Chad H. Griffin was appointed Friday as the next president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, by the organization’s Board of Directors.
Griffin, a national communications and policy strategist, is widely credited for being the mastermind behind the federal lawsuit to overturn California’s Proposition 8, which has now been ruled unconstitutional by two federal courts.
Before appointing Griffin to his post, the position remained vacant as the board interviewed over one hundred candidates over a six month period.
Griffin is the founding partner of a strategic communications firm and has worked on campaigns ranging from Big Tobacco to clean energy, stem cell research, and early childhood education. He is a former member of the Clinton White House communications team and a founding board member of the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER). Most notably is his contributions as the sole sponsor of the Prop. 8 lawsuit.
“All over this country in big cities and small towns, there are families and young people who long to be accepted for who they are, and who want be treated with the same dignity and respect as everyone else,” said Griffin. “I’m honored by the board’s confidence in my ability to lead HRC. While there’s no doubt that we’ve made tremendous progress on the road to equality, we must not forget that millions of LGBT Americans still lack basic legal protections and suffer the consequences of discrimination every day. Today’s generation of young people, and each generation hereafter, must grow up with the full and equal protection of our laws, and finally be free to participate in the American dream. As HRC president, I’ll approach our work with a great sense of urgency because there are real life consequences to inaction.”
Griffin will assume his new responsibilities on June 11, 2012. Current HRC president Joe Solmonese will continue to lead the organization until that time.
