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That Article can be READ HERE.

If you know me, you will also know that I have been a long time critic of the Human Rights Campaign, for many reasons, including their premature endorsement of Hilary Clinton, during the early stages on the primaries.

Now I appreciate their endorsement of Senator Dianne Feinstein as follows:

HRC Endorses California Senator Dianne Feinstein for Re-Election: Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, announced its endorsement of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for re-election to the U.S. Senate.

“From the earliest days of her career as one of California’s most devoted public servants, Senator Feinstein has been a stalwart supporter of the LGBTQ community,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “

As Donald Trump and Mike Pence attempt to undo our progress and drag our country backwards, Senator Feinstein is standing up to this administration’s dangerous attacks on LGBTQ people and fighting for the equal dignity of all Americans. HRC is proud to endorse Senator Feinstein’s bid for reelection and we look forward to continuing to work with her to secure full federal equality.”

“I want to sincerely thank the Human Rights Campaign for their powerful work promoting LGBTQ civil rights across America and for endorsing my reelection,” said Senator Feinstein. “As Supervisor and Mayor of San Francisco, and as California’s Senator, I’ve always been proud to support the LGBTQ community, and I look forward to continuing my work with HRC in campaigns, courtrooms and Congress to achieve equality for all.”

Senator Feinstein scored a perfect 100 on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard for the 114th and 113th Congress. She is an original cosponsor of the Equality Act and was a leader in the fight to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Back in 1993, Feinstein was one of only 33 Senators to vote against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and in 1996 she was one of only 14 Senators to vote against DOMA. Under the leadership of then-Mayor Feinstein, San Francisco prioritized funding for research and treatment during the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Senator Feinstein has continued to fight for funding for global and domestic HIV prevention programs. Most recently, Senator Feinstein has continued to hold the Trump-Pence administration accountable for their attacks against the LGBTQ community — especially the harmful actions by Betsy DeVos and Jeff Sessions. She has also been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump’s discriminatory ban on transgender service members.

Way back in 1997, when my ex and I had problems with the adoption of our baby daughter in Vietnam – the smooth machinery of Feinstein’s office made sure we were able to bring our baby girl home. Hannah is now 21 and a Junior at Tisch, NYU.

In 2009 when I lead the advocacy to Senator Feinstein for the unique and extraordinary measure of a Private Bill for a lesbian mom about to be deported, all the organizations usually charged with that type of work, laughed at the idea. They said Feinstein would never do it. This was before Hillary and Obama had ‘evolved’ on same-sex marriage. Feinstein did it. She introduced a Private Bill into Congress for one woman and her family ! And each year thereafter until DOMA (The Defense of Marriage Act) fell in 2015.

In 2008 when my own same-sex wife could have been subjected to deportation, leaving me with an untenable Sophie’s choice between my 2 little daughters, Senator Feinstein did not hesitate – again she helped.

Then when I was a Grand Marshal for San Francisco Pride in 2014, in recognition of my global LGBT work, Senator Feinstein wrote an individual letter to several US embassies in Africa – in support each of the LGBT people – mostly persecuted – to come to the USA – to march in my Pride contingency .

Unfortunately the Obama/Kerry Embassy declined the VISAS because they feared the invitees would not return to their countries of persecution – fearing that they would remain in US for asylum. Feinstein probably knew of that so called ‘risk’ and still agreed to provide this individual support to over 20 LGBTQI people from several African countries.

This Senator has an extraordinary office that has always been forward thinking and that places her constituents at the fore of what seems fair. It is heartfelt.

I will never forget!

Melanie Nathan
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