From HRC:

Human Rights Campaign Statement on the Passing of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, issued the following statement today on the passing of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA).

“The nation has lost its greatest champion and strongest voice for justice, fairness, and compassion,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.  “The loss to our community is immeasurable.  There was no greater hero for advocates of LGBT equality than Senator Ted Kennedy.  From the early days of the AIDS epidemic , to our current struggle for marriage equality he has been our protector, our leader, our friend.  He has been the core of the unfinished quest for civil rights in this country and there is now a very painful void.  Our hearts go out to the Kennedy family.”

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

From AfterElton:

Senator Edward M. Kennedy died late Tuesday night at the age of 77. His death is a particular sad loss for the GLBT community, because he was throughout his career a strong supporter of civil rights, including gay civil rights.

He fought DOMA, declaring his view that the legislation was unconstitutional. This year he introduced and fought for a transgender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Bill (ENDA).

He was known as the “Lion of the Senate” and was certainly the most influential liberal politician of our times. Arguably, his endorsement of Barack Obama was what allowed the President to defeat Hilary Clinton in the Democratic primary.

But he leaves with his greatest cause, the one for universal health care, still not answered.

Just my guess, but whatever health care legislation results this year, it will most likely be called the “Edward M. Kennedy Health Care Act.”

From the Victory Fund:

Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund President and CEO Chuck Wolfe issued the following statement today on the death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy:

“Good men serve others but great men take care to serve the least fortunate.  Senator Kennedy was a great man.  He made a career of fighting for the poor, for women, for racial minorities, and for basic human rights for LGBT Americans.

“Senator Kennedy’s life was marked by generosity and a legendary tenacity that earned him the respect of his colleagues and the affection of the public he served.  But he will always occupy a special place in the hearts of LGBT Americans, who saw in him a fierce champion for their full equality.

“Senator Kennedy was a strong supporter of the work of the Victory Fund, offering his time and endorsing our mission to elect LGBT candidates to public office.  We mourn the loss of our friend and patron, and we urge good men and women who possess the passion and commitment of people like Senator Kennedy to follow him into public service and emulate his intense dedication to that profession.”

From Law Dork:

Tonight is a sad moment for progressive action in America. . .

I remember, more than a decade ago, working at various D.C. entities, and feeling the remarkable presence of Senator Kennedy throughout Democratic and liberal causes.  It always appeared that he or his spirit were motivating much if not all liberal successes of the day.

I later learned that it was not just the day, it was Kennedy.

He was not a perfect politician or a perfect person, but he taught — and often reminded — much of today’s Democratic party about our ideals — and the worthwhile struggles we all face to reach toward them.

One of the 14 Senators who voted against the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, Sen. Kennedy was a strong supporter of lesbian and gay equality before it was even vaguely popular — in any crowd — to do so.  Even earlier, in 1993, Kennedy replaced the retired California Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston as the chief sponsor of the “gay rights bill” that was then being introduced in the Senate.  Ted Kennedy was one of the stalwart — and much needed — voices of equality in our nation, and I particularly mourn for this loss….

In his struggle to do good by his brothers, and for our nation, Ted Kennedy has done well.

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