HRC announced that Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen will join HRC’s contingent of marchers, led by the Las Vegas Steering Committee, in the Las Vegas Pride Parade on Friday, October 11. The Steering Committee has been working in the community to help elect and support fair-minded political leaders, such as Gov. Sisolak and Sen. Rosen. This will be the first time that a sitting governor of Nevada will participate in the Las Vegas Pride Parade. 

“We’re proud to have Gov. Sisolak, First Lady Kathy Sisolak and Sen. Jacky Rosen joining HRC in the parade on Friday,” said HRC Nevada State Director Briana Escamilla. “We’re looking forward to making history with Gov. Sisolak as he becomes the first sitting Governor of Nevada to take part in this Pride Parade. The Governor has a long history of supporting LGBTQ equality, including supporting marriage equality and non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Nevadans in all aspects of life, and we’re proud to continue to work with him to help advance equality in Nevada. HRC is also proud to be working with Sen. Rosen to continue advancing pro-equality measures for all LGBTQ Americans.”

“I’m thrilled to join the Human Rights Campaign and Sen. Jacky Rosen in Friday's Las Vegas Pride Parade,” said Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak. “As Governor, I've fought for the protections that our LGBTQ community deserves, and I'll continue to work alongside our partners to build on the progress that we made this year. However, we can’t do it alone -- we need your support. I'd like to welcome everyone in the community who supports equal rights for LGBTQ Nevadans to sign up to join the parade on Friday. If we use our voices together, we will continue to make positive change in our community.” 

“I’m thrilled to join Gov. Sisolak, First Lady Kathy Sisolak and the Human Rights Campaign for this year’s Las Vegas Pride Parade,” said Senator Jacky Rosen. “I remain committed to standing up for LGBTQ rights in the Senate, and I will continue to work towards ensuring full equality for the LGBTQ community. Despite the progress we’ve made, members of the LGBTQ community are still not fully protected by our country’s current anti-discrimination laws. That is why I proudly supported the Equality Act in the House and am supporting this legislation in the Senate. As we come together in celebration of Pride, let’s reflect on the work that lies ahead in order to create more open, loving and tolerant communities for all.”

This legislative session, Nevada passed a sweeping set of pro-equality bills supporting the LGBTQ community. Landmark bills that were passed include: SB97, a ban on LGBTQ panic defenses; SB284, which established an HIV modernization task force in the state; SB311, which expands credit non-discrimination protections to LGBTQ people; and SB204, which requires schools to adopt a policy for the prevention of suicide, and to specifically address LGBTQ youth; all of which were signed into law by Gov. Sisolak. Sen. Rosen, an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act, has been an outspoken critic of the Trump-Pence Administration's assault on LGBTQ equality and continues to support LGBTQ people as a Senator.

Friday is also National Coming Out Day, a day to celebrate coming out as a member of the LGBTQ community. Every year on October 11, which falls during LGBTQ History Month, NCOD emphasizes the importance of coming out and creating a safe world in which LGBTQ people can live openly as their authentic selves. Learn more about National Coming Out Day here.