Post submitted by Stephen Peters, former Senior National Press Secretary and Spokesperson

HRC announced its endorsement of Perry Gershon in his bid to represent New York’s 1st Congressional District.

“Perry Gershon is the clear choice for Long Island’s fair-minded voters who want a champion for equality in Congress,” said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse. “Gershon will fight for all of New York’s hard-working families and help to pull the emergency brake on the reckless, hateful agenda of Donald Trump and Mike Pence. HRC is proud to endorse Perry Gershon for Congress, and we look forward to working closely with him to advance LGBTQ equality.”

“I am honored to be endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign. Our country has come a long way with LGBTQ rights, but we cannot take this for granted,” said Perry Gershon. “If elected, I will fight to pass the Equality Act so that all Long Islanders are protected from discrimination.”

Perry Gershon worked as a volunteer on the Presidential campaigns of Ted Kennedy and Gary Hart in the 1980s before going on to a successful career in business. In the aftermath of the 2016 election, disturbed by a Washington political class that cares more about themselves than the American people, Gershon has set out to personally fight for change. He and his family have worked consistently for social justice through their synagogue and community. Gershon is the former head of his synagogue’s social action committee, where he championed for New York’s SAFE laws in the aftermath of Sandy Hook and he oversaw relief efforts after superstorm Sandy. In Congress, Gershon will fight to pass the Equality Act — critically important federal legislation that would finally add clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people to our nation's civil rights laws.

Across the state of New York, HRC has identified more than 5.2 million “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 these voters for the midterm elections called HRC Rising, which represents the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.