HARRISBURG — 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 Attorney General Josh Shapiro in his bid to become governor of Pennsylvania.

Human Rights Campaign Pennsylvania State Director Ryan Matthews released the following statement:

“In Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania has elected a governor who is passionate about justice and equality, and one who treats all people with the dignity and respect that they deserve. He is one of the nation’s most effective defenders of democracy, and he is someone the LGBTQ+ community can count on to protect and expand our rights and freedoms. In a time when extremists, conspiracy theorists, and far-right radicals backed by billionaires and wealthy special interests were on the ballot across the country – including in Pennsylvania – the election of Governor-elect Shapiro will help assure marginalized communities are protected and that Pennsylvania moves forward.”

In his career as a state lawmaker, a Montgomery County commissioner, and most recently as Pennsylvania’s Attorney General, Josh Shapiro has been steadfast in defending and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. His track record on transgender rights is exemplary, including legal actions in support of transgender students using the bathroom that conforms with their gender identity and against Trump administration policies that banned transgender people from serving in the military and sought to allow discrimination against transgender people in housing and medical care. Shapiro also called for an end to the Food and Drug Administration’s discriminatory restrictions on blood donations by gay and bisexual men.

HRC’s Commitment to Pennsylvania

HRC worked this year to engage our volunteers, members and supporters to mobilize the 3 million Equality Voters in Pennsylvania in support of Shapiro and other pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot. Equality Voters 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.