LGBT Rights Group Under Fire
The Human Rights Campaign is again coming under fire for its controversial endorsement of a supposedly moderate Republican U.S. Senator with a questionable record on LGBT rights after he attacked his Democratic challenger Thursday evening with a racially-charged remark.
HRC endorsed U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) in March, instead of Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, who is challenging Kirk for his Senate seat. Kirk has a 78% rating from HRC, Duckworth has a 100% rating.
Many are calling on HRC, the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights group, to rescind its endorsement of Kirk and throw its weight to Duckworth, after the Illinois Senator’s ugly remarks.
On Thursday at a town hall debate between the two candidates, Duckworth, a veteran who lost both her legs and damaged her right arm in the Iraq war, spoke about her and her family’s long history of military service.
“My family has served this nation in uniform, going back to the Revolution,” Duckworth told voters Thursday. “But I still want to be there in the Senate when the drums of war sound. Because people are quick to sound the drums of war, and I want to be there to say this is what it costs, this is what you’re asking us to do,” she continued. “Families like mine are the ones that bleed first.”
Sen. Kirk’s response has become headline news.
“I had forgotten that your parents came all the way from Thailand to serve George Washington,” Kirk said, mocking Duckworth’s biracial heritage.Â
HRC is refusing to rescind its endorsement, even after Kirk’s remarks.
“Mark Kirk’s comments were wrong and inappropriate,” HRC told The New Civil Rights Movement via email. “HRC endorsed Senator Kirk based on the strength of his record on LGBTQ equality, and while that remains unchanged, we believe he should rescind his comments immediately.”
Friday on Twitter many shared their upset over HRC’s endorsement of Kirk after his ugly comment:
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