Human Rights Campaign Celebrates Advances in LGBTQ+ Policies One Year Into Biden-Harris Administration

One day before the one year anniversary of the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) celebrates the advances that have been made in LGBTQ+ rights under the Biden-Harris administration. Since day one, the Biden-Harris White House has taken concrete, meaningful steps to reverse the anti-LGBTQ+ policies of the previous administration, while also working to ensure government agencies don’t discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, close the gaps in measurable outcomes for marginalized populations and increase LGBTQ+ representation at all levels of government.

“We at the Human Rights Campaign want to thank President Biden and Vice President Harris for their principled and committed policies in support of LGBTQ+ rights,” said HRC Interim President Joni Madison. “For a community that is all too often under attack from a variety of regressive, self-serving actors, having strong LGBTQ+ allies in the White House has been a comfort to the community. From rolling back discriminatory policies and providing affirmative non-discrimination protections, to appointing LGBTQ+ people to prominent positions, to continuing to share the message of the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality, this administration has been as consistent in advancing the cause of progress as any we have seen. There’s still a lot more to be done, and we at HRC look forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration and partners in Congress to ensure that essential reforms – including the LGBTQ+ protections in the Equality Act and the voting rights safeguards currently before the Senate – become the law of the land.”

Some of the highlights of policy advancements during the administration’s first year in office relating to LGBTQ+ rights include:

On his first day in office, the president issued an executive order that required the federal government to align its policies with the Supreme Court’s landmark Bostock decision.

In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is a form of prohibited sex discrimination. However, the Trump Justice Department failed to adequately instruct the federal government to implement the ruling, leading to dangerous misinterpretations. That state of affairs was addressed via President Biden’s first-day order.

Within their first week in the office, the White House put out an executive order repealing the Trump-era ban on transgender military service and ensuring transgender service members are able to serve openly.

After extensive study by the Pentagon, the Obama administration and the leadership of the Pentagon moved forward with the elimination of the transgender military ban and allowed transgender service members to serve openly. In July 2017, President Trump announced a full ban on Twitter without any consultation with Pentagon leaders. President Biden, in his first week in office, issued an executive order reversing the ban.

The Department of Housing & Urban Development withdrew a Trump-era proposal to gut the equal access rule.

The federal agency withdrew Trump-era proposed changes to the Equal Access Rule (EAR). The Obama administration’s EAR ensures non-discrimination protections in HUD-funded housing and programs based on both sexual orientation and gender identity. It also protects LGBTQ+ families and ensures people seeking emergency housing are housed safely in accordance with their gender identity.

The State Department announced changes to passport gender markers to include intersex, non-binary people.

The Biden–Harris Administration announced in June 2021 that the U.S. Department of State would begin the process of including a non-binary gender marker and have modernized existing requirements for updating gender markers on United States passports — a policy that will impact millions of individuals in the U.S., including 1.2 million non-binary adults, 2 million transgender people, and as many as 5.5 million people who were born intersex. The first such passport was issued in October 2021, with the expectation that routine applications will be taken in 2022.

The administration formed an interagency working group focused on safety, inclusion and opportunity for transgender people.

President Biden in June announced the establishment of an interagency working group led out of the White House to coordinate policies to advance safety, economic opportunity, and inclusion for transgender people. The group includes participants from the Departments of Justice, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Education, Homeland Security, Labor, Interior, Veterans Affairs, and Defense.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg became the first Senate-confirmed member of the president’s cabinet to be openly LGBTQ+.

The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and presidential candidate was confirmed on a bipartisan basis with a vote of 86-13. As a candidate, he had been the first openly LGBTQ+ person to win a presidential primary or caucus.

Dr. Rachel Levine was confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health & Human Services and promoted to four-star admiral.

Levine, the former Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, became the first openly transgender person to be sworn into a Senate-confirmed position in March. Levine was further recognized through promotion to four-star admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commission Corps, becoming the country’s first openly transgender four-star officer.

HRC’s timeline of the LGBTQ+ related policies and achievements during President Biden’s first year details these and other noteworthy milestones paving the way toward a more equitable future for all LGBTQ+ people.

Even in light of the manifest accomplishments of the past year, a great deal of work remains to be done. In November 2020, the Human Rights Campaign released the Blueprint for Positive Change, a document detailing more than 80 policy changes that the administration should put into effect that would meaningfully improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people. Many of those proposals still await action, and their implementation, along with the passage of the Equality Act, would help to guarantee for LGBTQ+ people for decades to come that they can participate fully in every part of society.

Among the needed policy changes, some of the most urgent include:

Ending the FDA’s discriminatory ban on blood donation from men who have sex with men, which can also help address the national blood crisis.

The FDA’s policy does not treat persons with similar risks in a similar way. Currently, donors are deferred based on their membership in a group — in this case, all men who have sex with men — rather than engagement in risky behavior. HRC has strongly encouraged FDA to revise the donor questionnaire based on an individual risk assessment of sexual behaviors upon which all donors are evaluated equally, without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.

Prohibiting the practice of conversion therapy as a fraudulent business practice.

So-called “conversion therapy,” sometimes known as “reparative therapy,” is a range of dangerous and discredited practices that falsely claim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Such practices have been rejected by every mainstream medical and mental health organization for decades. HRC supports legislative and policy efforts to curtail the unscientific and dangerous practice of sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts.

Rescinding and replacing regulations restricting coverage of Section 1557 of the ACA.

The Trump administration finalized a rule implementing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act in 2020 designed to eliminate explicit protections from discrimination based on sex stereotyping and gender identity, thereby sanctioning discrimination against LGBTQ people, particularly transgender and non-binary people, in federally-funded health care programs and activities. The rule was blocked by a preliminary injunction in response to a lawsuit filed by the Human Rights Campaign.

Eliminating discrimination against beneficiaries in charitable choice and faith-based initiatives.

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was designed to protect minority religious groups' constitutional right to freely exercise their religious beliefs. Despite this focused, straightforward intent, individuals and businesses have worked to distort RFRA into a blank check to discriminate or to impose their religious beliefs on others. When LGBTQ+ people, religious minorities and women need to access the social safety net, they need to know that when they go to a federally funded entity, such as a nonprofit, for example, that they won't be turned away based on that entity's religious beliefs.

Continuing to appoint LGBTQ+ people at all levels of government, and ensuring that these appointees reflect the full diversity of the community.

Even after achieving a number of LGBTQ+ firsts with the range of appointments in the first year of the Biden administration, there remain positions that no openly LGBTQ+ person has ever held. Greater representation of this growing population within the ranks of government will serve to ensure that key marginalized groups are better served and treated equitably.

Human Rights Campaign Slams South Dakota Gov. Noem for Releasing Hateful, Inflammatory National Ad To Kick Off Discriminatory State Legislative Session

Today, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem released a national TV ad in support of her discriminatory sports ban bill, SB 46, which would prohibit transgender women and girls from playing sports consistent with their gender identity. In the ad, Noem suggests that transgender girls are not girls, as she amplifies her attacks on transgender kids. South Dakota has already introduced three anti-transgender bills early in the 2022 state legislative session, including two anti-trans sports bans and one bill that would prohibit transgender students from using locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. 

Human Rights Campaign Interim President Joni Madison issued the following statement in reaction to this TV ad:

“This ad is not just discriminatory, it erases transgender people and dehumanizes them, putting a target on the back of an already vulnerable community. Doing so on a national stage — in a brazen attempt to score political points with her base — makes these attacks especially egregious. In fact, it’s South Dakota’s women and girls that Governor Noem is attacking. Prohibiting transgender girls from participating in school athletics alongside their peers is a radical political talking point — one that Noem is using to advance her national political ambitions, but which does not serve South Dakota’s best interests. At stake is the safety of transgender young people, who are facing increased discrimination in their communities, last year leading to the highest incidence of fatal violence against transgender and gender non-binary people on record. Noem’s ad resorts to attacking children in service of a divisive and discriminatory political agenda. Every child deserves to be lifted up and supported by their leaders and their government, not targeted and dehumanized. Legislators must reject this divisive bill to avoid tarnishing South Dakota’s reputation and hurting kids in service of Governor Noem’s selfish political gamesmanship.”

To Address National Blood Crisis, Human Rights Campaign Calls for End to Discriminatory Restrictions on Gay and Bisexual Men Donating Blood

In the wake of news that the American Red Cross had declared the first “national blood crisis” due to critically low blood supplies, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization — on Tuesday once again called for federal authorities to remove unnecessary restrictions on blood donation by men who have sex with men.

“We are facing a national blood shortage. This is a crisis that can in part be addressed by modernizing the Food and Drug Administration’s discriminatory policy that bans men who have sex with men from donating blood ” said Joni Madison, Interim President of the Human Rights Campaign. “The current policy is outdated, does not reflect the state of the science, and continues to unfairly stigmatize one segment of society.”

HRC has strongly encouraged the FDA to revise the history questionnaire used to screen potential donors to one based on an individual risk assessment of sexual behaviors upon which all donors are evaluated equally, without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.

Hot Guy(s) of the Week: Tyler Danner (and Friend)

Came across this picture of Tyler Danner (left) and a friend on HRC's Facebook page recently and figured I'd share his positive message (and gooooooood looks) with you guys.

You're welcome!

HRC, Freedom to Marry Praise Obama's Support for State Marriage Equality Efforts

President Obama recently called on Americans to support the freedom to marry when they vote on ballot measures in Maine, Maryland and Washington. The president has previously spoken out against a Minnesota proposal to exclude gays and lesbians from marriage in the state constitution. Washington residents are already voting by mail, while voters in the other three states will vote at the polls on Nov. 6.

“President Obama continues to be a transformational leader for LGBT equality,” said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin. “The president’s historic announcement of his support for marriage equality earlier this year sent a powerful message, particularly to LGBT youth, that no one’s hope of achieving the American dream should be curtailed simply because of who they are. In Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington, we enter the final two weeks of this hard-fought campaign knowing that the president of the United States joins our entire community in supporting their efforts to ensure that all people are treated with dignity and respect.”

"Today President Obama added a strong and personal ‘I do’ to voters still making up their minds on whether to support the freedom to marry in Maine, Maryland, and Washington this election, and Freedom to Marry applauds the president’s moral leadership in standing up for families, fairness, and freedom,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry, the campaign to win marriage nationwide. “As the president said in May, ‘Same-sex couples should be able to get married … when we think about our faith, it’s also the golden rule.’ The right thing to do on these ballot-measures is to vote to treat others just as you would want to be treated – and let loving and committed couples share in the freedom to marry.”

HRC Statement on Boy Scouts’ Refusal to Revisit Anti-Gay Policy

Leaders of the Boy Scouts of America today affirmed their ban on gay scouts and leaders after conducting a secret two-year review.  Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin released the following statement in response: 

“This is a missed opportunity of colossal proportions.  With the country moving toward inclusion, the leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have instead sent a message to young people that only some of them are valued.  These adults could have taught the next generation of leaders the value of respect, yet they’ve chosen to teach division and intolerance.”

SAGE and HRC Applaud Obama Administration

The Administration on Aging (AoA) today announced that it would release important new guidance that empowers AoA-funded aging providers to consider lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults as a population of “greatest social need”—paving the way for increased services that can significantly improve their health and well-being. The Human Rights Campaign and Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) partnered to urge AoA to provide this guidance.

"SAGE applauds this critically important step taken by the Administration on Aging to recognize that LGBT older people have acute needs and to ensure that services are available to meet those needs," said Michael Adams, Executive Director of SAGE. "We look forward to working with the Administration on Aging to continue to improve the availability of appropriate services to LGBT elders across the country."

“This step brings much-needed attention to the unique needs of LGBT older adults, and the urgent actions we must all take to preserve their dignity,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.  “AoA’s actions today are a crucial step toward ensuring that this generation has equal access to the services and resources that they deserve.  HRC applauds AoA for its leadership, and we will look forward to working with them through implementation.”

The FAQ guidance clarifies that the current definition of “greatest social need” in the Older Americans Act—the country's leading vehicle for funding and delivering services to older people nationwide—allows communities to identify populations in their service area that experience isolation for cultural, social or geographic reasons.  The guidance provides specific examples of these populations, including increased need based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

LGBT older adults are at an increased risk for social isolation, experience poor health and health access, and face higher poverty rates than other seniors. Despite this increased need, this group is less likely to seek federal assistance and healthcare due to actual and perceived discrimination.  This FAQ guidance allows the aging networks that serve LGBT older adults and receive AoA funding to consider this vulnerable population as one with a “greatest social need.”  This designation will encourage Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) to include LGBT older adults when prioritizing funding, engaging in outreach, evaluating unmet needs and collecting data.

This announcement is the latest action taken by the AoA to address LGBT elders’ unique needs. In January 2010, SAGE received a historic grant from the Administration on Aging to establish the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging (lgbtagingcenter.org), the country’s only technical assistance resource center aimed at improving the quality of services and supports offered to LGBT older adults. With a wealth of multimedia resources for aging providers, the National Resource Center will be a key resource for AAAs as they implement the guidance.

• Read the announcement from the Administration on Aging: [URL]
• Learn more about the Older Americans Act and LGBT older adults: www.sageusa.org/oaapolicybrief
• Read HRC’s Issue Brief on aging issues: www.hrc.org/resources/entry/hrc-issue-brief-aging

HRC Report: 2012 Sees Great Progress Toward LGBT Healthcare Equality

The number of American hospitals striving to treat lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients equally and respectfully is on the rise, according to a report released today by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation at a press conference with U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC. Much work remains to be done to end discrimination in America’s healthcare system, but the once invisible issue of LGBT healthcare equity is gaining national prominence, with healthcare facilities committing themselves to offering unbiased care.

“Just a few short years ago the healthcare industry wasn’t having conversations about LGBT healthcare equality,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Now, thanks to advocacy by the LGBT community and some standout leaders, growing numbers of healthcare providers are making an explicit commitment to treat all patients with dignity and respect. The healthcare industry is beginning to heed the call for fairness and compassion.”

The report details the results of the most recent Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), an annual survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. This year’s survey found a 40 percent increase in rated facilities, which totaled 407 nationwide. It also found an impressive 162 percent increase in the number of facilities achieving the status of “Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality,” special recognition given to facilities earning a perfect rating by meeting four core criteria for LGBT patient-centered care laid out in the HEI.

The HEI helps hospitals assess themselves against established best practices and ensure that they are complying with requirements for non-discrimination. These include a requirement issued last year by The Joint Commission, the largest accrediting body for U.S. hospitals, calling on all accredited facilities to extend non-discrimination protection to LGBT patients.

Over 90 percent of HEI 2012 participants explicitly prohibit discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual patients, and 76 percent ban discrimination against transgender patients. Additionally, about 75 percent of respondents have a written policy explicitly granting equal visitation rights to same-sex couples and same-sex parents. This represents a significant increase since the Department of Health and Human Services issued rules in 2011 requiring all hospitals that receive federal Medicare and Medicaid funding – nearly every hospital in America – to protect the visitation rights of LGBT people.

For the first time, the HEI additionally required participating facilities to document that high-level managers in key work areas had received expert training in LGBT health needs. As a result, more than 1,000 healthcare administrators across the country participated in training provided through the HEI.

“I commend the LGBT and healthcare communities for the progress made and I am proud to be part of an administration that has a historic record of accomplishment for the LGBT community,” said Sec. Sebelius. “We will continue to take action to ensure that LGBT Americans get equal treatment in healthcare settings and that all patients are treated with the dignity they deserve.”

Studies, including a 2011 Institute of Medicine report, have shown that the LGBT community faces health disparities and healthcare discrimination and that many LGBT Americans are concerned about experiencing bias in healthcare. But things are changing, as the HEI 2012 documents.

“Equal and inclusive healthcare saves lives,” added Griffin. “Increasing numbers of hospitals across the country are working to ensure LGBT patients receive care free of prejudice and discrimination. We thank the HEI 2012 participants for their hard work and dedication to ensuring healthcare equality for all patients.”

HEI Core Four Rating Criteria	2012*	2011*	2010*
Patient Non-Discrimination
1a. “Sexual Orientation” in Written Patient Non-Discrimination Policy	90.2% (+0.5%)	89.7% (+6%)	83.7%
1b. “Gender Identity” in Written Patient Non-Discrimination Policy	76.2    (+16.4)	59.8 (+30.6)	29.2
Visitation
2a. Explicitly Inclusive Written Visitation Policy Grants Equal Access for Same-Sex Couples	74.5    (+21.9)	52.6 (+20.8)	31.8
2b. Explicitly Inclusive Written Visitation Policy Grants Equal Access for Same-Sex Parents	74.0    (+25.4)	48.6 (+16.3)	32.3
Employment Non-Discrimination
3a. “Sexual Orientation” in Employment Non-Discrimination Policy	96.7      (+5.9)	90.8	93.8
3b. “Gender Identity” in Employment Non-Discrimination Policy	74.6    (+10.2)	64.4 (+12.2)	52.2
Training
Provides Training in LGBT Patient-Centered Care for Key Staff Members	67.2	**	**

* Lists of survey respondents are not identical from year to year.
** Training criterion differed significantly prior to 2012 survey
View the HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index 2012 at www.hrc.org/hei.

HRC President Chad Griffin - OUT across America

Chad Griffin, the new president of the Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization – begins his tenure with a series of events across the country, starting in Salt Lake City.  From Utah, Chad will travel to San Francisco, his native Arkansas, Omaha, Nebraska, and Baltimore, Maryland for a series of community events and informational meetings.  

 The tour will raise awareness of issues facing LGBT youth.  HRC recently released a new groundbreaking study of LGBT youth and their straight counterparts.

HRC Launches New Site Showcasing Mitt Romney’s Constantly Changing Positions on LGBT Issues

Showcasing Mitt Romney’s constantly changing positions on issues important to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, the Human Rights Campaign today launched a new website to educate voters about the former Massachusetts Governor’s record.  “Mitt ‘N Match” cleverly allows users to see his various stances on open military service, workplace non-discrimination and relationship recognition. The site is at www.MittNMatch.com.

“Mitt Romney changes positions on LGBT issues more often than he changes clothes,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “It is mind boggling that someone can go from once saying he would be more pro-gay than Ted Kennedy to signing a draconian pledge sponsored by the National Organization for Marriage.”

 

On “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the site outlines his original opposition to the ban on gay servicemembers to his statements supporting DADT.  On workplace non-discrimination, he promised to co-sponsor the Employment Non-Discrimination Act before turning around and saying he opposed ENDA. And on relationship recognition, he once indicated he supported domestic partnerships but as a presidential candidate he’s signed on to the agenda of the National Organization for Marriage. By aligning himself with NOM, Romney isn’t just agreeing to support a federal marriage amendment and the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act – he’s even throwing his support behind a McCarthy-like commission to investigate allegations of “harassment” against NOM’s rabidly anti-LGBT supporters.

 

“Mitt Romney is someone that voters just can’t trust,” said Solmonese. “The only thing clear about his record is his willingness to say or do anything to get elected.”

Human Rights Campaign Foundation Gives Employers Resources to Best Serve Transgender Employees

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today released a white paper titled: Transgender-Inclusive Health Care Coverage and the Corporate Equality Index, a resource for employers to make their workplaces more equitable for transgender employees.  The white paper is an educational tool for employers engaged in the Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey on policies and benefits for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees.

In 2009 HRC announced that earning 100 percent on the 2012 CEI requires employers to offer at least one firm-wide available health insurance plan that affords coverage for medically necessary transition-related care. The internationally accepted standards of care are maintained and published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). Other criteria changes that went into effect in 2012 are available at www.hrc.org/cei. The white paper is available at www.hrc.org/transbenefits.

“Corporate America is leading the charge for fairness for LGBT workers,” said Kathryn Friedman, director of the HRC Workplace Project.  “To attract and retain the best and brightest talent, employers must treat their LGBT employees equally, including in the administration of health care benefits.  Our new white paper will give employers the tools they need to offer equal benefits and stay on pace with other fair-minded companies.  This resource represents over three years of our groundbreaking work in the area of successfully advocating for, and implementing inclusive plan options for transgender employees.”

The 2012 HRC Corporate Equality Index, released in December, rated 850 companies, including the entire Fortune 500. The CEI is the foremost method for businesses to evaluate their diversity and inclusion efforts toward recruiting and retaining LGBT employees, customers and investors.  The first CEI in 2002 had just 13 businesses earning a perfect rating, but by the recent 2012 report reflective of the most stringent criteria to date, 189 Fortune-ranked and other major employers earned a 100 percent score and the distinction of being among the “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.”
Transgender-Inclusive Health Care Coverage and the Corporate Equality Index is a primer on transgender-inclusive health care coverage, including relevant concepts and vocabulary as well as specific guidance on meeting the CEI criteria.

HRC to honor Anna Wintour at Greater New York Gala

With New York in the national spotlight after becoming the seventh U.S. jurisdiction to usher in marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples, the Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – will host its annual Greater New York Gala dinner on February 4, 2012 at the Waldorf=Astoria.  This year’s event comes as lawmakers passed historic marriage equality legislation, making New York the largest state in the country to allow gay and lesbian couples to legally marry. Governor Cuomo listed marriage equality as one of his top accomplishments for 2011 in his annual “State of the State” address.

“Marriage equality in New York took center stage this past year,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.  “We won the battle in the Empire State, sending a message to the rest of the country that full equality for LGBT people is the right thing to do and will be the reality.”

This year HRC will honor Anna Wintour with its Ally for Equality Award for her outspoken support of equality for the LGBT community (see above). The award will be presented by the creator of the hit series Glee and American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy.  The Ally for Equality Award recognizes the outstanding efforts of those who dedicate time, energy, spirit and whole-hearted commitment to better the lives of LGBT people. This award is given to allies outside the LGBT community who stand up on behalf of equality for all Americans.

“We recognize Anna Wintour for her grace, dignity, style, philanthropy, and generosity,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.  “We are proud to honor her with the Ally for Equality Award for her commitment to the LGBT community through her work with marriage equality, HIV/AIDS activism, and the It Gets Better Campaign. It is completely fitting that someone like Ryan Murphy, who has done so much to advance LGBT equality, is presenting this award to Anna Wintour.”

HRC Adoption Forum Featuring HHS Commissioner on Children, Youth and Families

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Commissioner of the Administration for Children, Youth and Families Bryan Samuels, is joining the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, LGBT families, and representatives from area child welfare agencies, for an adoption forum on Wednesday November 30, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. to recognize the close of National Adoption Month, and to call on child welfare professionals to include LGBT families, year-round, in their efforts to expand the pool of families for foster youth.  A new video by the HRC Family Project on LGBT adoption will be premiered at the forum.  The event will stream live at www.hrc.org/adoptionforum.  HRC has celebrated adoptive families throughout National Adoption Month and is offering a wealth of resources related to adoption and other issues important to LGBT families at www.hrc.org/issues/adoption.

“As we end National Adoption Month, the work of finding permanent families for children and youth continues—it’s everyday work for child welfare professionals,” said Ellen Kahn, HRC Family Project Director and a professional social worker.  “Today we are recognizing several public agencies that have expanded their efforts to find families by reaching out to the LGBT community, a largely untapped resource. By partnering with HRC’s ACAF, these agencies have improved their practice with LGBT families and as a result are seeing an increase in foster and adoptive parents.”

This month, HRC issued All Children-All Families Seals of Recognition to Alameda County, CA, and to the state of New Jersey’s Resource Family Division, which join Los Angeles County as the only public social services agencies to earn the seal for their success in implementing the ACAF policies and practices.  HRC also issued the ACAF Seal of Recognition to Forever Families Through Adoption, a New York- and Connecticut-authorized adoption placement agency and resource center in Rye Brook, New York.  Bryan Samuels, Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth  and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will join several of these agency leaders, and foster/adoptive families, to discuss this initiative and to feature a new video about this work. 

“We have more than 100,000 children in foster care in the United States waiting for a permanent family. Child welfare systems with responsibilities for finding potential parents now have resources through HRC’s All Children-All Families to reach out to caring and competent families in the LGBT community,” said Commissioner Bryan Samuels.

HRC has created a resource center for families considering adoption at www.hrc.org/issues/adoption with information about adoption agencies that work with LGBT families, answers to frequently asked questions about adoption and foster care, a video montage called Gay Parents Speak, featuring real parents telling their stories of adopting and loving children, and links to related programs and organizations.

The “All Children – All Families” initiative, launched in 2007, promotes policies and practices that welcome LGBT foster and adoptive parents.  The program seeks to enhance LGBT cultural competence among child welfare professionals and educate LGBT people about opportunities to become foster or adoptive parents to waiting children.  To date, ACAF has 50 participating agencies across the country, and has awarded 16 seals of recognition. In September HRC launched a “50 state strategy,” with the goal of securing at least one ACAF-recognized adoption agency dedicated to working with LGBT families in every state.   More information about the initiative can be found at www.hrc.org/acaf.

HRC’s Call It Out Campaign Calls on Candidates to Disavow Dangerous “Ex-Gay” Therapies

The Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – is calling on the GOP candidates for President to disavow the dangerous “ex-gay” or “reparative” therapies endorsed by Michele Bachmann and her husband Marcus.  Last week Bachmann signed her name to the far-right group the Family Leader’s pledge “The Marriage Vow: A Declaration of Dependence upon Marriage and Family” as did Rick Santorum.

The statements with which Bachmann has now aligned herself include the falsehood that being gay is a choice and dangerous to public health. The pledge cites a 1997 study from the International Journal of Epidemiology and presents the data in a way that claims nearly half of gay and bisexual men won’t reach the age of 65. The publication issued a statement years ago saying the data is regularly taken out of context by anti-gay groups.

“Michele Bachmann’s homophobic views are out of step with mainstream America, and it’s time for her fellow GOP presidential contenders to publicly denounce them,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “The past few years we’ve seen a surge in support for equality and have made important legislative progress. Bachmann’s support for things like reparative therapy signals just how fringe a candidate she really is.”

Michele Bachmann’s husband, Marcus, has called LGBT Americans “barbarians” who “need to be disciplined.” His clinic, Bachmann and Associates, also reportedly practices conversion therapy – based on the theory that being gay can be cured or prayed away. One activist from the group Truth Wins Out took an undercover camera into the clinic that shows a Bachmann associate claiming a man can change his sexual orientation. This dangerous practice has been strongly denounced by leading medical organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association.  Learn more about the lies and dangers of reparative therapy at www.hrc.org/reparativetherapy.  

HRC’s Call it Out campaign will be tracking the homophobic activities and positions of Bachmann and her husband. As the first in a series of actions, HRC is calling on all other GOP presidential hopefuls to publicly denounce Bachmann’s support for reparative therapy and the dangerous homophobia behind it. Supports can add their voice to HRC’s petition. Learn more at www.hrc.org/callitout.

Be a good boy and nominate your mom for HRC's Mother of the Year

In an effort to recognize loving and supportive mothers across the country this Mothers’ Day, the Family Project at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest civil rights organization dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality, has launched the “Mother of the Year” Award contest. The contest will recognize both LGBT and ally moms and is open online at www.hrc.org/motheroftheyear.

“A parent’s love and support is so important and we are excited to celebrate that love and support through the Mother of the Year award,” said HRC Family Project Director Ellen Kahn. “Whether they are LGBT moms, or a supportive mom of an LGBT child, we want to recognize and celebrate them.”

To participate, visit the campaign site at www.hrc.org/motheroftheyear. You can submit a photo of the nominee and write a brief story (maximum 500 characters) telling us why the LGBT community should know about this outstanding parent. And of course, if you have two moms, please feel free to nominate both, either separately or together.

A panel of judges that includes HRC President Joe Solmonese and HRC Foundation Family Project Director Ellen Kahn will choose one winner and two runners-up. In addition to the distinction of being named “HRC’s Mother of the Year,” the winner will be featured in Equality magazine, on HRC’s website and on the Back Story blog. Runners-up will have their names printed in Equality magazine and on the Back Story blog.

Nominations must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, May 4. Winners will be announced on Friday, May 6. A similar contest will also be held honoring fathers.

HRC endorses Rahm Emanuel for Mayor of Chicago

Yesterday the Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – announced its endorsement of Rahm Emanuel (pictured acting sassy) for Mayor of Chicago.  The former White House Chief of Staff and member of Congress representing Chicago's northwest side has a consistent record of support for LGBT Americans and was instrumental in enacting hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples nationwide.

“Rahm Emanuel has been a champion for equality throughout his career in public service,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “His dedication to the LGBT community and his commitment to fairness for all Chicagoans makes him a stellar choice for Mayor.”

“From passing hate crimes legislation, to extending visitation rights to LGBT couples, to repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, we have worked together to advance equality for LGBT Americans.  I look forward to continuing to work with HRC to advance the cause of equality in every community and neighborhood in Chicago if I have the privilege of serving as Mayor,” said Rahm Emanuel.

While in Congress, Emanuel was a consistent supporter of LGBT equality and scored 100% on the HRC Congressional Scorecard for each of the three terms he served. More recently, he was a key driver behind the President’s executive order on hospital visitation protections for same-sex couples. Additionally his campaign website points out his support for the civil unions law in Illinois and that he “continues to believe that full marriage equality, in name and in rights, should always be the goal.”

“Confronted by my family’s story, it was Rahm Emanuel who saw an injustice and brought it to the President’s attention in order to make the lives of same-sex couples better,” said Janice Langbehn, the catalyst for the hospital visitation regulations who was shut out of the emergency room as her partner Lisa Pond was dying. “I have no doubt that he will bring that same kind of enthusiasm and passion to his job as mayor of Chicago and I am proud to endorse his candidacy.”

“As a Chicagoan, I know Rahm Emanuel will be a great partner with our local LGBT community as we work together to improve the lives of all our citizens,” said John Barry, a member of the HRC Board of Directors.

337 Businesses Rated Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality

The Human Rights Campaign last week released its annual list of “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.”   This year 337 companies were awarded this distinction for their employment policies and practices that include LGBT workers and their families.  The list comes as Fortune magazine has also released their annual “100 Best Companies to Work For.”  A complete list of HRC’s honored businesses is available online at: www.hrc.org/placestowork.

“With the amount of time people spend at work, having strong protections on the job make a real difference in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “By mandating equal opportunity in hiring, ensuring equal compensation through medical and family benefits, and promoting inclusive and equal workplaces for LGBT employees, these companies are a model for other employers and federal and state governments.”
The “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality” distinction is awarded to businesses that scored 100% on the HRC Foundation’s 2011 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 the LGBT community.  Released in October, the 2011 Corporate Equality Index report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei. 

The 337 businesses will be honored on March 23 at the Seventh Annual LGBT Workplace Awards Seminar and Reception hosted by Time Warner at the Time Warner Center in New York.

HRC Foundation to Launch Program to Explore Workplace Policies of Jewish Non-Profit Organizations

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation announced today that it will begin an effort to investigate the existing workplace policies for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees at Jewish non-profit organizations. The work, an expansion of HRC’s workplace equality project, is supported by a generous lead grant from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and supporting grants from The Morningstar Foundation, Stuart S. Kurlander—a leader in several non-profit Jewish and Jewish LGBT community organizations—and an anonymous donor.

“Together, HRC and our partners share a vision of a work environment that provides every employee with the opportunity to achieve their full potential – in policy and in practice,” said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. “This collaborative partnership will expand the conversation about equality for LGBT people to the communities these organizations serve and to religious communities more broadly about their role in making fairness and equality a reality for all.”

More after the jump.

“The continued marginalization of LGBT Jews in some quarters is especially disheartening for those of us who believe in the power of a fully inclusive Jewish community that embraces every person as having equal and infinite merit,” said Lynn Schusterman, chair of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. “We hope that by creating this equality index, we can advance a process whereby LGBT Jews will be more welcomed and protected in the workplace and in Jewish community organizations, which will, in turn, create a more open, vibrant and diverse Jewish community.”

Last year Lynn Schusterman issued a call for all Jewish organizations to join her family’s foundation in adopting non-discrimination hiring policies that specifically mention sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Put into context, today, anyone can be fired for their sexual orientation in 21 states, or for their gender identity or expression in 38 states. Although lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have enjoyed increased protections among the largest employers and in certain states over the last decade, the vast majority of LGBT employees remain unprotected. Information on current practices at nonprofits is largely unavailable and likely to reveal a strong need for education in workplaces on the organizational benefits that flow from treating LGBT employees fairly. This project will serve as a pilot to expand workplace equality into other non-profits and small employers of all sorts.

The initial goals of the work include assessing existing practices and highlighting areas for education. The HRC Foundation will develop and administer a survey, benchmark results against selected criteria for LGBT workplace inclusiveness and publish a report based on a review of approximately 300 organizations. The work will also include an assessment of organizations’ cultural competency in delivering services to the LGBT community, such as whether the agency has inclusive language and messaging for LGBT clients, customers, students, campers, youth or parents. The initial report is scheduled for release in 2012.

“We strongly believe in the Jewish value of b'tzelem elohim that every person in the world is created in the image of the Divine. Individuals should have the right – and the ability – to live their lives so that sexual identity does not present any impediment to either obtaining or maintaining employment,” said Susie and Michael Gelman, managing directors of The Morningstar Foundation. “The talented individuals who devote their professional lives to serving the Jewish community should be able to rely on Jewish organizations upholding this fundamental Jewish precept. We look forward to working with our partners to create positive change around this issue.”

“As a longtime supporter of the work of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, I know its advocacy for inclusive workplace practices for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has been a key driver of change in social justice for our community,” said Stuart S. Kurlander. “The organizations involved see a partner in HRC who can not only help bring change within the Jewish non-profit communitybut also advance the dialogue in this country on equality for all people.”


Join HRC for only $20!

On Tuesday, HRC set a new, ambitious goal: 3,000 first-time members for 2011. Now, they're so close to meeting it that they have decided to extend the 2011 membership deadline until MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. 

 

If you believe marriage equality is worth fighting for – and that advancing equality in Congress is worth the commitment it will take – this is your last chance to join thousands of other new HRC members before our midnight deadline.

And as added incentive, HRC is making a special offer only available today. Until midnight tonight ONLY, new members can join HRC for just $20.11 – a $15 discount.

But wait, there's more! HRC is even extending their offer of a free HRC USB charger for first-time members who join us today.

HRC Partners with The Trevor Project around San Francisco Action Center & Store

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today announced long term partnerships with The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention among LGBT youth.  The well-regarded organization joins the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy and the GLBT Historical Society as organizations with which HRC will partner when the organization moves into the old camera store and campaign headquarters of civil rights advocate Harvey Milk.

In addition to being an HRC Action Center and Store, the location will include work space for The Trevor Project’s crisis and suicide prevention call center for the term of HRC’s lease. The Trevor Project will not offer direct services out of this space.  The Action Center and Store will prominently feature Trevor Project signage in the store’s windows and provide a kiosk for Trevor Project resources including a computer monitor to access the organization’s website.  The partnership will also enhance The Trevor Project’s ability to train local school workshop volunteers in the Bay Area therefore extending Trevor’s programmatic reach. In addition, HRC will make a $10,000 annual donation for each year of the relationship to The Trevor Project.

HRC previously announced that proceeds from selected merchandise will help to support the work of the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy and the GLBT Historical Society.

“We are honored to partner with The Trevor Project in offering this important resource for LGBT youth across the nation from such a historic location,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “We are so proud of the work of The Trevor Project and I am thrilled to strengthen our relationship with this incredible organization.”

 “We are grateful to HRC for their generosity and are excited about this partnership,” said The Trevor Project Executive Director Charles Robbins. “This location, which is being provided to us free of charge, will allow us to invest even more of our precious resources into creating supportive and positive environments for youth.”