HRC President Joe Solmonese to depart early 2012

Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese is stepping down when his contract expires in March.

“Leading HRC has been an inspiring experience and a complete privilege,” Solmonese says in a statement. “I could not be more proud of our staff, our volunteer leadership and of the extraordinary progress we’ve made together as a community.”

“HRC has never been stronger and after nearly seven years, this is the right moment for me to move on,” he added. “As I explore new professional possibilities, I plan on continuing to pour my heart and soul into improving the lives of members of our community – from battling proposed marriage amendments to creating more equitable workplaces to ensuring the President Obama is reelected for a second term.”

Tim Downing, who co-chairs the HRC Board of Directors, praised Solmonese’s leadership on such milestones as the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, and the recent passage marriage equality in New York.

“Joe has made sure that HRC is an effective and strategic force for positive change,” Downing said. “Over the course of his tenure, he’s set the tone for delivering real reform that matters in peoples’ everyday lives.”

Solmonese’s leadership has taken the organization from 750,000 members and supporters to more than 1,000,000. Read more on the community’s record of success during Solmonese’s tenure.