HRC: Even with Setbacks, Past Year Has Shown Great Progress

by HRC Staff

'Even with setbacks last year, we've seen more progress in the past 12 months than we've seen in any year since 1992,' said HRC President Joe Solmonese.

WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign released a new report today showing that on a variety of fronts - from family rights to workplace protections - there has been consistent progress made in obtaining legal rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans, in spite of reports characterizing last November's election as a 'backlash.' The report comes as residents of Massachusetts mark the first anniversary of the state granting marriage rights to same-sex couples in the state.

&quotEven with the setbacks at the end of last year, we've seen more progress in the past 12 months than we've seen in any other year since 1992,&quot said HRC President Joe Solmonese. &quotIn spite of the best political maneuverings of those on the ultra-right, there is undeniable progress across the spectrum from family rights to workplace protections to rising polling - hearts, minds and laws are slowly changing for the best.&quot

The report showed, among other things, that:

In addition, polling on election day last November showed that a high-water mark of 60 percent of the country supports either marriage or civil unions for same-sex couples. Similar polling Massachusetts and New Jersey has shown that a majority of residents in those states favor marriage equality.

"Clearly, we still have a long way to go," said Solmonese. "But the American people over time always value fairness over discrimination, and we continue to see that dynamic play out all across the country."

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