HRC releases Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality list

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today released its annual list of “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.”   This year 305 companies were awarded this distinction for their employment policies and practices that include LGBT workers and their families.  A complete list of the honored businesses is available online at www.hrc.org/placestowork.

“These companies' actions constitute tangible, significant civil rights progress.  By mandating equal opportunity in hiring, ensuring equal compensation through medical and family benefits, and promoting informed work forces and equal work places, these companies light the way for advances in state and federal law," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.  "The list of “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality” is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking employment with a company that supports our community.  Corporate America continues to make progress, and federal law has to catch up.  That's the job ahead of us.”

The “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality” distinction is awarded to businesses that scored 100 percent on the HRC Foundation’s 2010 Corporate Equality Index, the primary method for businesses to benchmark and evaluate their policies, practices and diversity efforts relating to LGBT workers.  The index evaluates non-discrimination policies, benefits, diversity training and other internal resources for LGBT workers, as well as external support for LGBT consumers and job seekers.  Released in early September, the 2010 Corporate Equality Index report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei. 

The 305 businesses will be honored on March 17 at the Sixth Annual LGBT Workplace Awards Seminar and Reception at the Time Warner Center in New York.  The seminar will also honor the winner(s) of the 2010 Innovation Award for Workplace Equality – an award given to highlight a truly innovative program that a business has implemented to drive lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workplace inclusion.


 

HRC launches No Excuses campaign in support of ENDA

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, announced today that as Congressional action looms on the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), it is extending the grassroots "No Excuses" campaign to increase constituent contact with Congress and awareness of the comprehensive website: www.PassENDANow.org.

ENDA, which has been introduced in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, would address discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Colorado is one of 12 states that currently prohibits such discrimination.

HRC also launched a national action alert this week to grassroots members and supporters urging them to contact Congress and express their support for a fully-inclusive ENDA.

“We need to step up the important work of telling Congress our personal stories and explaining the additional hardship we face in protecting our families, our loved ones and our jobs,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Congress is moving forward to protect Americans from arbitrary discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Like our neighbors and coworkers, LGBT people simply want a fair chance to succeed and support our families.”

HRC hails gay ambassador

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today issued a statement on reports that David Huebner has been selected as the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa. Huebner, who is the head of the China Practice and the International Disputes Practice of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, is also a founding board member and former board co-chair for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

"The selection of David Huebner as Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa is not only good for the LGBT community, it is good for America,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “The appointment of openly gay and lesbian Americans, by this Administration, continues show their dedication to diversity and making decisions not based on someone’s sexual orientation, but based on their qualifications. We congratulate David on his appointment and look forward to his service to our country.”

“As the American people have learned from my experience, sexual orientation has nothing to do with ones ability to represent our country abroad in the foreign service,” said Jim Hormel, the first openly gay U.S. Ambassador appointed to Luxembourg by President Bill Clinton and a founder of the Human Rights Campaign. “I am pleased that President Obama has chosen David Huebner who will serve as an excellent ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.”

Huebner, who is openly gay, is former Chairman of Coudert Brothers LLP. A native of Pennsylvania, Huebner is a summa cum laude graduate of Princeton University, where he majored at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He is also a graduate of Yale Law School.

HRC issues statement on the passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, issued the following statement today on the passing of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA).

“The nation has lost its greatest champion and strongest voice for justice, fairness, and compassion," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "The loss to our community is immeasurable. There was no greater hero for advocates of LGBT equality than Senator Ted Kennedy. From the early days of the AIDS epidemic , to our current struggle for marriage equality he has been our protector, our leader, our friend. He has been the core of the unfinished quest for civil rights in this country and there is now a very painful void. Our hearts go out to the Kennedy family."

Voices of Honor: A Generation under Don't Ask, Don't Tell

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, in partnership with Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans and their straight allies, will visit Phoenix, AZ, on August 11 as part of “Voices of Honor: A Generation Under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’” The national tour highlights the discriminatory law that hurts military readiness and national security while putting American soldiers fighting overseas at risk. The Phoenix visit will include a press conference in the morning and a public town hall discussion in the evening. To learn more, visit: www.hrc.org/VoicesOfHonor.

After more than 15 years, many former congressional and senior military leaders who were involved in the construction and implementation of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” have recently called for the law to be reviewed or repealed, including former Joint Chiefs Chairmen Gen. John Shalikashvili and Gen. Colin Powell, and former Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA). The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1283), which would repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” was introduced in the U.S. House earlier this year.

Passed in 1993, the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” law allows gay, lesbian and bisexual service personnel to serve in the armed forces as long as their sexual orientation is not publicly disclosed or discovered. As of 2008, more than 13,000 men and women have been fired from the military because of their sexual orientation, including more than 60 Arabic linguists and nearly 800 other service members in critical occupational fields.

Go cruising with Colorado HRC

Go cruising with Colorado HRC. Decorate your bike and yourself with Human Rights Campaign colors of blue and yellow for a casual bike cruise and lunch with friends on Sunday, August 2.

Cruisers will be leaving from the Cheesman Park Pavilion Fountain by 2 p.m. and riding around Denver until 4 p.m. ending at the Vine Street Pub for something to eat.

Vine Street Pub will have a $12 per person buffet, serving: Veggie quesadillas, chicken quesadillas, french fries, chips and salsa, guacamole, hummus, turkey and pesto hoagies, veggie hoagies. There is limited space at Vine Street Pub, so be sure to RSVP ASAP.