Dear Friends, 

As we step into 2025, my heart is filled with pride in our community and hope for the future we can build together. Hope I see in every corner of our movement – young people stepping into their truth with unstoppable courage, families embracing their children with fierce love, teachers creating safe spaces in their classrooms, business leaders championing inclusion, and activists who wake up every day ready to push our movement forward. Your resilience isn't just personal strength – it's the power that moves history forward.

In countless ways, big and small, you prove that love still conquers hate, that dignity defeats discrimination, and that together we can build a future worthy of our dreams. This is what leadership looks like. This is what change looks like. This is what hope looks like in action. As your president, I've never been more certain of what we can achieve together.  Because when I look at our community, I don't just see the challenges we face – I see the power we hold. I see a movement that understands the hard work ahead and stands ready to do it, day after day, battle after battle.

This week has given us powerful cause for hope in the progress we're making: Sarah McBride made history as the first transgender woman sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives. Emily Randall became the first openly queer Latina in Congress, while Julie Johnson broke barriers as the first openly lesbian congresswoman from the South. They join over 1,200 out LGBTQ+ elected officials serving across America – each one a testament to our community's resilience and a beacon of hope for future generations.

Adding to these historic moments, President Biden honored two giants of our movement at the White House on January 2. Evan Wolfson, founder of Freedom to Marry, and Mary L. Bonauto of GLAD Law, who famously argued the Obergefell case before the Supreme Court of the United States, received the Presidential Citizens Medal — our nation's second-highest civilian honor — for their transformative work in achieving marriage equality. As the President noted, "Together, you embody the central truth: We're a great nation because we're a good people." Their recognition reminds us that progress is possible when we dare to imagine and fight for change.

The Advocate: Biden honors LGBTQ+ trailblazers for marriage equality contributions at Presidential Citizens Medal ceremony.

We face significant challenges ahead. The incoming administration has made their stance clear – they seek to roll back our hard-won progress. But we are not without hope, and we are certainly not without power. The Human Rights Campaign will be focused on shifting the momentum by connecting key battles across the country. We’ll be defending our progress and championing LGBTQ+ people in our schools and workplaces, in our communities and in political battles here in Washington and in the states.  By linking these strategic fights together, we will create a united force for progress that can't be ignored or divided. 

So What’s Next?

Taking Care of Our People In times of uncertainty, our first duty is to protect and support our community. We've created a comprehensive resource center at hrc.org/resources to help navigate these challenging times — from updating identity documents to accessing healthcare and practicing essential self-care. Our young people in schools need protection; our families across the country need defense, and our community needs tools to safeguard their fundamental freedoms. In the months ahead, we must choose community — stepping up to protect those who need us most and caring for each other with unwavering dedication.

Staying in The Fight This year demands our presence in every arena where our rights are at stake. We'll be there — in school board meetings and state houses, in corporate boardrooms and congressional halls — pushing back against anti-LGBTQ+ policies with unwavering determination. We'll leverage tools like our Corporate Equality Index to hold businesses accountable to their stated values. Where pro-equality champions lead, we'll advance policies that showcase what's possible. History has shown that when we show up united, we win. This year, we show up for every fight.

Creating a New Chapter in History Our greatest challenge extends beyond any single election cycle or policy fight — we must fundamentally change the American narrative. We need to tell a story that transforms "political talking points" into real people — family members, classmates, coworkers and friends. We must help people recognize their common humanity, fostering understanding through tough but necessary conversations around kitchen tables and at PTA meetings. 

This is about daring America to imagine something different, something better — a nation more expansive, more bold and more inclusive than anything previously conceived. And here is the good news. Our story is being written in community centers and courtrooms, in state houses and school boards, in the quiet courage of coming out and the bold vision of creating families in all their beautiful forms. This is not just about defending what we have — it's about imagining and building the future we deserve. This is the legacy we're creating for 2025 and beyond.

And speaking of family, I want to share some personal joy that deepens my commitment to this work. Over the holiday break, Becky and I announced that we're expecting! We shared our journey to parenthood in The Grio, adding our story to the beautiful tapestry of LGBTQ+ families across America. 

This year will bring challenges, yes. But when I think about the child we’re expecting and the  future we’re fighting for, I'm reminded of what's at stake – and what's possible. Like generations before us, we find our greatest strength in each other. Every parent's dream for their child is a world where they can thrive, freely and fully. Together, we'll build that world not just for our children, but for all who come after them.

Dear Friends,

This week, I am filled with pride to share historic news about corporate America’s commitment to equality. This week, the HRC Foundation released our 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) marking the strongest showing in our 22-year history of measuring workplace equality. A record 1,449 businesses, including 72 new companies who are a part of the Index for the first time. Even more impressive, 765 companies earned a score of 100 — a 28% increase from last year. Together, these participating companies employ over 22 million U.S. employees, showing just how far-reaching our impact has become.

HR Brew: 98% of businesses have gender identity and sexual orientation non-discrimination policies, up from 5% in 2002, report finds.

In today's climate, we're seeing unequivocally that inclusion isn't just the right thing to do — it's good business. Our recent Climate Survey reveals that 93.5% of LGBTQ+ workers view a score of 100 as a meaningful signal of support for our community. This matters because talent is watching: 60% of employees now consider inclusive work cultures crucial in their employment decisions, up 9 points from 2022. The message is clear: companies that champion equality aren't just building better workplaces; they're building stronger businesses.

The numbers tell a compelling story of progress:

+ An overwhelming 98% of participating companies now include sexual orientation and gender identity in their non-discrimination policies — up from just 5% in 2002

+ 82% provide equivalent spousal and partner medical benefits

+ 87% offer equal health coverage for transgender individuals

+ We saw a 25% increase in companies providing LGBTQ+ health benefits guides

Perhaps most notably, 1,051 companies have established gender transition guidelines with supportive policies — a 21% increase from last year. This shows that even in the face of anti-transgender legislation across the country, corporate America is standing firm in its commitment to inclusion.

We've faced unprecedented challenges this year, with attacks on DEI initiatives and attempts to pressure companies away from their inclusive values. Yet the CEI results tell a different story: businesses are committed to equality because they understand that inclusive workplaces drive innovation, attract top talent and build stronger connections with consumers.

Our data shows that companies can't afford to retreat from equality: nearly 20% of LGBTQ+ employees would leave companies that walk back inclusion commitments, and 80% of LGBTQ+ consumers are ready to boycott businesses that roll back these initiatives. This isn't just about values — it's about value creation.

As we celebrate this year's success, we're already thinking about tomorrow's challenges. The CEI has evolved from a simple workplace survey into a comprehensive roadmap for corporate inclusion. We're seeing companies not just meeting basic standards but proactively expanding benefits, creating more inclusive healthcare coverage and developing robust support systems for transitioning employees.

Our door remains open to every company willing to learn and grow. Whether you're an Equality 100 veteran or considering participation for the first time, the HRC Foundation is here to partner with you in creating workplaces where every employee can thrive.

None of this would be possible without our dedicated team, our corporate partners and supporters like you who believe in the power of workplace equality. The message from this year's CEI is clear: the business case for equality transcends politics. When companies invest in inclusion, they invest in their own success. 

Dear Friends,

As we face the realities of the year ahead, we must remember that we are a strong, determined and diverse community that has faced many challenges over the course of our history. Our movement and our work at the Human Rights Campaign have always been about the journey we’re making together, not the obstacles in our path. 

When the AIDS crisis devastated our community, we organized, raised awareness and fought back. When our right to marry was denied, we shared our stories, orchestrated a strategic state-by-state plan, changed hearts and minds and prevailed. We’ve stood on the shoulders of giants like Audre Lorde, Pauli Murray, Harvey Milk, Bayard Rustin and Marsha P. Johnson who showed us what courage, hope and perseverance look like. They carried the spirit of the civil rights movement forward and passed the baton to the next generation.

Now is another inflection point in our journey… We know that significant challenges lie ahead. But since the beginning of our movement, we have approached our struggles as a united force, with energy and purpose and a compelling vision for our common future. And so let’s stay clear-eyed and committed to protecting and advancing equality — even in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Just this week, extremist members of the House of Representatives advanced a deeply partisan bill that would prohibit transgender youth from participating in school sports nationwide, a bill that would interfere with the safety and privacy of all girls. As we have seen recently in Florida and Utah, similar state legislation has led to the harassment and humiliation of young girls, regardless of whether they identify as trans. This type of legislation is not meant to solve any pressing problem; it is simply a tool to politicize transgender children for political gain.

So, yes, the path ahead will require steely determination. We see threats to diverse and inclusive workplaces, safe and welcoming schools, and our community’s dignity and safety. But we know the way forward — it’s through unity, service and showing up for each other every day, in these ways large and small.

A lot of you have been asking what you can do — here are just a few ways that you can help:

Stay informed by reading our messages. Take action when we ask. Together, we will speak up and call out discrimination and injustice toward LGBTQ+ Americans.

Call and email your elected representatives at the federal, state and local levels. Your voice needs to be heard! We’ve earned our influence and power — we must use it.

Continue your financial support of HRC to ensure that we have the necessary resources to protect equality in every aspect of our lives. Invite others to join us! We need to be ready, often at a moment’s notice, to respond to all threats to our hard-won progress.

Be active and aware of what’s happening in your state and in local politics, including state legislatures, city councils and school boards. Together, we will battle back against anti-LGBTQ+ forces and work to protect our community at home.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and share our content with your networks. Help spread the truth and counter misinformation and disinformation. Our stories give voice to the lived experiences of our community and raise awareness about the impact of policy decisions on LGBTQ+ people and allies.

I hope you are prepared to join us every step of the way.

Next week, to demonstrate the commitment and power of our community, HRC will officially launch our 100,000 Actions in 100 Days Challenge. Along the way, we will ask you to take action with us in order to demonstrate the breadth and depth of support in this nation for LGBTQ+ rights. Can we count on you to stay active, stay informed and stay engaged with HRC — for the next 100 days and beyond?

And remember, Inauguration Day is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Despite the obstacles on our path, we can see the mountaintop toward which we’re ultimately headed. Getting there requires us to put one foot in front of the other, persevere and win the glory of our liberation for generations to come. It will take work, courage, community and the guiding lights of both our ancestors and our posterity.

Today, friends, I’m asking you to find some love, find some joy, find some peace and commit to continuing the journey toward equality for all. We need you with us like never before. And together — I know it in my bones — we will get there.