​Post submitted by former Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Chris Sgro

HRC announced its endorsement of Harley Rouda (D) in his bid to represent the people of California’s 48th Congressional District. HRC President Chad Griffin joined Rouda and Equality Voters at a campaign event in Huntington Beach to announce the endorsement and discuss the importance of the race.

“The choice for voters in California’s 48th Congressional District could not be starker or more clear,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “While Dana Rohrabacher has sought to undermine the rights of LGBTQ people at every turn, Harley Rouda has spoken out for the equal dignity of all members of our community. Harley Rouda is the pro-equality leader the people of California deserve and we look forward to working with him in Congress to pass the Equality Act and secure full federal equality for all Americans.”

"Our campaign is honored to receive the endorsement of HRC. This is a great moment for a campaign dedicated to the pure and powerful principal that too many LGBTQ Americans lack basic legal protections in states across the country. That's why the first piece of legislation I will sign my name to as a Member of Congress will be the Equality Act,” said Harley Rouda. “Sadly, the same cannot be said for my opponent Dana Rohrabacher, who has never met a policy intended to roll back LGBTQ rights that he does not support. The CA-48 LGBTQ community - our entire community - deserves much, much better. As an equality candidate, as an Equality Voter, I applaud HRC's effort to turn out millions of Equality Voters this election. This can be a watershed election for LGBTQ rights in America and I look forward to working with HRC to make that happen."

Watch: Video of HRC President Chad Griffin, candidate Harley Rouda and Equality Voters at endorsement announcement today.

Harley Rouda is an attorney, businessman, and proud ally of the LGBTQ community who is committed to passing 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. He also opposes anti-LGBTQ legislation like the so-called First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) — legislation that goes far beyond protecting the rights established in the First Amendment by undermining the rule of law and promoting taxpayer-funded discrimination.

Rouda is challenging U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R), who has consistently scored abysmal ratings on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard — a key tool measuring Members of Congress on their support for LGBTQ equality. In May, Rohrabacher made radical statements endorsing discrimination against LGBTQ people. Following a strong protest by the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals, the National Association of Realtors withdrew its endorsement of Rohrabacher, and rescinded its recommendation that members send campaign contributions to him, citing his comments as contrary to their code of ethics.

In California, HRC has identified over 9 million 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.