On Thursday, the Human Rights Campaign PAC (HRC PAC) announced its endorsement of Shontel Brown in the general election for Ohio’s 11th Congressional District. Earlier this year, the seat was vacated by longtime Congresswoman and current United States Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia Fudge. Shontel Brown is currently a Cuyahoga County Councilor and the Chair of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party.

As a member of the Cuyahoga County Council, Brown co-sponsored a charter amendment that added sexual orientation and gender identification to the list of classes protected against discrimination for employment, housing, and public accommodations, going beyond current statewide protections in doing so. She also co-sponsored legislation to appoint community members to serve on the Cuyahoga Regional HIV Health Services Planning Council and co-sponsored a charter to create a Human Rights Commission.

“Shontel Brown has a clear record of advocating for and championing legislation to advance the rights and protections of LGBTQ+ people across Cuyahoga County and she will do the same for Ohio’s 11th Congressional District in Congress,” said Human Rights Campaign Senior Vice President of Policy & Political Affairs, JoDee Winterhof. “The Human Rights Campaign is proud to endorse Shontel Brown to carry on the great legacy of leadership and progress that Marcia Fudge has demonstrated. We know she will be a strong advocate for progress on issues of equality. Congress has a unique opportunity in this moment to make big strides toward full equality under the law by passing the Equality Act and other key LGBTQ+ rights and protections. By electing Shontel Brown to Congress, Ohio voters will ensure that the voices working toward change only become louder and more powerful.”