Washington– Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese issued the following statement in reaction to the passing of Bettie Naylor, a leading LGBT and women’s rights activist, and a founding board member of the Human Rights Campaign:

“Bettie Naylor was a force to be reckoned with, and played a central role in bettering the lives of LGBT people at both the national level and in Texas. As a founding board member of the Human Rights Campaign, and a leader in starting our Austin Steering Committee, Bettie was a tireless advocate and never stopped working to ensure that members of our community received the rights, dignity, and respect that all people deserve. Bettie was driven by a desire to create a future where kids never had to be ashamed of who they were, but could instead live openly and without fear. Today, we live in a country where many loving, committed same-sex couples can marry and start families, where many students can thrive in their communities without fear of violence, and where a growing number of businesses are recognizing the importance of protecting their LGBT employees – these are all part of Bettie’s lasting legacy.”

In addition to her work starting HRC, Bettie was a member of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force board and an early leader with Equality Texas. She is survived by her wife.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.