State Legislatures - HRC Salutes Allies at National Conference of State Legislatures
July 23, 2009
Ed. Note: This post comes from Philadelphia via our State Legislative Director Chris Edelson Greetings from the City of Brotherly Love! I've been in Philadelphia since Monday for the annual NCSL Legislative Summit. It's been an amazing week, and it's been great to speak with so many legislators about HRC's work. Last night there was a reception sponsored by HRC, Gill Action Fund, and the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute for LGBT state legislators and our allies. It was a fantastic event and presented an opportunity for us to honor those legislators that have advocated for equality back in their home states and legislatures. It was moving to see and speak with legislators who we have worked with in states such as Arizona, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Virginia, and more. 
The keynote speaker was state Senator Mike Gronstal, the Iowa Senate Majority leader and chairman of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. Senator Gronstal, pictured with HRC field organizer Terry McGuire, has been a longtime champion of equality in Iowa. As Senate Majority leader, he led the fight to defeat anti-marriage equality legislation, was a strong advocate for the LGBT civil rights bill, and earlier this year spoke out strongly in support of the Iowa Supreme Court's unanimous decision in support of marriage equality. It was so nice to have Senator Gronstal and so many other supportive legislators take time out of their busy schedules to stop by and show their support. With enough hard work, next year there will be even more fair-minded state legislators elected and in attendance!
