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

HRC announced its endorsement of Minnesota State Rep. Ilhan Omar for U.S. House in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.

“State Rep. Ilhan Omar is a proven leader who will stand up for Minnesota’s working families in Congress,” said HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof. “In the Minnesota State Legislature, she has worked to advance fairness and equality, and she is the clear choice for Minnesotans. HRC is proud to endorse her bid to represent the people of Minnesota’s 5th District in Congress, and we look forward to mobilizing our thousands of members and supporters across the district to turn out for equality on November 6th.”

“I am honored to be endorsed by the Human Right Campaign,” said Rep. Omar. “I will fight for LGBTQIA+ rights in Washington D.C., and together, we will raise our voices against those who seek to divide us with hate and bigotry.”

As Assistant Minority Leader in the Minnesota House, Omar has worked hard to champion the equal rights and dignity of all Minnesotans. She is a strong supporter of marriage equality and the Equality Act, landmark federal legislation that would provide the same basic nondiscrimination protections to LGBTQ people as other protected groups under federal law. She is also committed to addressing the epidemic of homelessness facing LGBTQ youth, and fighting against efforts to undermine LGBTQ equality under the guise of religious liberty.

In Minnesota, HRC has identified more than 750,000 voters as likely “Equality Voters,” meaning they are strong supporters of progressive LGBTQ policies including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Last year, HRC announced a coast-to-coast campaign to mobilize voters for the midterm elections called HRC Rising, which represents the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.