WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today issued a statement on the selection of Jeffrey S. Crowley to head the Office of National AIDS Policy for President Barack Obama. Crowley, a Senior Research Scholar at Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute, will coordinate the federal government's efforts on HIV/AIDS policy and will help guide the administration's development of disability policies.

"The announcement of Jeffrey Crowley signals that HIV/AIDS issues will be an integral part of health care reform in the Obama Administration," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Throughout his campaign, President Obama called for the development of a bold national AIDS strategy. With Crowley's leadership, we look forward to working with the Office of National AIDS Policy in setting an aggressive agenda to combat HIV/AIDS in our country."

Crowley, who is openly gay, joined the Health Policy Institute in October 2000. Prior to his time at Georgetown, Mr. Crowley served as the Deputy Executive Director for Programs at the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), overseeing the organization's public education, community development, and training activities.

The Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) is the White House Office tasked with coordinating the continuing efforts of the government to reduce the number of HIV infections across the United States. The office emphasizes prevention through wide-ranging education initiatives and also helps to coordinate the care and treatment of citizens with HIV/AIDS. The ONAP is part of the Executive Office of the President's Domestic Policy Council (DPC).

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.