Outgoing World Jewish Congress secretary-general and prominent gay rights activist Stephen Herbits will lead Hillary Clinton's campaign within the gay and lesbian community, as she seeks to win the Democrat presidential nomination.

Herbits has in the past held several positions related to the gay and lesbian community in the United States.

In his last post, Herbits served as the personal assistant to Donald Rumsfeld during his term as secretary of defense. He was then appointed secretary-general of the WJC.

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After cosmetics heir Ron Lauder was elected to the WJC presidency in June, replacing Canadian billionaire Edgar Bronfman, Herbits announced he would resign from his post as the organization's secretary-general. He has not yet stepped down.

The WJC was established in the 1930s and represents Jewish communities from 80 countries. In the 1990s, the organization played a key role in restoring property that was stolen in the Holocaust to its Jewish owners, but has recently found it difficult to focus on a major goal.