PHOENIX — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — congratulated HRC-endorsed Sen. Mark Kelly on his reelection.

Human Rights Campaign Arizona State Director Bridget Sharpe released the following statement:

“Senator Kelly’s reelection is a victory for everyone who believes in democracy and equality, and is a stark rebuke to the politics of division and fear. Senator Kelly is a champion for all Arizonans, fighting for the dignity and respect that all of his constituents deserve. Tonight, we celebrate a win for voting rights, for reproductive rights, and for LGBTQ+ rights in Arizona. He has fought for the rights and freedoms of all Arizonans, and Arizona has made a wise choice by sending Senator Kelly back to Washington for the next six years.”

During his time in office, Sen. Kelly has demonstrated his commitment to advancing equality for 242,000 LGBTQ+ Arizonans and more than 20 million LGBTQ+ people nationwide. He is an original cosponsor of the Equality Act, crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit protections from discrimination for LGBTQ+ people under our nation's existing civil rights laws. Arizona is one of 29 states where LGBTQ+ people have no protections from discrimination in their daily lives.

HRC’s Commitment to Arizona

HRC also endorsed Sen. Mark Kelly in his bid for the U.S. Senate in 2020. HRC worked this year to engage our volunteers, members and supporters to mobilize the 1.3 million Equality Voters in Arizona in support of Kelly 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. HRC has had staff and resources on the ground in Arizona since 2017.

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.