Chad Griffin has helmed the Human Rights Campaign for seven years and is announcing he will step down as president once a replacement has been found, The Associated Press reports. HRC is the nation’s largest LGBTQ activist organization.
“Every person in the Democratic Party who is thinking of running for president is going to call Chad,” Dan Pfeiffer, a former top Obama White House advisor and longtime friend of Griffin says.
The AP describes Griffin as an “influential gay rights activist who helped turn the Human Rights Campaign into a powerful political force,” and a “prolific fundraiser with deep political ties,” who “probably will become one of the most sought after advisers for Democrats preparing to undertake White House campaigns.”
HRC took the opportunity to laud Griffin’s accomplishments.
“Under Griffin’s leadership, HRC has become a leader in the resistance to the Trump-Pence administration, and one of the most politically powerful organizations in the country,” HRC said on its website. “HRC has doubled its membership, staff and budget to meet its expanded goals and opportunities.”
“During Griffin’s tenure, HRC has led efforts to win marriage equality, introduce the Equality Act which would establish explicit federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ people, launched the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history ahead of the 2018 midterms, and established new programs to expand protections across the Deep South and around the globe.”
Image by Ted Eytan via Flickr and a CC license