Jonathan Lovitz

{{Short description|American political figure (born 1984)}}{{Distinguish|Jon Lovett}}{{For| the comedian and actor|Jon Lovitz}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jonathan Lovitz

| image = Headshot of Jonathan Lovitz from US Department of Commerce.jpg

| caption = Lovitz in 2023 at US Department of Commerce

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|7|19}}

| birth_place = Atlantic City, New Jersey

| death_date =

| death_place =

| monuments =

| other_names =

| alma_mater = University of Florida

| organization = Human Rights Campaign

| title = Senior Vice President, Campaigns & Communications

| predecessor =

| movement = LGBT rights movement

| spouse = Steven Sosna

| children =

| awards =

}}

Jonathan D. Lovitz (born July 19, 1984) is an American policy advocate, former actor, and non-profit executive.

Early life and education

Lovitz attended Stagedoor Manor, a performing arts summer camp.{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2018 |title=Jonathan Lovitz: On Finding His Voice and Using it to Promote LGBTQ Empowerment - Profiles in Pride |url=https://profilesinpride.com/jonathan-lovitz-on-finding-his-voice-and-using-it-to-promote-lgbtq-empowerment/ |access-date=May 1, 2025 |language=en-US}} He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Florida in 2006.{{Cite web |title=From captivating audiences to engaging communities {{!}} News {{!}} College of the Arts {{!}} University of Florida |url=https://arts.ufl.edu/in-the-loop/news/from-captivating-audiences-to-communities/ |access-date=May 7, 2018 |website=arts.ufl.edu}}

Performance career

Lovitz performed in the national touring productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar from 2006 to 2008.{{Cite news |last=Bernstein |first=Jesse |date=April 28, 2021 |title=Activist, Former Actor to Run for State House - Jewish Exponent |url=https://www.jewishexponent.com/activist-former-actor-to-run-for-state-house/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240522010212/http://www.jewishexponent.com/activist-former-actor-to-run-for-state-house/ |archive-date=May 22, 2024 |access-date=May 1, 2025 |work=Jewish Exponent |language=en-US}} After moving to New York City in 2008, Lovitz worked{{Cite web |last=BWW |first=Team |title=Jonathan Lovitz: Credits, Bio, News & More {{!}} Broadway World |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Jonathan-Lovitz/ |access-date=May 30, 2025 |website=www.broadwayworld.com |language=en}} in regional theaters and began taking small roles on television. In 2011 Lovitz joined Logo TV{{Cite news |title=Review: Does Logo (Finally) Have Another Reality Hit with "The Setup Squad"? |url=http://www.newnownext.com/review-does-logo-finally-have-another-reality-hit-with-the-setup-squad/04/2011/ |access-date=February 25, 2018 |work=LOGO News}} as an on-air interviewer for LGBT issues, as well as one of the hosts of Setup Squad.

Public service and advocacy career

Lovitz joined the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce in 2015 as Vice President of External Affairs and Director of nglccNY;{{Cite news |title=NGLCC selects Lovitz to lead external relations and NY subsidiary |url=https://affinityincmagazine.com/nglcc-selects-lovitz-to-lead-external-relations-and-ny-subsidiary/ |access-date=February 25, 2018 |work=Affinity Magazine – Innovative. Successful. Loyal}} he has served as Senior Vice President since 2016.{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2021 |title=Jonathan Lovitz Transitions to NGLCC Advisor - NGLCC |url=https://nglcc.org/news/jonathan-lovitz-transitions-to-nglcc-advisor/,%20https://nglcc.org/news/jonathan-lovitz-transitions-to-nglcc-advisor/ |access-date=July 16, 2024 |website=nglcc.org |language=en-US}} At the NGLCC, Lovitz oversaw media relations and public policy initiatives focused on the LGBT business community{{Cite web |title=Diversity Professional Winter 2024 |url=http://magazine.diversityprofessional.com/publication/frame.php?i=838320&p=&pn=&ver=html5&view=articleBrowser&article_id=4913106 |access-date=May 30, 2025 |website=magazine.diversityprofessional.com}}. As head of the NGLCC advocacy division, he led the efforts to write, lobby for, and implement policies for the inclusion of certified of LGBT- and other minority-owned businesses in the public sector, including in the State of New Jersey;{{Cite web |title=Office of the Governor {{!}} Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Enabling State Certification of Businesses as LGBTQ+-Owned |url=https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562022/20220503c.shtml |access-date=April 4, 2023 |website=www.nj.gov}} Los Angeles, CA;{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Brandon |date=July 26, 2019 |title=LA becomes largest city in US to formally include LGBTQ businesses in contract process worth billions |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/26/la-is-largest-city-to-formally-include-lgbtq-businesses-in-contracting.html |access-date=September 28, 2020 |publisher=CNBC |language=en}} Chicago, IL;{{Cite web |last=Byrne |first=John |date=January 14, 2020 |title=Lightfoot-backed study to look at possible set-asides for gay-, transgender-owned Chicago businesses advances |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-lori-lightfoot-gay-owned-business-city-contracts-study-20200114-6am6wy3os5b2bclxn367jpuwcm-story.html |access-date=September 28, 2020 |website=Chicago Tribune}} Miami, FL;{{Cite web |title=NGLCC {{!}} MIAMI BECOMES LARGEST CITY IN FLORIDA TO INCLUDE LGBT BUSINESSES CERTIFIED BY NGLCC {{!}} nglcc.org |url=https://www.nglcc.org/press-release/miami-becomes-largest-city-florida-include-lgbt-businesses-certified-nglcc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930033238/https://www.nglcc.org/press-release/miami-becomes-largest-city-florida-include-lgbt-businesses-certified-nglcc |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |access-date=September 28, 2020 |website=www.nglcc.org}} Orlando, FL;{{Cite web |title=NGLCC {{!}} Orlando to Become First City in Florida to Include LGBT Businesses Certified by NGLCC {{!}} nglcc.org |url=https://www.nglcc.org/press-release/orlando-inclusion |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417193234/https://www.nglcc.org/press-release/orlando-inclusion |archive-date=April 17, 2019 |access-date=April 17, 2019 |website=www.nglcc.org}} Nashville, TN; Baltimore, MD;{{Cite web |last=Cohn |first=Meredith |date=November 21, 2018 |title=Baltimore mayor issues order recognizing LGBTQ-owned businesses |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-lgbtq-business-order-20181120-story.html |access-date=April 17, 2019 |website=The Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}} Seattle, WA;{{Cite web |date=July 7, 2016 |title=LGBT-owned businesses to get boost from King County |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/king-county-aims-to-expand-contracts-for-lgbt-businesses/ |access-date=April 17, 2019 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}} and Jersey City, NJ.{{Cite web |title=Mayors of 2 NJ cities sign orders to include veterans, disabled and LGBT businesses |url=http://newjersey.news12.com/story/39354220/mayors-of-2-nj-cities-sign-orders-to-include-veterans-disabled-and-lgbt-businesses |access-date=April 17, 2019 |website=newjersey.news12.com |language=en}}

In 2022, Lovitz ran for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 182nd district{{Cite web |date=May 11, 2022 |title=PGN Endorsement for 182nd House District: Jonathan Lovitz |url=https://epgn.com/2022/05/11/pgn-endorsement-for-182nd-house-district-jonathan-lovitz/ |access-date=May 30, 2025 |website=Philadelphia Gay News |language=en-US}}, representing Center City Philadelphia.{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2021 |title=Philly LGBTQ activist Lovitz announces candidacy for Rep. Brian Sims' Pa. House seat |url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/philly-lgbtq-activist-lovitz-announces-candidacy-for-rep-brian-sims-pa-house-seat/ |access-date=April 20, 2021 |website=Pennsylvania Capital-Star |language=en-US}}

In February 2023, President Joe Biden appointed Lovitz{{Cite web |title=Appointee - Jonathan Lovitz - Biden's Basement |url=https://www.insidebidensbasement.org/appointees/jonathan-lovitz |access-date=May 30, 2025 |website=Inside Biden's Basement}} as Director of Public Affairs & Senior Advisor at the US Economic Development Administration within the US Department of Commerce.{{Cite web |last=Kane |first=Christopher |date=February 14, 2023 |title=Former NGLCC staffer joins Commerce Department |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2023/02/14/former-nglcc-staffer-joins-commerce-department/ |access-date=February 14, 2023 |website=Washington Blade |language=en-US}} He led communications and public policy strategy to implement the agenda of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Assistant Secretary Alejandra Y. Castillo.{{Cite web |title=EDA Leadership |url=https://www.eda.gov/about/leadership |access-date=February 14, 2023 |website=U.S. Economic Development Administration |language=en}}

In 2025, Lovitz joined the Human Rights Campaign as Senior Vice President of Campaigns and Communications{{Cite web |date=June 2, 2025 |title=HRC Adds Jonathan Lovitz and Amy J. Peña to Senior Leadership Team |url=https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/hrc-adds-jonathan-lovitz-and-amy-j-pe%C3%B1a-to-senior-leadership-team |access-date=June 3, 2025 |website=HRC |language=en-US}}.

Personal life

Lovitz lives in Washington, DC with his husband, CBS News meteorologist{{Cite web |date=March 14, 2022 |title=Steve Sosna - CBS Baltimore |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/personality/steve-sosna/ |access-date=May 30, 2025 |publisher=CBS News |language=en-US}} Steven Sosna. The two were married in New York City in October 2017 in a ceremony officiated by Jim Obergefell, Supreme Court marriage equality plaintiff in the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case.{{Cite news |date=October 9, 2017 |title=Jonathan Lovitz, Steve Sosna |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/09/fashion/weddings/jonathan-lovitz-steve-sosna.html |access-date=February 25, 2018 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}

Out Magazine named Lovitz to the 2023 OUT 100 List{{Cite web |title=The 2023 Out100: Jonathan Lovitz |url=https://www.out.com/out100/educators/jonathan-lovitz |access-date=October 17, 2023 |website=out.com |language=en}} of "artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people."

Select filmography

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Television

! Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" style="width:20em;" | Notes

2008

|CSI: NY

|Paralegal

|(TV Series), 1 episode: "Page Turner"

rowspan="3"|2011

|16th & 8th

|Sam

|(TV Series), 1 episode

Setup Squad

|Jonny

|(TV Series), 10 episodes

1 Girl 5 Gays

|Self

|(TV Series), 1 episode: "Episode #2.29"

2012

|Broadway.TV{{Citation |title=Getting Kinky with the creatives/cast of KINKY BOOTS on Broadway |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyS5QhxKr5o |access-date=August 15, 2023 |language=en}}

|Host

|(Web Series) 14 episodes

|Red Carpet Network

|Host

|(Web Series) 11 episodes