Post submitted by Stephen Peters, former Senior National Press Secretary and Spokesperson

HRC announced its endorsement of Janet Mills in her bid to become the next governor of Maine.

“As Attorney General of Maine, Janet Mills has fought tirelessly against discrimination and worked to ensure that all Mainers have an equal opportunity for success,” said HRC Senior Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof. “A proven leader, Janet is the clear choice for fair-minded voters who want to continue moving Maine forward as a welcoming and inclusive state. HRC is proud to endorse Janet Mills for governor, and we look forward to working closely with her to advance LGBTQ equality.”

“I am proud to earn the support of the Human Rights Campaign, an organization that is on the forefront of fighting for full LGBT equality,” said Attorney General Janet Mills. “Throughout my career, whether in the Legislature or as Attorney General, I have fought prejudice and discrimination wherever I encountered it. As Governor, I will continue to do the same, striving to ensure that LGBT Mainers are treated with respect and dignity and that Maine is a welcoming, inclusive, and safe place to live for all.”

As the Attorney General of Maine  — the first and only woman to hold that position  — Mills testified in favor of the historic marriage equality bill and joined other attorneys general across the country in federal lawsuits aimed at stopping discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in the Armed Forces and elsewhere. Between 2002 to 2009, Mills also served in the Maine House of Representatives, where she supported Maine’s landmark legislation to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. She also served as District Attorney for Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford Counties, where she was the first woman to be elected as a district attorney in New England. If elected governor, she has pledged to fully enforce Maine’s non-discrimination laws and policies, protect LGBTQ youth from the discredited and harmful practice of so-called “conversion therapy,” and support inclusive care for transgender Mainers.

In Maine, HRC has identified nearly 290,000 “Equality Voters,” meaning they are strong supporters of progressive LGBTQ policies including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Last year, HRC announced a coast-to-coast campaign to mobilize voters for the midterm elections called HRC Rising, which represents the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.