WASHINGTON - Lawrie Demorest, partner in the Atlanta office of Alston & Bird L.L.P., has been named co-chair of the board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign - the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization.

"Lawrie's passion and energy embodies the spirit of the Human Rights Campaign," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "As we work to shape the hearts and minds of the American people, Lawrie brings tremendous leadership to this organization."

Demorest will lead the 43-member national Human Rights Campaign board of directors along with fellow co-chair Michael Berman of Washington, D.C. Previously, she has co-chaired the Human Rights Campaign Foundation board as well as HRC's board of governors. Her involvement with the Human Rights Campaign spans more than 15 years, including co-chairing two Atlanta gala fundraising dinners for HRC and leading HRC's Atlanta steering committee.

Demorest has been an outspoken advocate for workplace equality - actively promoting non-discrimination policies and domestic partner benefits that earned her firm Alston & Bird a 100 percent rating on HRC's corporate report card.

"As the national conversation develops over the lives of gay and transgender Americans, I am proud to help HRC lead as an important voice for our movement," said Lawrie Demorest. "While we have already seen tremendous progress, we continue to strive for full equality including fairness in the workplace and making sure every family has the same protections under law."

Professionally, Demorest concentrates on the defense of complex cases for Alston & Bird. She received her J.D. degree from Emory University School of Law and her bachelor's degree from Franklin & Marshall College. She is licensed to practice law in Georgia and Massachusetts.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country.It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.