My name is Richard, and I'm running the New York Marathon on the HRCF Athletes for Equality Team. I work as a physician in Los Angeles and one of my greatest passions is equitable care for all my patients, regardless of their background. Through my work, I'm frequently reminded of the ways that small injustices in our daily lives can slowly accumulate to create large hurdles for people. While it might seem like small inconveniences for some, they can be a daily grinding challenge for others. Whether it's access to affordable healthcare, working in a nondiscriminatory environment, or simply the ability to navigate safely in our neighborhood, we should all be fighting for a world where everyone has access to these things.

This October I'm going to have the very special honor of marrying my fiance, who I love more than anything. As we've been planning this wedding, I'm struck by the tremendous privilege that we have as a heterosexual couple - to proceed with getting married without any barriers to having this union recognized and respected. I want to live in a world without barriers, where anyone can choose to love and identify however they want. That's why I'm choosing to run for HRCF. I want to fight for a fair and equitable world for all people, and so should you.