Gaithersburg, MD – Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, announced its endorsement of Maryland State Delegate Joe Vogel (MD-17) to the House of Representatives to represent Central and Western Maryland.HRC PAC is committed to engaging its volunteers, members and supporters to mobilize the more than 2 million Equality Voters in Maryland to support Vogel and other pro-equality candidates up and down the ballot.
“Joe has made an immeasurable impact in the Maryland State House, creating community-focused change and bringing essential resources to Marylanders,” said Reg Calcagno, Human Rights Campaign Director, National Campaigns. “As a young changemaker and member of the LGBTQ+ community, Joe will also serve as an essential voice in the U.S. House for what we expect will be a return to a pro-equality majority after the November election. We’re thrilled to endorse one of the next generation’s leaders and look forward to engaging Maryland voters and helping elect Joe Vogel to Congress.”
“I’m proud to receive the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign PAC,” said Delegate Joe Vogel. “HRC has been a leader in the fight for marriage equality and LGBTQ+ rights throughout our country. As someone who would be the first openly gay Marylander in Congress, I stand on the shoulders of organizations like HRC who have paved the way for countless LGBTQ+ leaders. In Congress, I look forward to working with them to advance an agenda that achieves true equality for all Marylanders.”
Joe has been politically active in state and national politics for over a decade. In the aftermath of Trump’s election, Joe jumped into the fight for gun violence prevention, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ rights. In 2020, Joe doubled down on his effort to defeat Donald Trump, assisting President Biden’s campaign in the runup to the General Election. After helping to take back the White House, Joe turned back to Maryland to help his community that was reeling from the effects of the pandemic.
Joe organized his community in Maryland to increase education funding for Maryland students. He founded Learn It Together, a nationwide education nonprofit providing free tutoring for children of essential workers. Joe has also worked with Interfaith Works to expand their anti-poverty advocacy efforts and is an active community volunteer with the Maryland Responds Network. Now, he’s ready to continue his work for all Marylanders in the US House of Representatives.
HRC’s Commitment to Maryland
Equality Voters, including the two million in Maryland, are a voting bloc of demographically and geographically diverse Americans who are united by the advancement of LGBTQ+ equality. Equality Voters are younger, more racially diverse, and more female than the general electorate, they recognize and trust the HRC brand and are more likely to identify with issue-specific organizations than candidates or political parties. HRC will work to mobilize and energize Equality Voters in MD-17 to propel Joe Vogel to victory in 2024.