The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society said Tuesday that its is endorsing Joe Biden for president.
This is the first time the union has backed a presidential candidate in its 60-year history. The decision to back the former vice president came after unanimous approval from the union’s 34-member executive board and overwhelming support in a poll amongst members.
“It has become increasingly clear in this time of national crisis that the Union must take strong action to protect and advance the interests of our Members,” said Evan Yionoulis, president of SDC. “Today’s endorsement is an important step in our political engagement toward that end.”
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees announced the union’s support for Biden in May, citing Biden’s record of “fighting for workers’ rights and working families.”
“We are living in extraordinary, destabilizing times. As we try to position ourselves for an uncertain future, it is clear that the candidate whose platform aligns most directly with our Union’s agenda and provides the greatest ability to advocate for a just and equitable field is Joe Biden,” said Lisa Portes, co-chair of the SDC Political Engagement Committee.
SDC’s Political Engagement Committee was formed in November 2016 by then-President Pam MacKinnon. Recently the committee, has been working to advocate for COBRA subsidies and urge senators to vote for the HEROES Act to extend pandemic unemployment assistance.
