonza Butler is the newly appointed senator from California, who took the seat of the late Dianne Feinstein in October 2023.
She is the first openly LGBTQ African American to serve in the Senate, and a former labor leader and president of EMILY’s List.
But what is her religious affiliation? Is she Jewish or Christian? Here is what we know about her faith and family background.
Is Laphonza Butler Jewish Or Christian? Religion Explored
According to Wikipedia, Butler was born in Magnolia, Mississippi, the youngest of three children. Her father died of heart disease when she was 16 years old.
She graduated as a salutatorian from South Pike High School in 1997. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Jackson State University in 2001.
There is no mention of her religion or church attendance in her biography, nor in any of the articles or interviews that we could find online.
However, Jackson State University is a historically black public university that was founded by the American Baptist Home Mission Society in 1877.
It is possible that Butler was exposed to Christianity during her college years, but we cannot confirm this.
Butler has not publicly spoken about her religious views or beliefs, nor has she endorsed any faith-based organizations or causes.
She has been vocal about her support for LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, racial justice, and labor rights. She has also been a close ally of Vice President Kamala Harris, who is of Hindu and Christian background.
Butler’s views on Israel and other Jewish issues are also largely unknown, even to Governor Gavin Newsom who appointed her to the Senate.
According to Jewish Insider, Middle East policy did not come up in her vetting process, but Newsom expects that she will be an ally to the pro-Israel community.
Jewish groups in California have expressed their interest in engaging with Butler and learning about her perspectives on issues that concern them.
Laphonza Butler Family: Parents & Siblings
Butler’s father died when she was young, and we do not have any information about his name or occupation.
Her mother’s name is also unknown, but she raised Butler and her two siblings as a single parent.
Butler has not revealed much about her family life or childhood, except that she grew up in a small town in Mississippi.
Butler is married to Neneki Lee, the director of labor union SEIU’s Public Services Division. They have one child together, a son named Roman. Butler came out as a lesbian in 2016 when she was already president of SEIU Local 2015.
She said that she was inspired by the courage of her union members who shared their stories of being LGBTQ and undocumented immigrants.
Butler is also close to her two siblings, who are both involved in politics and activism.
Her brother, LaTosha Brown, is the co-founder of Black Voters Matter, a grassroots organization that mobilizes African American voters and advocates for social justice.
Her sister, LaKeisha Butler, is the executive director of the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission, which oversees the city’s police and fire departments.
