LANSING — 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 Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist in their bid for reelection.

The victory of Whitmer and Gilchrist follows the efforts of Hate Won’t Win, Michigan’s statewide coalition of LGBTQ+ organizations and allies. Formed by HRC and Equality Michigan – the leading LGBTQ+ organizations in Michigan – Hate Won’t Win is a unique grassroots movement of local community centers, state and local advocacy organizations, and national partners to make sure LGBTQ+ voices are not silenced in 2022.

Human Rights Campaign Michigan State Director Amritha Venkataraman released the following statement:

“In a state where lawmakers have introduced countless bills aiming to take the state backward and ignored opportunities to advance equality, the administration of Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist has been both a shield and a beacon of hope. By vetoing bad bills and enacting meaningful executive orders, Governor Whitmer has ensured that vulnerable state residents – including the LGBTQ+ community – see their rights and freedoms advancing instead of slipping away. While extremist candidates seek to demonize LGBTQ+ people and pit people against each other, Governor Whitmer and Lt. Governor Gilchrist have done exactly the opposite – and in the process, earned another term in office.”

Governor Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Gilchrist have demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting and safeguarding Michigan’s LGBTQ+ community. In 2019, Gov. Whitmer signed an executive directive strengthening the protections against discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation within state employment. More recently, Gov. Whitmer signed another executive directive preventing Michigan’s State Department of Health and Human Services from using state or federal funds on conversion therapy for minors.

Beyond passing pro-equality legislation, Gov. Whitmer called on the state legislature to send her a bill expanding non-discrimination protections in the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act to explicitly include sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. She then filed an amicus brief with the Michigan Supreme Court arguing that the wording of the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act does prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

HRC’s Commitment to Michigan

HRC worked this year to engage our volunteers, members and supporters to mobilize the 1.1 million Equality Voters in Michigan in support of Gov. Whitmer and other pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot. Equality Voters, including the 1.1 million in Michigan, 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.