Noah Arbit, Running for Michigan State House of Representatives, District 20
2024 Election Pride Source Candidate Survey Response
The 2024 Pride Source Media Voters Guide Candidate Survey sought the responses from Michigan candidates running for office in the Nov. 5 election. We asked candidates to respond to key issues impacting the Michigan LGBTQ+ community and about their visions for the future. Visit vote411.org to learn more about the candidates and issues on your ballot.
Candidate: Noah Arbit
Running for Michigan State House of Representatives, District 20
Incumbent? Yes
Campaign Contact Info
Facebook: noaharbit
Twitter/X: noaharbit
Instagram: repnoaharbit
Candidate background
Education:
BA, Comparative Politics and Jewish Studies, Wayne State University (2018)
What is your affiliation with the LGBTQ+ community?
I am gay.
Tell us about your top priorities and how you plan to achieve those goals.
In my second term, I hope to continue building out an agenda focused on taking on hate and extremism, protecting democracy, safeguarding our environment, lakes, and water, and expanding access to mental health care for kids, seniors, and everyone in-between. The legislation I sponsor and the committees I serve on, the workgroups I participate in - will all reflect my commitment to these core goals and themes, just as they have in my first term.
Why are you the best candidate for this position?
I am a lifelong West Bloomfield resident, experienced public servant, advocate, and community leader. I got my political start working for Hillary's 2016 campaign as a field staffer, organizing in the two communities that comprise the district I now represent. I then worked for Governor Gretchen Whitmer's campaign and as a staffer for the Michigan House Dems Caucus. In 2019, I founded and currently serve as chair of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus, in order to empower and mobilize my community, Jewish Michiganders, to take collective political action on behalf of the candidates, causes, and issues we believe in. I also served as director of communications for the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, where I helped inaugurate a novel law enforcement partnership between the Fair Michigan Justice Project and the Prosecutor's Office - to better prosecute hate crimes against LGBTQ+ Michiganders. In my first term, I’ve helped bring my diverse, unique experiences as an organizer, a public servant, as a young person, and as a member of the LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities to advocate for and implement policies, which I believe will help empower my constituents and all Michiganders to go as far as their talents and ambitions will take them. From expanding access to mental health care for kids, seniors, and everyone in-between, to taking on rising hate crimes, to protecting inland lakes - I have led on issues near and dear to my community. I am running for re-election to continue these fights and expand the areas of public policy that I can give voice to as an advocate in the State House.
How do you plan to represent and advocate for the needs of LGBTQ+ community members?
I have always been a full-throated advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and as state representative, a good portion of my agenda has comprised policy items important to the LGBTQ+ community, including hate crime reform, repealing the unconstitutional sodomy ban, and mental health. I will continue to use my voice and my experiences to advocate for my LGBTQ+ constituents in West Bloomfield, Commerce, and the Lakes — and LGBTQ+ people across Michigan.
State your position on transgender rights and how your office would work to protect this vulnerable population — particularly Black trans women, who are overrepresented in stats related to violence, the judicial system, homelessness, substance abuse and other serious issues.
I support the right of trans Michiganders to be who they are with the full rights of all other Michiganders, and without fear for their safety. I have been working relentlessly, in particular, to strengthen and reform Michigan’s hate crime law, which will have the benefit of increasing protections and accountability for crimes committed against transgender Michiganders, including trans women of color.
Homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth and young adults is a persistent issue in Michigan. How would your office make a positive impact for young LGBTQ+ people facing housing insecurity?
Housing in the State of Michigan is indeed at a crisis point. Simply throwing more money at the problem is ultimately not going to fix it. What we need is structural reform at the municipal level, primarily, on zoning and other planning ordinances. The reluctance to build and develop in Michigan is driven by onerous planning requirements, red tape, and the sheer expense for developers of wading through these bureaucratic hurdles. While I support local control, this is a problem the Legislature can no longer avoid, and I am eager to work with all stakeholders to take a look at what has worked elsewhere and how we can start building more new housing in Michigan - which will help support the self-sufficiency of countless Michiganders, including LGBTQ+ youth.
State your position on abortion and other issues related to women’s reproductive health.
I am staunchly pro-choice. I proudly support a woman’s right to choose, and proudly voted to repeal the 1931 abortion ban and to pass the Michigan Reproductive Health Act. I will continue to be a voice for increased access to all forms of sexual and reproductive health care in Michigan. Family planning and sexual health are critical human rights, and critical for our economic self-determination as well.
How do you feel about drag queens?
I don’t consider drag queens to be a political issue relevant to my candidacy.
On Marriage Equality: After the overturning of Roe v Wade, many question if the U.S. Supreme Court will revisit their 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision. Would you support any legislation that undermines the rights of same-sex couples to marry? (Yes or No — feel free to elaborate)
Hell no. I’d like to get married one day and I’ll be damned if we let the Supreme Court steal that right away from me - and millions of other LGBTQ+ people.
On K-12 School Curriculum: States such as Florida have passed legislation preventing teachers, counselors and coaches from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity with their students, dubbed "Don't Say Gay" bills. Other states have passed legislation requiring LGBTQ+ inclusion in K-12 curricula, often determined by the local school district to determine how to effectively integrate learning materials throughout.
Michigan currently has neither a ban nor a requirement. Would you support legislation requiring Michigan schools to teach about LGBTQ+ people and identities in history and social sciences? (Yes or No — feel free to elaborate)
I understand where the idea is coming from, and agree with the principle, but ultimately, I think a mandate is likely to be politically inflammatory and may do more harm than good. It also may not even be necessary. We benefit from living at a time in which exposure to LGBTQ+ people and diverse queer communities is widespread in popular culture. Encouraging teachers to rely on some of these cultural media to educate pupils on diverse communities, including LGBTQ+ communities is important.
How would your office help people struggling financially?
I have and will continue to work assiduously to assist constituents across West Bloomfield, Commerce, and the Lakes with insurance, unemployment, housing, health, and education access issues. Constituent services and casework are the most important job of a state legislator.
Visit vote411.org and michiganvoting.org to learn about the candidates and issues on your ballot and to make a voting plan.