HRC honors 305 Major U.S. Employers as 2010's “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality”

HRC honored 305 employers as its 2010 ‘Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality' at the Sixth Annual LGBT Workplace Awards Seminar and Reception held last night. The event, hosted by Time Warner and held at the Time Warner Center in New York City, featured Don Lemon, Anchor and Reporter for CNN and special guest Tim Gunn, Chief Creative Officer for Liz Claiborne, Inc. and host of the Lifetime Network show 'Project Runway.' 

“We’re happy to honor these companies who have taken strong actions that constitutes tangible, significant civil rights progress,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.  “With our recent launch of our ‘Best Places to Work’ iPhone application and with other resources coming soon, anyone, anywhere at anytime will be able to find out how a company ranks on LGBT inclusion.  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 continue to push progress forward.  The federal law has to catch up.”

Companies receiving the “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality” distinction scored 100 percent on the HRC Foundation’s 2010 Corporate Equality Index, the national standard evaluating policies, practices and diversity efforts relating to LGBT workers.  

Fred Sainz joins HRC from Gill Foundation

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC)today announced the appointment of local resident Fred Sainz (left) to the newly created position of Vice President of Communications & Marketing which reports directly to the president.

"In this rapidly changing and often volatile political environment, HRC must continue to both prod and persuade in our mission to improve the lives of LGBT people across the country," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "And often a key component in changing hearts and minds or moving recalcitrant elected officials is an aggressive and creative communications strategy. In addition to his broad professional skills, Fred Sainz brings deep political instincts and a commitment to LGBT equality that will enhance our work. We're thrilled to have him join our senior team."

A first-generation Cuban American, Sainz has been Vice President of Communications & Marketing of the Denver-based Gill Foundation for the last two years.

"I am honored to join the first-rate team of professionals at HRC who have done so much to move an LGBT equality agenda forward," said Sainz. "HRC is the pinnacle of LGBT activism, but we must move mountains in a volatile time, both in Washington and across the country, and communicating our agenda effectively and creatively will be critical to our success."

EndtheLies.org takes on the Traditional Values Coalition

EndtheLies.org, a website confronting lies and distortions repeatedly used to defeat LGBT equality measures, now features Traditional Values Coalition’s recent action alert to its members where they claimed that ENDA would mean children will be taught by “men dressed as women” and forced "to learn about bizarre sexual practices.”

“The Traditional Values Coalition has reached a new low, by both dehumanizing hardworking, dedicated educators who are transgender and flat out lying about the impact of basic workplace protections for our community,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “This is further evidence that the Traditional Values Coalition will use any tactic, including lies and smears, to stand in the way of basic fairness. Concocting wholly unfounded threats to our children to serve a political agenda is not consistent with traditional values.”

Lieberman introduces legislation to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Senator Joseph Lieberman today introduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010 in the U.S. Senate. The bill would repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) law, which prohibits lesbians and gays from serving openly in the U.S. Armed Forces. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), an Iraq War veteran and a former paratrooper in the U.S. Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division, is the lead sponsor of similar legislation in the U.S House of Representatives.

“By introducing the first bill to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in the Senate, Senator Lieberman is continuing the momentum to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ this year,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “His introduction of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010 is a bold, patriotic move that will long be remembered as key to removing the stain of the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law from the U.S. code. Over the last few weeks, military leaders have made it clear that repeal of the failed ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law must happen. As a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and an expert on national security, Senator Lieberman’s leadership in the fight to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is critical to achieving repeal this year.”

Military leaders, including Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen, recognize that DADT is a failed law and support its repeal. Former Vice President and Defense Secretary Dick Cheney also recently came out for repeal by stating, “When the chiefs come forward and say, ‘We think we can do it,’ then it strikes me as it’s time to reconsider the policy, and I think Adm. Mullen said that.” Moreover, former supports of the law, such as General Colin Powell, former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General John M. Shalikashvili, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have all indicated their support for repealing DADT as well.

Grassroots support to repeal Don't Ask, Don't tell is growing

Last week, HRC launched a national action alert and announced details of its ongoing campaign to repeal the law that hurts military readiness and national security while putting American soldiers fighting overseas at risk. Focusing on key states where congressional support for repeal is critical, HRC dispatched field staff to five states – Florida, Indiana, Nebraska, Virginia and West Virginia, with other states to follow in the months ahead. HRC is also asking members and supporters to sign up and to join the growing network of supporters to repeal DADT.

Rep. Murphy, an Iraq War veteran and a former paratrooper in the U.S. Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division, is the lead sponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1283), the Housebill to repeal the DADT law. Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) is expected to introduce a Senate bill to repeal DADT soon. More than 13,500 Americans have been denied the ability to serve – including more than 800 specialists with vital skills like Arabic linguists.

Military leaders, including Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen, recognize that DADT is a failed law and support its repeal. Former Vice President and Defense Secretary Dick Cheney also recently came out for repeal by stating, “When the chiefs come forward and say, ‘We think we can do it,’ then it strikes me as it’s time to reconsider the policy, and I think Adm. Mullen said that.”

HRC announces scholarships for gay students

The Human Rights Campaign today announced the launch of the second year of the “Generation Equality Scholarships” for LGBT and allied students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the fight for queer equality. The scholarships are part of HRC Foundation’s Youth and Campus Outreach Program, which aims to provide tools, facilitate connections and empower young people to fight for LGBT equality on campus and beyond. To apply for the Generation Equality Scholarships, or to learn about last year’s recipients, visit: www.hrc.org/geneqscholarship.

“We’re excited to once again be able to provide exceptional students with the funding that they need and deserve. All too often, LGBT students face obstacles in the pursuit of education, whether it be from a lack of family support or negative experiences in the classroom or on campus,” said Candace Gingrich-Jones, Associate Director of the HRC Foundation's Youth and Campus Outreach Program. “The more than 1,000 applications we received last year for the Generation Equality Scholarships not only illustrated the social and economic barriers queer young people today face, but also just how committed they are to making LGBT equality a reality within their schools, communities and country.”

More info after the jump.

This year, the HRC Foundation will be awarding one $2,000 scholarship in each of the following categories:
• First-year students
• Returning four-year school students
• Returning community college students

Priority will be given to applicants who:
• Self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or an ally
• Have applied to or are enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education
• Have demonstrated a commitment or contribution to the LGBT community
• Are in good academic standing
• Have demonstrated need for financial assistance

The application deadline for academic year 2010-2011 is April 16, 2010. Finalists will be notified in early- to mid-May and will be asked to submit additional materials. Scholarship recipients will be announced in mid- to late-June.

In addition to these scholarships, the Youth and Campus Outreach Program provides a comprehensive online database of more than 220 other scholarships available to LGBT and allied students. The list, which includes national, statewide and school-specific scholarships, was created to ensure that students committed to the fight for LGBT equality can reach and benefit from institutions of higher education. To view the online database, visit: www.hrc.org/scholarships.

Clay Aiken to speak at HRC Carolinas gala

Clay Aiken will return to Raleigh, N.C., to speak at the Human Rights Campaign Carolinas gala alongside lesbian actress Meredith Baxter.

The pop star, who was given a politically focused speech to read, instead prepared his own remarks. "My goal is to be hopeful, that it's time for everyone to have equal rights," Aiken said.

Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell now

HRC is looking for current and former service members and their loved ones to take their Don't Ask, Don't Tell survey to help repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell now.

DC Marriage Law Closer to Reality as Court Rejects Opponents’ Injunction Request

With D.C.’s same-sex marriage law expected to take effect on March 3rd, marriage equality opponents have stepped up their efforts to try to halt the law’s implementation by forcing a public referendum. Today, opponents went to court seeking a preliminary injunction, which would have stayed the effective date of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Act of 2009.

After hearing from both sides, Judge Holeman tentatively denied the motion from the bench, ruling that the court lacked the power “to usurp the legislative process,” that opponents did not establish a substantial likelihood of success on the merits and that they would not suffer irreparable harm if the law were to take effect as scheduled.

Read more at HRCBackstory.org.

Want to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell? Stop paying for it, says Sen. Gillibrand

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., announced at a Human Rights Campaign dinner last Saturday night that she plans to attach an amendment to the defense budget to curtail further spending on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. 

"I don't think another man or woman should be dismissed from the military, and I think the quickest way to do that is to cut off funding for the implementation of the policy," Gillibrand said.

Stuff to Buy: Heart hoody by HRC and Alex & Chloe

HRC has collaborated with LA-based designers Alex & Chloe on a limited-edition hoody to celebrate the universal power of love and raise awareness for LGBT Equality.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Alex & Chloe hoody is available at HRC's online store.

State-by-state: Gay legislation across the USA

HRC today released a comprehensive state-by-state report detailing LGBT-related legislation in 2009 and an outlook for 2010.  The report indicates that despite disappointments in 2009, we witnessed a banner year for positive legislation affecting the LGBT community with as many positive bills passed this past year as in 2007 and 2008 combined.  The report also details expectations for 2010 with the fight for marriage equality and relationship recognition now focused on Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico, and Rhode Island and continued state and local efforts to protect LGBT employees. 

“While the road is never easy, we look ahead to 2010 with renewed dedication in the fight for equality,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.  “We will continue to work closely with state LGBT groups and our allies to secure these much-needed advancements.  As the midterm elections heat up, we must remain focused on the many state legislators who stood with us by continuing to support them and also remember those who stood in the way.”

HRC: Demand Equality in 2010

Tomorrow marks the end of what HRC says is their most important fundraising campaign of the year. HRC is looking for 2,010 people to become first-time HRC members by tomorrow to provide the strength they need to demand equality in 2010.

NOM placing robo-calls to defeat gay rights supporter Coakley?

Leaders in the LGBT community today responded sharply to reports that the National Organization of Marriage (NOM) placed thousands of robo-calls to Massachusetts voters on Saturday, urging them to defeat “radical” Martha Coakley because of her support of same-sex marriage. MassEquality and the Human Rights campaign were joined by Congressman Barney Frank and State Representative Carl Sciortino in decrying the use of this divisive strategy to attempt to elect Brown.

“Voters deserve to know that this out-of-state extremist group is using anti-gay rhetoric to try to influence the election by attacking the thousands of gay families who live and work in our state,” said Scott Gortikov, Executive Director of MassEquality.

“Make no mistake -- Scott Brown is an anti-equality candidate showing his true colors by aligning his election prospects with the National Organization for Marriage. NOM wouldn't be calling into Massachusetts if it weren't convinced that Brown will continue to be his anti-equality record in the Senate," said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign.

"It’s important for people to know about the underground right-wing campaign Scott Brown is running,” said Congressman Barney Frank. “His plan is to benefit from the support of the most active, extreme conservatives while he falsely portrays himself as a moderate.”

“Scott Brown needs to come clean on his relationship with these far right extremists like the National Organization for Marriage,” said State Representative Carl Sciortino (D-Somerville).

According to reports, the robocalls asked voters if they support same-sex marriage. Only those who oppose same-sex marriage heard the second part of the call, strongly urging a vote for Brown.

The National Organization for Marriage is a controversial organization which was formed in 2007 to promote Proposition 8, the anti-gay marriage amendment passed in California in 2008. Since its formation, NOM has run anti-gay ads nationwide and, most recently, it was the largest single contributor to the recent successful effort in Maine to invalidate the state’s same-sex marriage law.

HRC responds to New Jersey vote against marriage equality

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today expressed disappointment with the New Jersey State Senate for its failure to pass legislation recognizing marriage equality for same-sex couples. The senate voted 14-20 against the bill. The bill had passed out of the Judiciary Committee by a 7 to 6 vote this past December.

“Today’s vote by the New Jersey Senate perpetuates a system of inequality in the Garden State,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Failing to provide loving, committed couples access to marriage leaves them separate and unequal – civil unions are not the same as marriage.”

“HRC provided tremendous help here on the ground, working with our staff and volunteers to push for marriage equality,” said Steven Goldstein, CEO of Garden State Equality. “While we’re disappointed by today’s vote, we’re thankful for the continued support of the Human Rights Campaign. This is not the end of the line. We will continue working towards marriage equality through lobbying, legal challenges, and citizen outreach. Every opportunity to highlight the inequalities experienced by same-sex couples brings us closer to our goal.”

More after the jump.


At this time, five states recognize marriage for same-sex couples under state law: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Five states—California, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada—plus Washington, D.C. provide same-sex couples with access to the state level benefits and responsibilities of marriage, through either civil unions or domestic partnerships.

Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island and Wisconsin provide same-sex couples with limited rights and benefits. New York and Washington, D.C. recognize marriages of same-sex couples validly entered into outside of the jurisdiction.

California recognized marriage by same-sex couples between June and November of 2008, before voters approved Proposition 8, which purports to amend the state constitution to prohibit marriage equality. Couples married during that window remain married under California law, but all other same-sex couples can only receive a domestic partnership within the state. The state will recognize out of state same-sex marriages that occurred before November 5, 2008 as marriages and those that occurred on or after November 5, 2008 as domestic partnerships. The Proposition 8 vote has been challenged in federal court; a decision is not expected any time soon.

Same-sex couples do not receive federal rights and benefits in any state. For an electronic map showing where marriage equality stands in the states,check out www.HRC.org/State_Laws.



Time Warner to receive 2010 Corporate Equality Award

The Greater New York Steering Committee of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, announced today that Time Warner Inc. will receive the 2010 Corporate Equality Award in honor of their commitment to equality for LGBT employees, consumers, and investors. The award will be presented at the 2010 Greater New York Gala Dinner which will take place on February 6, 2010 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

Time Warner was chosen for the honor based on its strong and ongoing commitment to its LGBT employees and the LGBT community at large. The company has received a perfect 100% rating on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index for the past three years and has made a significant investment in growing their LGBT employee resource groups at subsidiaries across the country. In addition, Time Warner’s commitment to increasing the visibility and accuracy of LGBT images portrayed within their programming sets the standard for all US media organizations.

The Greater New York Gala Dinner is one of HRC’s largest events of the year. The event regularly draws political luminaries from the federal, state, and local government as well as celebrity entertainers and leaders of the business community.

“We are honored to have such a strong corporate ally in our efforts toward achieving equality for the LGBT community,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Time Warner’s commitment to creating a fair and equal workplace both within its walls and beyond is key to helping change false perceptions and ending LGBT discrimination.”

HRC slams David Letterman skit

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, sent the following letter today to David Letterman and CBS Corp. in response to a Late Show sketch mocking the appointment of Amanda Simpson (pictured) to a senior position at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Simpson, who until recently was Deputy Director in Advanced Technology Development at Raytheon Missile Systems and was a test pilot for 20 years, was appointed to be Senior Technical Advisor to the Department of Commerce, where she will work directly with the Under Secretary of Commerce on international trade and national security issues.

In a skit during Letterman’s opening monologue, the host announced Simpson’s historic appointment and revealed that she is transgender, displaying a photograph of her. The show’s announcer, Alan Kalter, then feigned “trans panic,” implying he had some prior relationship with Simpson but was not aware of her gender history, and ran yelling from the stage.

See the letter after the jump.


Letter from Human Rights Campaign Associate Director of Diversity for Transgender Issues Allyson Robinson:

January 6, 2010

David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
1697 Broadway
New York, NY 10001

CC: Nina Tassler
President, CBS Entertainment
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019

Dear Mr. Letterman,

I am writing on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, to express my disappointment over the inappropriate and incendiary remarks made on The Late Show with David Letterman last night on the appointment of Amanda Simpson to a senior position in the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The decision to ignore the fact that Ms. Simpson is incredibly well-qualified for this vital national security position and focus instead on her gender identity reflects transphobia. Ms. Simpson’s appointment represents meaningful progress for the LGBT community and in particular transgender Americans who have faced significant and well-documented discrimination in the workplace and their communities.

You may not be aware that the punch line in your skit has been used as a defense in nearly every hate crime perpetrated against transgender people that has come to trial. For example, the “trans panic” defense was infamously used by Allen Ray Andrade, who was convicted in 2009 of beating 19-year-old Angie Zapata to death with a fire extinguisher after learning of her gender history. According to media reports, it has also been the main defense employed by Juan A. Martinez for the killing of Jorge Steven López Mercado, 19, in Puerto Rico last November.

Your skit affirmed and encouraged a prejudice against transgender Americans that keeps many from finding jobs, housing, and enjoying freedoms you and your writers take for granted every day. We ask that you apologize publicly to Ms. Simpson and the transgender community for this unfortunate episode.


Sincerely,



Allyson Robinson,
Associate Director of Diversity for Transgender Issues
Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.



Guys with iPhones can Buy for Equality with new app from HRC

Continuing the effort launched at the beginning of the busy holiday shopping season, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released a first of its kind, free iPhone application for its “Buying for Equality” guide. This new technology will allow shoppers to access the Buying for Equality guide as they enter a store to see how hundreds of popular American brands are rated based on the businesses’ treatment of their LGBT employees. The iPhone application is available for download at www.hrc.org/iPhone. Both Apple, and the iPhone’s exclusive service provider, AT&T,

The Buying for Equality iPhone application puts information directly in the hands of consumers in an easy to read format that divides businesses and their consumer products into red (brands to avoid), yellow (brands that have made some progress) and green (brands to support) categories to help consumers support businesses that support LGBT equality. These color-coded rankings are based on a company’s score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index (www.hrc.org/CEI), a nationally recognized benchmark that scores major American corporations based on their workplace policies and commitment to fairness for their LGBT employees.

“As pro-equality consumers enter the stores in 2010, the new Buying for Equality iPhone application is a revolutionary tool that will help inform purchases and support those businesses who believe in our equality,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “With this application, critical information about workplace equality is now at the fingertips of thousands of LGBT and allied supporters who have hundreds of billions of dollars in buying power. This is another way that we are enabling our community to come together to support those that support us in this new year ahead.”

Gov. Paterson extends protections to transgender New Yorkers

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today praised the New York Governor David A. Paterson for issuing an executive order extending anti-discrimination policies to gender identity for state employees.

“Governor Paterson has taken significant action to advance equality for all New York state employees,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “The ability to provide for our families is non-negotiable. We applaud Governor Paterson for his commitment to the LGBT community and look forward to working with fair-minded New York legislators to pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act which will protect private employees.”

An executive order prohibiting discrimination in state employment is the furthest extent to which any governor is able to exercise his or her executive power. Extending protections to private employees must be accomplished by the state legislature. New York joins eight other states in which an executive order, administrative order, or personnel regulation prohibits discrimination against public employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity: Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

In addition, twelve states and the District of Columbia prohibit full employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity: California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Nine more states, including New York, prohibit employment discrimination based only on sexual orientation. For an electronic map showing where employment non-discrimination stands in the states, check out www.HRC.org/State_Laws.

Good news and bad news

HRC reports the good news that marriage equality has passed in Washington, D.C.

The bad news is that the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has threatened to cut social services in protest.

Click their link to tell DC's Archbishop Wuerl not to use the homeless and needy as political pawns.