“Throughout his life, Ron Dellums was a courageous voice in the fight for justice at home and abroad,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “From his historic fight against South Africa’s apartheid to his early support of lesbian, gay and bisexual service members and advocacy for HIV research, prevention and services, Ron Dellums leaves behind a legacy of action on behalf of those facing discrimination and prejudice. HRC extends our deepest condolences to the Dellums family and all those who knew this champion of equality.”

As a member of Congress, Dellums consistently earned a perfect score of 100 on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard. Then-Representative Dellums was a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and voted against the so-called Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. As the chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, Dellums was an early supporter of allowing lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans to serve openly in the military.

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.

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