“The role of attorneys general in protecting the civil liberties of all Americans — especially the LGBTQ community — has never been more important, and we are proud to endorse such a strong champion of fairness, justice and equality,” said HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Public Affairs JoDee Winterhof. “January Contreras’ strong track record as a county prosecutor and Assistant Attorney General make her the clear choice to defend the people of Arizona. We look forward to working with her to move equality forward in the Grand Canyon State.”

“I'm proud to have the Human Rights Campaign's endorsement in Arizona's Attorney General election,” said January Contreras. “I have fought for the protection of all people and their rights throughout my career as a prosecutor, advisor to Governor Napolitano, and attorney for abused and trafficked young people, including LGBTQ youth. As Attorney General, I will put a stop to the use of taxpayer money for partisan litigation and actions that oppose equality for all. I will be an unwavering champion for the constitutional rights of LGBTQ people and all Arizonans.”

A former Assistant Attorney General in Arizona and senior advisor at the Department of Homeland Security, Contreras has spent her career fighting for every American’s right to live safely and freely. She is the founder and managing attorney of a legal aid organization dedicated to serving youth in the foster care system and young people affected by homelessness and abuse. Contreras will be facing incumbent Attorney General Mark Brnovich who is seeking a second term. Brnovich joined the suit against the Obama administration’s life-saving guidance protecting transgender students, as well as a brief to the Supreme Court of the United States in support of granting businesses a potentially sweeping license to discriminate against LGBTQ people. Brnovich also advised the Arizona Department of Child Safety to deny licenses to married same-sex couples seeking to jointly adopt or foster children.

HRC recently announced a bold, proactive grassroots expansion with the launch of HRC Rising — a campaign to accelerate progress in states from coast-to-coast, resist the politics of hate, fight anti-LGBTQ legislation, and fuel pro-equality candidates and initiatives. The expansion is the biggest strategic investment in the organization’s 38-year history and will include significant investments in Arizona. HRC has identified more than 800,000 Arizonans as likely Equality Voters, meaning they are strong supporters of progressive LGBTQ policies including same-sex marriage, adoption by LGBTQ people, and laws that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

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.

###

Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC and authorized by January for Attorney General