WASHINGTON —Today, President Joe Biden announced his decision to exit the 2024 presidential race, as well as his support for Vice President Harris for president. Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Kelley Robinson issued the following statement in response:

“We are deeply grateful to President Biden for his more than 50 years of public service and his longtime support for the LGBTQ+ community. Today’s announcement reflects what President Biden has done his entire career and will be core to his legacy: putting the needs of Americans and his country above his own. We owe the Biden-Harris team a debt of gratitude for leading the country out of a state of chaos and constant crisis under former President Trump. And the Human Rights Campaign endorses the tough, formidable, and experienced Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Vice President Harris has the support of millions of Americans, as primary voters have already made the decision to put her on the ticket.

“Vice President Kamala Harris is a trailblazer and has been a champion for LGBTQ+ equality for decades: from leading the fight in San Francisco against hate crimes and her work in California to end the so-called gay and transgender “panic defense” to her early support for marriage equality and her leadership serving as our Vice President.

“Convicted felon Donald Trump has already shown that he aims to destroy democracy and divide the country in his quest for power. Vice President Kamala Harris is a true champion of unity and accountability – and will fight for a country where no one is above the law and “justice for all” means something.

“The Human Rights Campaign could not be prouder to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris and commit to channeling our resources and supporters to work to elect the first Black and South Asian woman president of the United States.”

The Biden-Harris Administration has been the most pro-equality in history. Since the 2021 inauguration, the administration has taken extraordinary steps to advance equality. In 2022, President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, a landmark piece of legislation that codified federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages. They have issued new administrative rules protecting LGBTQ+ youth from discrimination and harassment in schools, ensuring LGBTQ+ youth are protected in the foster care system, and protecting LGBTQ+ patients from discrimination in health care. They have also filled the administration with members of the LGBTQ+ community, appointing a record 200+ LGBTQ+ people across each level of government and nominating a number of LGBTQ+ judges.

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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.