WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced its endorsement of Oregon Gov. Kate Brown in her bid for re-election. The announcement is the organization’s first gubernatorial endorsement for the critically important 2018 election cycle. Oregon is home to an estimated 158,000 eligible LGBTQ voters, and hundreds of thousands more allied voters.
“Kate Brown is a champion of equality who has fought for the LGBTQ community throughout her career, helping to improve the lives of countless people,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “As the nation’s first openly bisexual governor, Kate Brown has worked tirelessly to make the principles of fairness and equality a priority for Oregon. HRC is proud to endorse Governor Brown in her bid for re-election.”
“I’ve been fighting for LGBTQ equality my entire career and am proud of our record of leadership,” said Governor Kate Brown. “I want to make Oregon an even better place to live, work and raise a family — no matter who you are, how you identify or who you love.”
Governor Brown is the second female governor of Oregon and she was Oregon’s first female senate majority leader. Under her leadership as governor, Oregon banned the dangerous practice of so-called “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ young people and extended critical protections for transgender students in Oregon schools. During her time as majority leader in the Oregon Senate, she played a key role in passing the state’s LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination law. She was also a leader in the fight to pass domestic partnership benefits prior to marriage equality reaching the state.
