The term "HRC" can refer to several entities, but one of the most common meanings is the Human Rights Campaign, a prominent LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in the United States. Founded in 1980, HRC works to promote and protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals through education, lobbying, and grassroots mobilization. The organization also conducts research and provides resources to support equality and inclusion. Another meaning of "HRC" is the HRC hardness scale, which measures the hardness of materials, particularly metals. This scale is essential in various industries, as it helps determine a material's resistance to deformation and wear. The HRC scale is commonly used in metallurgy and engineering to ensure that materials meet specific performance standards.