Ad part of HRC’s New Hampshire outreach to 5,000 members and supporters and nearly 70,000 potential pro-equality voters in “Equality Runs Deep” get-out-the-vote effort

WASHINGTON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, released a new digital ad featuring media entrepreneur and equality advocate Raymond Braun, recently named Financial Times’ #1 young LGBTQ leader, speaking in deeply personal terms about why Maggie Hassan should be New Hampshire’s next U.S. Senator. With early voting underway, the ad makes clear that LGBTQ and other pro-equality voters in New Hampshire have a strong advocate on the ballot in Hassan.

In “Raymond Braun reflects on why he came out to Maggie Hassan,” Braun discusses how Hassan will be a resolute supporter of the LGBTQ community, just as she has always been for him: “I remember when I told Maggie Hassan I’m gay the very first thing she did was just give me a big hug. And I think that for anyone who has come out before or anyone who knows what it feels like to be in the closet – an act like that, just a strong comforting hug, is really all you need in that moment. It said it all.”

Braun says that Hassan, who has long championed LGBTQ rights, will fight for equality as a U.S. Senator and serve as a passionate advocate for the New Hampshire LGBTQ community: “As an LGBTQ person, I will feel so comfortable knowing that she’s in the Senate to advocate for us. Maggie is the type of person who follows up, who carries people’s stories with her, and who genuinely cares. She is the real deal.”

Watch: “Raymond Braun reflects on why he came out to Maggie Hassan”

"I've known Maggie Hassan for more than 10 years,” Braun said, “and I've seen firsthand what a great champion she is for equality. Maggie was one of the first people I came out to, and I am honored to be able to share my experiences with the great people of New Hampshire."

HRC President Chad Griffin said, “Throughout her career, Maggie Hassan has fought on behalf of the LGBTQ community and will continue to do so as New Hampshire’s next Senator. In the words of Raymond Braun, she is the real deal. Electing Maggie Hassan to the Senate will ensure that New Hampshire will have a strong advocate for continuing our historic progress on LGBTQ equality and protections.”

The new ad is part of HRC’s digital campaign that is contacting nearly 70,000 potential pro-equality voters across New Hampshire, in addition to the thousands of HRC members and supporters living in the Granite State. More than 45,000 households are also receiving mailers urging voters to support equality candidates from Hillary Clinton, Maggie Hassan, and Colin Van Ostern for Governor, to pro-equality candidates running for the state legislature. In addition, in a joint effort with partners in key New Hampshire Senate Districts, HRC’s turnout effort will call 30,000-plus voters urging them to vote for a full equality ticket, from the top of the ballot to the bottom.

The New Hampshire campaign is part of a larger get-out-the-vote effort aimed at mobilizing the 10 million LGBTQ voters, and hundreds of thousands of other pro-equality voters  nationwide.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.

Paid for by the Human Rights Campaign Equality Votes and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

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