WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization — announced its endorsement of U.S. Representative Jared Polis in his bid to be the next governor of Colorado. If elected, Polis will make history as the first openly gay man elected governor in the nation.

“For nearly a decade in Congress, Jared Polis has fought to advance fairness and equality in Colorado and across America,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “He is a proven leader who will take his commitment to securing full equality to the governor’s mansion and fight to make Colorado stronger for the state’s hard working families. HRC is proud to endorse Jared Polis for governor and we look forward to helping him make history this November.”

“I’m honored to have the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign,” said Jared Polis. “With Donald Trump attacking Coloradans’ basic civil rights every day — and with my Republican opponent running for governor to help him — we need to fight back with bold leadership. Together, we’re going to build a Colorado where every child gets a great education, every family has affordable, high-quality health care, and every Coloradan has the opportunity to pursue their dreams  — no matter where they live, who they are, or who they love."

Jared Polis has represented the people of Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District since 2008. He has earned a perfect score on every HRC Congressional Scorecard — a tool which measures Members of Congress on their support for LGBTQ equality. Polis helped launch the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus shortly after taking office in 2008 and also helped launch the Congressional Transgender Equality Task Force in 2015. He is the lead sponsor of the Student Non-Discrimination Act and is also an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act — federal legislation that would finally guarantee clear, permanent protections for LGBTQ people under our nation's existing civil rights laws.

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.

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