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Human Rights Campaign Endorses Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York

11/12/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
When Representative Kirsten Gillibrand was appointed to the Senate to fill the seat recently vacated by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, the Senate gained an incredibly strong voice regarding LGBT issues. The Human Rights Campaign has endorsed Senator Gillibrand regarding the next election. As an appointed Senator, Gillibrand must run for office in 2010. In endorsing Gillibrand, HRC President Joe Solmonese stated “Senator Gillibrand has emerged as one of the strongest advocates in the Senate for full equality for the LGBT community. From her personal lobbying of the New York legislature in support of marriage rights to helping garner support for a Senate hearing on repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ Gillibrand has time and again stood for fairness for all.”

Senator Gillibrand stated, in accepting the endorsement, “I am very honored to once again have the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign. Equality, civil rights, and equal justice for the LGBT community must be a clarion call for our party and our generation. This is the civil rights march of our generation. We must continue to push every day to repeal DADT, repeal DOMA, and provide equal protections in the work place for all Americans. There is far more support for our cause than people realize. Let’s continue working together to write a new chapter of equality in this country.”

Senator Gillibrand has been a strong advocate for LGBT rights, including being willing to sponsor the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law. She is also supportive of repealing the Defense of Marriage Act. She added her name to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and to the Matthew Shepard Act.