HRC President Chad Griffin describes news as "heartening"

WASHINGTON -- Today, in response to reports that Pope Francis met privately with a local same-sex couple during his visit to the nation’s capital, Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released the following statement:

“It is heartening news that Pope Francis met privately with his friend and former student, Yayo Grassi, and his partner of 19 years, Iwan. It now not only appears the the Pope’s encounter with Kim Davis has been mischaracterized, but that Pope Francis embraced these longtime friends.”

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.