The suspense is over. The state’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group, long allied with Democrats, is backing the Democratic nominee for governor. Jared Polis also would be the state’s first openly gay governor.

Daniel Ramos, the organization’s executive director, broke the news in a statement Thursday afternoon, saying Polis’ work as a congressman from Boulder showed he’s a champion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Coloradans.

Said Ramos:

Jared Polis has led the charge in the fight for LGBTQ equality in the halls of Capitol Hill. During his first term as a congressman, Jared led the passage of a ground-breaking LGBTQ-inclusive hate crime law, which closed gaps by making crimes committed based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity a hate crime. Throughout his career, he has sponsored bills that would mirror Colorado’s nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ Coloradans, like the Equality Act which would protect Americans from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, and the Student Non-Discrimination Act, which would protect all students, including LGBTQ students, from bullying and harassment in their schools. Jared has represented the Colorado values of freedom and equality for all in Washington, and I know as governor, Jared will be a pro-equality champion who will work to continue Colorado’s progress towards being a more fair and just state for LGBTQ Coloradans and their families.

The organization said it would be announcing more endorsements – guessing Democrats – for the state House and Senate over the next week.

The legislature has had a strong and effective LGBTQ Caucus, though they’ve run into roadblocks in the Republican-led Senate on such issues as banning conversion therapy for minors and making it easier to amend birth certificates for transgender Coloradans.

The caucus last session included Democratic Sens. Lucia Guzman of Denver, Dominick Moreno of Commerce City, with Reps. Paul Rosenthal of Denver, Daneya Esgar of Pueblo, Joann Ginal of Fort Collins and Leslie Herod of Denver.