We’ve spent 40 years creating the most powerful movement for equality our country has ever seen. But despite this progress, our most marginalized are still suffering from violence, discrimination and fear. Our goal is to ensure that all LGBTQ+ people, and particularly those of us who are trans, people of color and HIV+, are treated as full and equal citizens within our movement, across our country and around the world.
Our Mission
By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, the Human Rights Campaign strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people plus community members who use different language to describe identity are ensured equality and embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
HRC By the Numbers
We’ve built our political power by investing in a grassroots army with members in every zip code in America.
3MIL+Members and supporters nationwide
9MIL+HRC’s digital reach across all platforms
40+Years of tireless advocacy for LGBTQ+ equality
Our History
Established in 1980 by Steve Endean and originally known as the Human Rights Campaign Fund, our organization was primarily a fund for supporting pro-fairness congressional candidates. In the early days of HRC, there were few openly LGBTQ+ officials in office.
In 1995, we rebranded the organization to reflect our expanded programs, research and communications by dropping “fund” from our name and launching a new logo. The iconic blue-and-yellow equal sign has become synonymous with the fight for equal rights for LGBTQ+ people. HRC began a long period of robust growth and became respected as one of the largest and most effective mainstream advocacy organizations in the country.
With an estimated 52 million Equality Voters across America, our community is one of the largest and most politically engaged voting blocs in the country.
Our Racial Equity and Inclusion Statement
We cannot achieve LGBTQ+ equality while LGBTQ+ people of color continue to be oppressed on the basis of race. We must lean into our responsibility to advocate for those within our community who are multiply marginalized and shut out by systems and institutions because they are people of color AND LGBTQ+.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation supports LGBTQ+ individuals, allies, and institutions with resources via a set of comprehensive programs. Learn more at thehrcfoundation.org.
