DENVER — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — hailed the victory of HRC-endorsed Colorado Gov. Jared Polis in his bid for reelection.

Gov. Polis, who in 2018 became the first gay man to be elected governor of a U.S. state, now also holds the honor of being the first gay man reelected as governor.

Human Rights Campaign Interim President Joni Madison released the following statement:

“In his first term in office, Governor Polis demonstrated that he has what it takes to be a leader for all Coloradans, treating everyone with dignity and respect, and he continues to be a champion for the LGBTQ+ community. In winning a gubernatorial reelection as a gay man – the first to do so – his victory is a testament to the fact that support for the LGBTQ+ community is on the rise in this country, despite efforts by extremist anti-LGBTQ+ politicians and activists trying to roll back our progress. LGBTQ+ voters are among the fastest growing voting blocs in the country, and Governor Polis’ reelection is a surefire indicator that the members of this community, and our allies, will continue to come together and make our voices heard. We salute the voters of Colorado for their wise choice in granting Governor Polis another term.”

Governor Polis’ time serving as a congressman bolstered his reputation as a leader in the fight for equality. During his time representing Colorado’s 2nd Congressional district, Gov. Polis was a lead co-sponsor of the Equality Act – legislation that would protect all Americans from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity. He earned top scores on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard during his time in the U.S. House and helped launch the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus and its Transgender Equality Task Force to advance the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

Following an endorsement from the HRC and a successful election campaign in 2018, Jared Polis made history as the first openly LGBTQ+ person to be elected as a governor in the U.S. As Governor of Colorado, Polis has worked to fulfill his campaign promise to support the LGBTQ+ community through targeted legislation including enacting Jude’s law – a bill making it easier for transgender residents to change their gender markers on birth certificates and drivers licenses – and a statewide conversion therapy ban for minors.

HRC’s Commitment to Colorado

HRC worked this year to engage our volunteers, members and supporters to mobilize the 1.6 million Equality Voters in Colorado in support of Gov. Polis and other pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot. Equality Voters, including the 1.6 million in Colorado, are a voting bloc of demographically and geographically diverse Americans who are united by the advancement of LGBTQ+ equality. Equality Voters are younger, more racially diverse, and more female than the general electorate, they recognize and trust the HRC brand, and they are more likely to identify with issue-specific organizations than candidates or political parties.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.