BREAKING: Human Rights Campaign Revokes Endorsement of Sen. Mark Kirk

LGBT Group Instead Backs Democrat Tammy Duckworth

After two days of intense criticism, the Human Rights Campaign has revoked its endorsement of Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk in response to his racist remark during a debate on Thursday. 

HRC President Chad Griffin announced Saturday afternoon that the group’s Board of Directors has voted instead to support Kirk’s challenger, Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth. It makes the first time in its 36-year history that HRC, the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy organization, has revoked an endorsement. 

During a debate against Duckworth, Kirk mocked his opponent’s biracial heritage, which Griffin called “deeply offensive and racist.” 

“His attempt to use Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth’s race as a means to undermine her family’s American heritage and patriotism is beyond reproach,” Griffin wrote. “Yesterday, Senator Kirk tweeted an apology that failed to adequately address the real harm and magnitude of his words. So today, following a vote by our board’s committee, the Human Rights Campaign withdrew our support of Senator Kirk.

“Attacking someone because of her race and ethnicity is inexcusable for anyone, but especially for a sitting U.S. Senator,” Griffin wrote. “The diversity of our movement is our greatest strength, and Senator Kirk’s remarks were an affront to our most fundamental values. We have therefore voted to endorse Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, who has been a strong LGBTQ ally in the House of Representatives, and HRC will contribute the maximum amount to her campaign. We look forward to working with her in the Senate to secure full federal equality for all LGBTQ Americans.” 

Read Griffin’s full post here.