PROVIDENCE — Following the news that longtime U.S. Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island will be stepping down this spring, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — saluted his exemplary support for the LGBTQ+ community during his 12 years in office as an openly gay Member of Congress.

“Representative Cicilline will end his time in Congress with an unparalleled track record of advancing LGBTQ+ rights in our nation,” said Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign. “He helped get a major piece of legislation to the finish line with the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, and he has been a driving force in introducing and rallying support for the desperately needed Equality Act, which would guarantee nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people across the country. It is no exaggeration to say that he has been a champion and fighter for our community and for the people of Rhode Island. Each of us has an opportunity and responsibility to carry forward his work towards full equality for all.”

Rep. Cicilline is leaving Congress to take over as president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, the state’s largest philanthropic organization. He has represented Rhode Island’s First Congressional District since 2011, and before that he was mayor of Providence for eight years (2003-11) and a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives (1995-2003). As Mayor of Providence, he became the first openly gay mayor of a U.S. state capital.

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.