The Human Rights Campaign announced its endorsement of Maine’s Speaker of the House Sara Gideon for US Senate in her race against incumbent Senator Susan Collins.
HRC, the largest LGBTQ advocacy and political lobbying organization in the country, made its announcement immediately after Gideon won her state’s Democratic primary with over 70% of the vote on July 14.
The news is especially sweet for Gideon considering HRC’s strong endorsement of Collins’s previous run for her fourth term back in 2014. In fact, HRC’s endorsement for Gideon yesterday marks the first time HRC has endorsed Collins’s opponent since 1996, the first time Collins ran. Over the years, Collins had established herself as a moderate Republican, eager to work across the aisle, and a strong supporter of LGBT issues; however during the past four years Collins’s HRC Scorecard on LGBTQ issues fell from 85 points out of 100 to 33.
Said Gideon, “Every Mainer, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves a seat at the table in discussions about our future and I’m honored to have the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign in this race.”
“In the State House, we passed landmark legislation banning conversion therapy and strengthening the Maine Human Rights Act to protect LGBTQ Mainers from discrimination based on gender identity. I look forward to bringing the same dedication to full equality to Washington, and will always fight for the right of all Mainers to live without fear of discrimination,” Gideon said.
In addition to Gideon, HRC endorsed five other Democratic candidates with an eye toward swinging the Senate out of Republican control.
“Despite support from 70 percent of the American public, [Republican Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell has stood in the way of progress for LGBTQ people and refused to even allow a vote on the Equality Act,” said HRC President Alphonso David.
The Equality Act, which would have included federal protections for LGBTQ people under existing US civil rights laws, had passed in the US House last year.
“Today’s endorsements mark the next step of HRC’s efforts to elect a pro-equality U.S. Senate and end McConnell’s tenure as majority leader. Each of these candidates are true allies of our movement and will work to ensure LGBTQ people are treated with the respect and dignity every human deserves. Together, united like never before, we can achieve the change our community needs.”
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