Human Rights Campaign Endorses Jeff Merkley

Press Release

Today, on the eve on their annual gala in Portland, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) endorsed Senator Jeff Merkley for reelection, highlighting his record of leadership fighting for the civil rights of LGBT Americans. Jeff worked closely with HRC on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a bill Jeff led to end LGBT employment discrimination.
The Human Rights Campaign has been a steadfast advocate for the civil rights of LGBT Americans, and I am proud to have their support," Merkley said. "The right to work hard, earn a living, and marry the one you love should be fundamental. I am committed to continuing working with HRC so that everyone is treated equally. Discrimination has no place in our laws.

"Senator Jeff Merkley has been a champion for equality," said David Stacy HRC's Director of Government Affairs. "The historic passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the Senate last year could not have happened without his tireless work. From the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" to marriage equality and other issues of fairness, Merkley is a true ally, and HRC is proud to stand with him."
Jeff is a leader in the U.S. Senate fighting for the LGBT community. He sees the battle for LGBT equality as the central civil rights issue of our time, and he's been a strong advocate for the LGBT community during his time in the Oregon State House, and the Senate.

SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY IS LEADING THE FIGHT TO END WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION

In the Oregon State House, Jeff led passage of a bill to end workplace discrimination in Oregon. When he entered the Senate, the late Senator Ted Kennedy asked Jeff to take on the national fight against workplace discrimination and lead the Senate effort to end it once and for all. Last fall the Senate passed Jeff's bipartisan bill, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, setting down the marker that no one should be fired for who they are or who they love. While we wait for House action, Jeff strongly supports the proposed executive order that would ban employment discrimination for federal contractors, which would immediately enforce protections for 20 percent of American workers.

SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY IS FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM TO MARRY

Jeff believes strongly that the right to marry is fundamental and that everyone should be treated equally under the law. He is a longtime supporter of marriage equality for LGBT Oregonians. As Speaker of the Oregon State House, Jeff spearheaded efforts to implement domestic partnerships for LGBT couples, giving them full equality under state law. In 2008, Jeff ran as a strong supporter of marriage equality, a minority position at the time in the Senate. Jeff is proud in that marriage can no longer be denied to same-sex couples in Oregon, and in the Senate he'll continue to fight for marriage equality for all Americans.

SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY FOUGHT TO END "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL"

When Jeff entered the Senate, he lobbied his colleagues to end the discriminatory military policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." He understood that soldiers' private lives should have no bearing on their willingness or ability to serve -- that's why he called for the repeal of the unjust and discriminatory policy. Jeff voted for and passed a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in 2010.

SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY IS A LEADER FIGHTING FOR LGBT VETERANS

When Lt. Col. Linda Campbell, an Oregon veteran, asked Jeff to help grant a waiver to allow her partner to be buried by her at a national cemetery, Jeff wrote a letter to Secretary Shinseki and appealed personally to Shinseki to procure the waiver. After a months-long campaign by Campbell and Merkley, Shinseki relented, and allowed Campbell's partner to be the first same-sex partner to be buried at a national cemetery.

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