Human Rights Campaign Endorses Steve Dettelbach for Ohio Attorney General

Cleveland, OH -- Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, announced its endorsement of Steve Dettelbach for Ohio Attorney General. HRC will work to mobilize the more than 1.5 million like “Equality Voters” in the state.

“Steve Dettelbach’s commitment to equality and years of service to the people of Ohio make him the clear choice for fair-minded voters,” said HRC Ohio State Manager Shawn Copeland. “As Ohio Attorney General, he will stand up for justice under the law and help to move equality forward in the Buckeye State. We look forward to working with him to ensure that the civil rights of all Ohioans are protected.”

“As a longtime a partner in the fight for justice and supporter of LGBTQ rights, I'm honored to be endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign. From announcing the DOJ would no longer defend DOMA, to establishing a dedicated Civil Rights Unit that prosecuted hate crimes under the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Act, some of my proudest moments as a career federal prosecutor were times we took a stand for justice and held people accountable who violated others' civil rights. I'm excited to continue that fight as the Ohio Attorney General.” said Steve Dettelbach.

As a 20 year career federal prosecutor, Steve Dettelbach has spent his career working to make Ohio safer and protect the rights of every Ohioan. Dettelbach fought for the civil rights of all Americans as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, where he created a dedicated Civil Rights Unit, in part to prosecute hate crimes under the Matthew Shepard-James Byrd Hate Crimes Act. Dettelbach’s Republican challenger is Ohio State Auditor Dave Yost, who has stood with opponents of equality who continue to fail the LGBTQ community. .

HRC recently announced a bold, proactive grassroots expansion with the launch of HRC Rising -- a campaign to accelerate progress in states from coast-to-coast, resist the politics of hate, fight anti-LGBTQ legislation, and fuel pro-equality candidates and initiatives. The expansion is the biggest strategic investment in the organization’s 38-year history and will include significant investments in Ohio. HRC has identified more than 1,550,000 Ohioans as likely Equality Voters, meaning they are strong supporters of progressive LGBTQ policies including marriage equality, adoption by LGBTQ people, and laws that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC and authorized by Dettelbach for Ohio

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