US Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Chris Pappas, both representing New Hampshire in Washington, are among the candidates endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign last week.
Their endorsements came relatively early in the 2020 campaign, HRC National Press Secretary Lucas Acosta told Manchester, New Hampshire–based WMUR-TV 9, because “New Hampshire is a key state for Democrats to retain control of the House and possibly win the majority in the Senate.”
“Chris Pappas is one of our community’s fiercest allies in Congress,” Acosta said in the WMUR report, which notes that “Pappas is among seven LGBT House members and part of a pro-LGBT House majority” and that “his presence in the House means the LGBT community ‘has a seat at every table because every issue impacts our community.'”
“And since her days as governor, Senator Shaheen has truly been an ally of, and advocate for, our community,” Acosta said. “She pushed for marriage equality in the Senate before it became the law of the land. She has been a true leader on our issues at every level.”
“Every American should be free to be who they are, earn a living and love who they love without facing discrimination or pain, but there is so much more work to do to provide true equality,” Shaheen told WMUR.
“HRC has been leading the way for LGBTQ Americans and our fight for equal rights,” Pappas stated in HRC’s announcement. “The House made history last year when we passed the Equality Act and I look forward to working with HRC to ensure that it is passed and signed into law so that no individual will be a second class citizen because of who they are or who they love. Everyone deserves to be able to live their truth, and working with HRC we can realize a brighter future for all Americans.”
New England candidates also receiving early endorsements from HRC are openly gay US Rep. and LGBT Equality Caucus Cochair David Cicilline (Rhode Island), US Rep. Jahana Hayes (Connecticut) and US Rep. Jared Golden (Maine).
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