WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization — announced its endorsement of Lori Lightfoot for mayor of Chicago, Illinois. If elected, she would make history as the city’s first openly LGBTQ mayor.

“As an experienced manager, advocate and reform expert, Lori Lightfoot is prepared to tackle tough challenges and find solutions to create greater opportunity for every Chicagoan,” said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse. “With her demonstrated leadership in support of LGBTQ equality, Lightfoot will continue to work to ensure that Chicago is an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone. HRC is proud to endorse the historic candidacy of Lori Lightfoot for mayor, and we look forward to working with her to advance LGBTQ equality.”

“It is such an honor to have the support of the Human Rights Campaign as I seek to become Chicago’s first LGBTQ mayor,” said Lori Lightfoot. “It’s so important that Chicago remain a beacon of hope for LGBTQ people all across the country, and we’ve got to make sure that every Chicagoan in every neighborhood can live as their true and authentic self. I look forward to working with HRC to make history on April 2nd and build a more equitable and inclusive Chicago in the years to come.”

As mayor, Lori Lightfoot has pledged to safeguard the civil rights of the LGBTQ community. In Lori’s LGBTQ policy framework, she outlines increasing LGBTQ representation in government by appointing mayoral LGBTQ liaisons, bolstering safety and justice for the trans community by improving police training and thoroughly investigating hate crimes, and addressing the needs of Chicago’s LGBTQ community by creating youth drop-in centers and expanding housing options for seniors and veterans. 

Lori Lightfoot most recently served as a senior equity partner in the Litigation and Conflict Resolution Group at Mayer Brown LLP. She also served as President of the Chicago Police Board from 2015 to 2018, where she worked to decide disciplinary matters involving all allegations of police misconduct. Lightfoot also held roles as interim first deputy of the Chicago Department of Procurement Services, chief of staff and general counsel of the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications. She also was also an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, managing large-scale investigations involving political corruption and criminal drug conspiracies. Lightfoot has served on the board of numerous organizations, including NARAL Illinois, ACLU Illinois, Better Government Association and the Center for Conflict Resolution.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organizations 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.

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