by Stephen Peters •
WASHINGTON – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised the local leaders and advocates on the ground in Springfield, Missouri, for their tireless work on behalf of equality and the city’s LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance that the city council passed earlier this year. Yesterday, residents narrowly voted to repeal the ordinance.
HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse issued the following statement in response to the disappointing news from Missouri’s third largest city:
"Everyone in Springfield, including LGBT people, should be able to live, work, and care for their family without fear of discrimination. While yesterday was a difficult setback for equality in Springfield, the fight goes on and the future is bright. We were proud to support the thousands of fair-minded voters in Springfield who cast ballots to defend equality in the election, and we’re committed to ensuring that equality will ultimately prevail in Springfield and throughout the state of Missouri."
HRC has been on the ground since December working on the One Springfield campaign with local partners, including PROMO, ACLU of Missouri, ProVote, Glo Center, PFLAG, Straight for Equality, Planned Parenthood, and FOCUS. HRC was a significant investor in the campaign, contributing staff time and phone bank kits, as well as mobilizing HRC members and supporters to volunteer and vote in the election.
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
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