Human Rights Campaign Endorses Abdul El-Sayed for US Senate

Nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization backs Abdul in Michigan’s US Senate race

MICHIGAN – The Human Rights Campaign PAC today announced its endorsement of Dr. Abdul El-Sayed for US Senate, adding the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization to the broad coalition of advocacy groups, labor unions, and elected officials backing his campaign.

“Abdul El-Sayed is a doctor, a fighter, and exactly the kind of leader Michigan needs right now,” said HRC President Kelley Robinson. “While his opponent has spent his career making life harder for Michiganders, Abdul has spent his making it better – for everyone. He’s a proven public servant and champion for equality. The Human Rights Campaign is proud to stand with him and go all in to send him to the Senate this November.”  

“I’m proud to have the Human Rights Campaign standing with us in this race,” said Abdul El-Sayed. “LGBTQ+ Michiganders deserve leaders who will have their backs when it matters most, not just when it’s politically convenient. That’s the commitment I’ve carried throughout my career in Detroit and Wayne County, and in the United States Senate, I’ll fight to ensure every Michigander can live without discrimination and never have to wonder whether their rights will still be there tomorrow.”

Throughout his career in public health, Abdul has worked to expand access to care and ensure LGBTQ+ Michiganders can get the services they need without stigma or discrimination. As Detroit’s health director, he led the city’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS program and worked with LGBT Detroit to make public health services more accessible and affirming for LGBTQ+ residents.

For decades, Mike Rogers has stood against LGBTQ+ rights. He has called being gay a “lifestyle choice,” said he would oppose marriage equality even if his own child were gay, and repeatedly voted against basic rights and protections for LGBTQ+ Americans, including:

  • Voting multiple times against marriage equality,
  • Voting against the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expanded federal hate-crime protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
  • Voting against repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the discriminatory policy that forced LGBTQ+ service members out of the military because of who they are or who they love.
  • Voted for legislation that “weakens vital” provisions to increase the safety of the LGBT community.


The Human Rights Campaign joins a growing list of advocacy organizations supporting Abdul’s campaign, including Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Reproductive Freedom for All, End Citizens United, MoveOn, and Indivisible. Abdul has also earned the backing of major labor unions including UAW and National Nurses United, as well as national, state, and local elected officials.

A full list of Abdul’s endorsements can be found here.

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