WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, tonight congratulated U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon on his re-election. HRC President Chad Griffin issued the following statement:

"Senator Merkley is a true champion for LGBT people in Congress—from his leading role in the effort to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to his vote to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’. On behalf of the Human Rights Campaign’s 1.5 million members and supporters, I'd like to congratulate Senator Merkley on a hard-fought win in his race for the Senate. We look forward to working with him over the next six years to pass a comprehensive LGBT civil rights bill, which will ensure that federal law includes the same robust legal protections available under Oregon’s state laws.”

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

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