WASHINGTON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, announced Lauren Gray is joining its senior leadership team as Senior Vice President of Communications and Brand. Gray most recently worked at Edelman, where she served as Corporate and Crisis Lead for Out Front, a team of 75+ integrated experts that gained industry attention for its innovative focus on providing highly specialized counsel on complex LGBTQ+ issues. At Edelman, Gray also led award-winning work with the United Nations sexual and reproductive health and rights agency UNFPA to counter misinformation and increase public education.

Over the past year, HRC has been steadily assembling a powerhouse communications and strategic leadership team to fight the recent dramatic rise in anti-LGBTQ+ extremism. This year alone, state politicians introduced more than 540 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, over 220 of which target the transgender community. At a time when HRC has declared its first national state of emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans, Gray will work closely with HRC’s team and partners on the most urgent local, national, and global issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community.

“As the LGBTQ+ community faces a state of emergency, Lauren Gray’s expertise in navigating crises, shaping narratives and advocating for LGBTQ+ and others under attack is exactly what we need,” said HRC President Kelley Robinson. “We’re thrilled to welcome her to join an incredible team working to advance LGBTQ+ equality through innovative and strategic communications and brand initiatives.”

“I am eager to join the incredible Kelley Robinson and the entire HRC team on their critical work to confront anti-LGBTQ+ extremism and meet the challenges of this moment,” said Lauren Gray, incoming HRC Senior Vice President of Communications and Brand. “LGBTQ+ youth, families, and adults deserve to live freely and joyfully, without fear or harm. I am committed to working with HRC to take bold and strategic action to drive the cultural and political change our community needs.”

Gray brings 15 years of experience and a law degree focused on global human rights to her new position at HRC. In her most recent role at Edelman, Gray also counseled Fortune 500 companies across industries—such as CPG, tech, finance, fashion, and health—on the communications implications of landmark Supreme Court decisions, such as the recent overturn of affirmative action in college admissions and last year’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Prior to Edelman, Gray provided crisis communications support to the City of New York and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She trained survivors of military sexual assault to share their stories with members of Congress and the media. She also led communications for the first lawsuit filed against former President Trump’s now-repealed transgender military ban.

In 2023, Gray was one of four Edelman employees honored in New York’s City & State Political PR Power 50. In 2022, PR Week named her to its Pride in PR list featuring 30 leading LGBTQ+ professionals. She was also honored by PR Week as a Champion of PR, one of 36 women in the U.S. who represent the “gold standard in the industry.”

Gray lives in New York City with her wife, Dr. Ayesha Rahman, a hand surgeon and assistant professor of orthopedics. In her role with HRC, Gray will split her time between New York City and Washington, D.C.