WASHINGTON - Yesterday, on the South Lawn of the White House, the president signed into law a 25-year renewal of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, which bans racial discrimination in voting across the country. The act won bipartisan approval from both chambers of Congress during this legislative session.

"Only when we safeguard the right of all voters to cast their votes can our system of government be truly representative," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "The coalition of civil rights organizations who made this renewal a reality should be commended by all Americans for their outstanding work to protect our most precious democratic exercise - the right to vote. A threat to any American's right to vote is a threat to our democracy."

The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, along with its coalition members, which include the Human Rights Campaign, signed more than 100,000 reauthorization petitions and made 15,000 calls to congressional offices urging renewal of the Voting Rights Act. An aggressive grassroots education and organization effort was waged across the country by thousands of volunteers in their local communities.

The Human Rights Campaign, on behalf of our 600,000 members nationwide, urged members of Congress to actively support and vote in favor of the renewal of the Voting Rights Act. A letter sent to members of Congress, written by Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, stated, "The Voting Rights Act is a much-needed civil rights law that has been supported by bipartisan majorities since its initial passage in 1965. The VRA was originally enacted in response to significant evidence of discriminatory practices. The evidence gathered by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution in the 109th Congress revealed continuing and persistent discrimination. We urge you to support this critical civil rights legislation to protect against discrimination in voting."

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