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

HRC announced its endorsement of Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA) for re-election to Pennsylvania’s second Congressional District.

“Whether in the Pennsylvania State House or in the United State Congress, Rep. Evans has a long track record fighting for the rights of LGBTQ Pennsylvanians,” said HRC Pennsylvania State Manager Allison Van Kuiken. “We look forward to continuing our work with Rep. Evans in the fight to pass the Equality Act and move us closer to full federal equality. HRC is proud to endorse him for reelection.”

“Since I have been in elected office, I have long fought for equal rights for members of the LGBTQ community,” said Rep. Evans. “Whether being 1 of 16 members of the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1996 that voted against a same-sex marriage ban, or as appropriations chair funding programs that provided housing for at-risk LGBTQ youth and seniors, I have worked tirelessly towards building an open and caring society for all. I have taken these same principles to Washington and will continue to uphold them day in and day out as a member of Congress.”

As a longtime member of the Pennsylvania State House, Rep. Evans was an early leader in the fight against HIV and AIDS and has been a staunch advocate for the LGBTQ community. Since joining the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016, he has continued his long history standing up for equality. Rep. Evans spoke out strongly against the Trump-Pence administration's efforts to ban qualified transgender service members from the military and is as a cosponsor of the Equality Act, landmark federal legislation that would guarantee the same basic nondiscrimination protections to LGBTQ people provided for other protected characteristics under federal law.

HRC recently announced a bold, proactive grassroots expansion with the launch of HRC Rising -- a campaign to accelerate progress in states from coast-to-coast, resist the politics of hate, fight anti-LGBTQ legislation, and fuel pro-equality candidates and initiatives. The campaign is the biggest strategic expansion in the organization’s 38-year history and will include significant investments in Pennsylvania. HRC has identified more than 2,005,000 Pennsylvanians as likely Equality Voters, meaning they are strong supporters of progressive LGBTQ policies including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.