HRC announced its endorsement of Sen. Gary Peters’ bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate.

Sen. Peters has been a steadfast ally for the LGBTQ community throughout his time in public service and his tenure in the U.S. Senate. In 2018, Peters signed on as a co-sponsor of the Equality Act, crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit, permanent protections for LGBTQ people under our nation's existing civil rights laws. Senator Peters has joined Senate and House colleagues in sending amicus briefs to the Supreme Court in support of marriage equality in both the DeBoer v. Snyder and Obergefell v. Hodges cases. In July 2019, he signed on to an amicus brief opposing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the cases of Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, Altitude Express, Inc. v. Zarda, and R.G.& G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

“Senator Gary Peters has been one of our community's strongest advocates in the United States Senate, and we’re proud to stand by his side as he runs for reelection,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “As a co-sponsor of the Equality Act, Senator Peters’ demonstrated record of support for LGBTQ people and families stands in stark contrast with his opponent, who has refused to support non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people. The Human Rights Campaign is committed to mobilizing the nearly 1.1 million Equality Voters across Michigan to send Gary Peters back to the U.S. Senate to continue moving equality forward for all Americans.”

“I'm so honored to have Human Rights Campaign's endorsement in this race,” said Sen. Gary Peters. “I'm proud of the progress we've made in advancing the rights of the LGBTQ community and will continue to fight any efforts to roll them back. We must reach full equality for all because no one should ever face discrimination for who they are or who they love.”

HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Michigan for more than two years including multiple in-state staffers. In 2018, HRC made the most significant electoral investments in our history, mobilizing 1.1 million Equality Voters in Michigan to defeat John James and elect an entirely pro-LGBTQ slate to statewide office. Pro-equality candidates defeated anti-LGBTQ candidates in every single one of HRC’s targeted federal and statewide races in Michigan. 

John James, who is running for U.S. Senate again in 2020, has taken the support of anti-LGBTQ mega-donors with open arms. Last year, news broke that a Richard Uihlein funded PAC was launching a significant  TV buy against pro-equality Sen. Gary Peters. Uihlein has also donated tens of millions of dollars to anti-LGBTQ extremist groups across the country.