Post submitted by Ianthe Metzger, Former Press Secretary, State & Local ​

Today, HRC announced its endorsement of Pennsylvania State Representative Madeleine Dean for U.S. House in Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District.

“State Rep. Madeleine Dean is a proven leader who will stand up for Pennsylvania’s working families in Congress,” said HRC Pennsylvania State Director Allison VanKuiken. “In the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Madeleine Dean has worked to advance fairness and equality. HRC is proud to endorse her bid to represent the people of Pennsylvania’s 4th District in Congress, and we look forward to mobilizing our thousands of members and supporters across the district to turn out for equality in November.”

“For decades, the Human Rights Campaign has worked tirelessly to promote, protect and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans,” said Madeleine Dean. “HRC’s voice – three million members strong – and their vision have pushed us forward. That’s why I am honored to earn their endorsement and energized to get to work in Congress on the crucial issue of LGBTQ equality. Together, we will work to better fulfill the promise of our country’s founding -- that we the people are all created equal.”

During her time in the Pennsylvania State House, Madeleine Dean has been a strong supporter of LGBTQ equality. She is a member of the Pennsylvania LGBTQ Equality Caucus and a cosponsor of the Pennsylvania Fairness Act, a bill that would update the state's non-discrimination law to explicitly protect LGBTQ people from discrimination at work, in housing and in public places. Dean supports marriage equality and the Equality Act, crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee comprehensive protections for LGBTQ people under our nation's civil rights laws.

In Pennsylvania, HRC has identified more than 2.3 million “Equality Voters” -- voters who support LGBTQ-inclusive policies, including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Pennsylvania in the 2018 cycle, and has already put four staff members and resources on the ground in the state. Last year, HRC announced a coast-to-coast campaign called HRC Rising, which represents the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.