Citing his support for social and legal equality for LGBT people, the Human Rights Campaign officially endorsed Joseph Kennedy III in the race to represent the 4th Congressional District .
Democratic Congressional and Senate hopefuls Joseph Kennedy III and Elizabeth Warren, left and center, stand with openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank at the 42nd annual Boston Pride Parade in June 2012. (Photo courtesy of the Joe Kennedy 2012 Facebook page)More politics news
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First Congressional District candidate Bill Shein says that although many Democrats probably have comparable ideas, the similarities he noted between the words one of his opponents has put forth as his own and other Democratic politicians are too close for comfort.Citing his support for social and legal equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, the Human Rights Campaign officially endorsed Joseph Kennedy III on Friday in the race to represent the 4th Massachusetts Congressional District.
Kennedy, the son of former U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy II and a grandson of the late U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, is aiming to win the seat to be left behind when U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Newton, retires at the end of his term. Since declaring his intention to run for Congress, Kennedy has been an outspoken advocate for LGBT equality.
Calling him a "tireless champion for fairness and equality," the president of the HRC compared Kennedy's anticipated approach to LGBT issues to that of the openly-gay Congressman Frank, who has fought to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act which federally defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.
"The 4th District is used to being represented by a leader on equal rights for all and Joe is the right candidate to fill those big shoes," said Chad Griffin, HRC president in a statement.
Kennedy, who was previously endorsed by the Bay State Stonewall Democrats, praised the HRC for working since 1980 to promote LGBT equality and promised to be an advocate for further progress.
“HRC has spent decades at the forefront of this country’s fight for true equality, and I am humbled to have their support in this race,” Kennedy said in a stament. “I believe deeply that each person deserves to be treated fairly, regardless of sexual orientation, race, religion, gender, or anything else. HRC will be an invaluable ally to this campaign moving forward.”
Kennedy is facing Republican competition from Dr. Elizabeth Childs, former state mental health commissioner; Sean Bielat, a U.S. Marine and businessman; and Fall River dentist David Steinhof.
The remaining Democratic challengers include Herb Robinson, the Newton Democrat who dropped out of the U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts in December, and Rachel Brown, a Larouche Democrat who believes that President Barack Obama is actually an agent of the "British Empire."
Citing the pending Democratic primary showdown against Robinson and Brown, Kennedy's campaign previously confirmed that he will not be attending the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.