Equality Magazine Summer 2015

H U M A N

R I G H T S

C A M P A I G N

SUMMER 2015

HONORING CIVIL

RIGHTS LEGEND

JULIAN

BOND

1940 – 2015

AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE THE LANDMARK EQUALITY ACT U.S. REP. DAVID CICILLINE

YOUNG & TRANS TV’S JAZZ JENNINGS

GLOBAL RIGHTS STATE DEPT. SPECIAL ENVOY RANDY BERRY

…AND SAMIRA WILEY, JULIAN CASTRO, GEENA ROCERO, DOUGLAS BROOKS AND GREG BALLARD

速

Proud to stand with the HRC & the LGBT community. ÂŁtakepride

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

After the nationwide marriage equality win at the U.S. Supreme Court in June, our movement is taking on the fights that still lie ahead of us with the same vigor and determination that helped us achieve one of the LGBT community’s greatest legal victories.

The newest chapter in the fight for full federal equality has begun — and HRC is leading the charge to transform this dream into reality and ensure that all LGBT Americans have the protections from discrimination they deserve as citizens. That means working closely with champions of equality in the U.S. Congress like Reps. David Cicilline and John Lewis, and Sens. Jeff Merkley, Tammy Baldwin and Cory Booker to pass the Equality Act. The federal legislation will once and for all end the unacceptable patchwork of non-discrimination laws across this country that threaten the livelihood of LGBT Americans and many of the same couples who fought so long and so hard to have their marriages recognized.

This is the bill we need to protect LGBT people and their families from discrimination in employment, access to public spaces, housing, credit and nearly every aspect of American life. It will ensure that LGBT people have a fair chance to earn a living, provide for their families and live their lives without fear of

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EQUALITY

SUMMER 2015

Yours,

FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gwen Baba CA, Elena Baca CA, John Barry IL, Bruce Bastian UT, Scott Bishop NC, Todd Canon TX, Lee Carter NC, Edie Cofrin GA, Bill Donius MO, Patty Ellis PA, Christopher Flynn MA, Charlie Frew GA, Suzanne Hamilton OH, Sheila Kloefkorn AZ, Britt Kornmann TX, Tom Kovach NV, Joan Lau PA, Andy Linsky CA, Joshua Miller NV, Bryan Parsons CA, Cat Reid WA, Cheryl Rose OH, John Ruffier FL, Mol Simmons GA, Cathi Scalise TX, Judy Shepard WY, Steve Sorenson CA, Faye Tate CO, Robb Webb IL, Frank Woo CA

BOARD OF GOVERNORS Marilyn Abalos NY, John Affuso MA, Tal Anderson MN, Debra Bacchi NY, Jennifer Bajorek TX, Greg Battaglia NY, Kevin Baucom TX, Andrew Beaudoin FL, Jay Biles NC, Brittany Binler PA, Doris Bobadilla LA, Chris Boone LA, Brian Bourquin MA, Kathy Bowman OH, Blake Brockway TN, Linda Brown OR, K Jason Bryan MN, Brian Buzby TX, Rory Cahn OH, Nancy Caldwell TX, Jeremy Carter NC, Steven Cayton GA, Conan Cleveland LA, Angie Cottrell MO, Dolores Covrigaru NY, Thomas Cowley CA, June Crenshaw DC, Lynn Currie TX, Dani Daley CA, Lance Demaline OH, Brad DiFiore GA, Jaime Duggan TX, Cordy Elkins MA, Alex Ernst VA, Chris Fasser NY, Maria Fasulo NY, Gabe Fischer CO, Taylor Fiscus IL, Jenny Ford TN, Heather Freyer CA, Sarah Garber MO, Matt Garrett GA, Ben Gibbs GA, Melinda Greene GA, Jon Groppe OH, Annie Groth AZ, Lisa Guillory LA, Randall Hance TX, Matt Hendry CA, S. Kelly Herrick CA, Gary Hilbert NJ, Latoya Holman NV, Ann Hooper NC, Lon Hurst TN, Bob Jacobson AZ, Tim Jenkins IL, Alyssa Jones MA, Dean Keppler WA, John Kim WA, Champ Knecht NY, Kevin Knoblock MA, Kristine Kuzemka NV, Keith Laepple WA, David Lahti CA, Andrew Land GA, Jason Laney DC, Duane Lefevre MA, Christine Lehtonen CA, Char Ligo OH, Alex Lindquist CO, Chris Lindsey TX, Anna Lineback NC, Michael Long OR, Thomas Macias CA, Lisa Marchbanks CA, David Martinez, III AZ, Paul Mataras MA, Dan Mauney NC, Sean MéHew UT, Rich Meyers CA, Earnest Morgan MN, Karen Morgan OH, Missy Morgan NV, Chris New GA, Robert Newhart IL, Khoa Nguyen DC, Roger Nyhus WA, Derek Osterman MA, Tonya Pachetti-Perkins TX, Brandon Patterson GA, Devin Payne CA, Byron Pelt MO, Angela Pisecco TX, Densil Porteous OH, Kaitlin Porter GA, Steve Pospisil MN, Robert Puckett TX, Ron Quinn NV, Victor Ravago CA, Chad Reumann TX, Geri Rochino CA, Mario Rodas MA, Liz Rodriguez TX, Paul Schiminsky NV, Elizabeth Schlesinger MO, Shelly Schoenfeld NC, Dustin Schrecengost UT, Alicia Schwarz MN, Thearon Scurlock FL, Candice Shapiro MA, Camron Shelton CA, Kristin Shrimplin OH, Dan Slater CA, Ashley Smith DC, Matt Smith TX, Neil Smith NC, Michael Smithson OH, Amy Speers CO, Katherine Sprissler-Klein PA, Kevin Stone CA, Rick Straits OH, Jeff Strater TX, Paul Thompson CA, Tiffany Tosh TX, Julian Tovar TX, Bonnie Uphold CA, Sean VanGorder NV, Lauren Verrusio NY, Melissa Vivanco TX, Ed Wagner IL, Lou Weaver TX, Jamaul Webster IL, Aaron Weiner OH, Stef-Anie Wells Koty OR, Amy White WA, Andrew Winters MD, Sharon Wong MD, Philip Wright TX

EMERITUS COUNCIL

Chad Griffin President

David Beckwith CA, Ken Britt GA, Lawrie Demorest GA, Tim Downing OH, Anne Fay TX, Mike Holloman TX, Barry Karas DC, Lucilo Peña TX, Dana Perlman CA, John Sullivan MN, Rebecca Tillet PA CURRENT AS OF AUGUST 1, 2015

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Just type in “Human Rights Campaign Equality Magazine.”

Photo: Matt McClain / Getty Images Cover: Eleanor Skrzat

DEAR FRIENDS,

discrimination. We have already broken records with the number of original co-sponsors and have seen leading American businesses rally behind us.

But this isn’t the only battle facing us beyond marriage. At home, there remain far too many politicians who believe LGBT people shouldn’t be protected, but used as political pawns to win elections. They’ve lost on marriage, but they’re trying their hardest to push falsely named “religious freedom” bills that would enshrine discrimination into law. We will do everything we can to try to stop them from doing so.

Abroad, LGBT people continue to face discrimination, persecution and violence.

Under the Obama administration, protecting LGBT rights has become a key principle of American foreign policy. And in Randy Berry, the U.S. State Department’s first-ever Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons, we have a true leader aiding in our fight for equality for all across the globe.

As we seek to tackle these challenges and more, I’m confident with your continued support we will help realize a world where LGBT people are embraced as full and equal members of society. At a moment like this, it’s important that we remember the lessons of a true champion of our cause, Julian Bond.

In August, we learned of his tragic passing.

He was a personal hero of mine, as I’m sure he was a hero to many of you, and his commitment to justice and equality for all is, and remains, a tremendous inspiration.

Julian said once, “We must choose love over doctrine, and when we do that, we will truly overcome.” Those words continue to ring true today. And while we have lost a legend in Julian Bond, as we face the battles still ahead of us, we can honor his life and incredible legacy by continuing his fight for equality for all.

Lacey All WA, Ian Barrett TX, Bruce Bastian UT, Vanessa Benavides TX, Michael Berman DC, Scott Bishop NC, Paul Boskind TX, Chris Carolan NY, Bill Donius MO, Patty Ellis PA, Christopher Flynn MA, Kirk Hamill DC, Suzanne Hamilton OH, James Harrison TX, Sheila Kloefkorn AZ, Tom Knabel MN, Chris Labonte PA, Joan Lau PA, DyShaun Muhammad MN, Bryan Parsons CA, Lester Perryman LA, Cheryl Rose OH, Linda Scaparotti CA, Mol Simmons GA, Ashley Smith DC, Steve Sorenson CA, Meghan Stabler TX, Ben Waldman WA, Brad White CA, Frank Woo CA

Introducing the Equality Act: Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, with Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey (not shown).

HRC SENIOR STAFF Chad Griffin President Jay Brown Director, Research & Public Education Ann Crowley Vice President of Membership & Online Strategy Olivia Alair Dalton Senior Vice President of Communications & Marketing Robert Falk General Counsel Andrea Green Finance Director Ellen Kahn Director, Programmatic Development & Training Initiatives Anastasia Khoo Chief Marketing Officer

INSIDE

Don Kiser Creative Director Ana Ma Chief of Staff & Chief Operating Officer

FEATURES

Ben Needham Director, Project One America

Jason Rahlan Communications Director

Photos (top to bottom): Kevin Wolf/AP for HRC, Jill Greenberg for Netflix, Courtesy of U.S. State Department, Kevin Winter/Getty Imgages Cover Photo: B. Proud/HRC

Jim Rinefierd Vice President of Finance & Operations

Marty Rouse National Field Director

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Susanne Salkind Vice President of Human Resources & Leadership Development Christopher Speron Vice President of Development

Sarah Warbelow Legal Director

Sarah Streyle Associate Director of Design

21 ACTOR SAMIRA WILEY: On Faith, Inclusion & Telling Our Stories

21

25 STATE DEPT. ENVOY RANDY BERRY: “Rights Are Rights… Universal and Without Exception”

Jessie Sheffield Marketing Coordinator

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS

29 TRANS ADVOCATE GEENA ROCERO: Empowering Action Across the Globe

Drew Kiser, Beth Sherouse, Justin Snow

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS Jay Brown, Ty Cobb, Steffan Declue, Alison Delpercio, Amy Driver, Justin Giaquinto, Noel Gordon, Mitch Johnson, Anastasia Khoo, Mollie Levin, Jason Lott, Adam Marquez, Rose Matias, Denis Munoz, Cathy Nelson, Cathryn Oakley, Vincent “Vinnie” Pompei, Karin Quimby, Ben Shallenberger, Beth Sherouse, Christopher Speron, David Stacy, Adam Swaim, Meg Tsuda, Sarah Warbelow, JoDee Winterhof Equality is a publication of the Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Equality (ISSN 10925791) is published quarterly by HRC, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Subscription rates: Free to members. Printed in the USA. The Human Rights Campaign and HRC Foundation names and Equality logos are trademarks of HRC and the HRC Foundation.

To join HRC, call 800-727-4723, visit www.hrc.org or TTY at 202-216-1572. Are you an HRC member? Have a question?

Email membership@hrc.org or call 800-727-4723. All advertisers in Equality magazine are HRC National Corporate Partners.

Because of HRC’s commitment to improving the lives of LGBT Americans in the workplace, all of our National Corporate Partners must demonstrate their own dedication by achieving a score of 85 percent or greater on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index. See www.hrc.org/CEI.

Correction: A “Marriage Equality” timeline in our last issue misstated the organization’s name that maintains the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and which removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1973, and being transgender from that list in 2012. It is the American Psychiatric Association, not the American Psychological Association.

13 U.S. REP. DAVID CICILLINE: A New Path Forward for LGBT Equality

19 FEDERAL HOUSING CHIEF JULIAN CASTRO: Ending Housing Discrimination

JoDee Winterhof Senior Vice President of Policy & Political Affairs

Robert Villaflor Design Director

A SPECIAL FEATURE

11 IN THEIR OWN WORDS

17 TV’S JAZZ JENNINGS: Being Trans, Starting High School & More

David Stacy Governmental Affairs Director

Janice Hughes Publications Director

A TRIBUTE

8 LGBT AMERICANS FOUND A HERO IN JULIAN BOND

Cathy Nelson Senior Vice President of Development & Membership

HRC EQUALITY STAFF

SUMMER 2015

31 WHITE HOUSE AIDS DIRECTOR DOUGLAS BROOKS: On Smashing Stigma

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35 GOP MAYOR GREG BALLARD: On “Religious Freedom” Bills & Making Business Sense

WHY I’M AN HRC MEMBER “Far too many LGBT people still live in fear across this country.

HRC is changing that. That’s why I’m an HRC member.”

Wentworth Miller, actor/screenwriter/producer and star in Fox’s “Prison Break,” returning in 2016 On the Cover: Julian Bond speaking at HRC’s 2013 National Dinner.

Wherever we fly, we fly together.

Ever since the Human Rights Campaign started identifying the best places to work for LGBT equality, one airline has led the way. Because American Airlines has achieved a perfect score from the Corporate Equality Index every single year since it began. We’re proud to count our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees and their allies among our American family.

Learn more on aa.com/diversity.

AmericanAirlines, aa.com and the Flight Symbol logo are marks of American Airlines, Inc. oneworld is a mark of the oneworld Alliance, LLC. Š 2015 American Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved.

up front HRC & “I AM CAIT”

Photos: HRC

Caitlyn Jenner, Olympic gold medalist and transgender celebrity, recently sat down with several transgender HRC staffers, volunteers and advocates at HRC’s Action Center and Store in San Francisco this summer, to discuss the myriad challenges facing the transgender community. The meeting was shown on an episode of Caitlin’s E! reality docu-series, “I Am Cait.”

“Trans people have about four times the extreme poverty rate as the general population,” said HRC Senior Legislative Counsel Alison Gill in the episode, underlining the harsh realities of daily life for trans people.

The group also talked about problems of violence, limited access

to healthcare as well as employment discrimination.

Blossom Brown, an HRC volunteer and spokesperson in Mississippi, shared her struggle about trying to get into nursing school, despite good grades.

“I had a good GPA. I had a good ACT score. And the first time I didn’t get in, [I] worked a little harder,’” she said. Brown took more classes and applied again to nursing school — six times. She was still turned down. People focused on the fact she is transgender and not on her hard work and dedication, she said.

Jenner has said she has learned a considerable amount since coming out and wants to use her privilege to better educate the public about the range of issues facing the trans community as a whole.

Every single day at school in rural Mississippi is an act of survival for Kayla.

Kayla,15, is harassed and bullied constantly, and even forced to change in a separate room for marching band practices, simply because she is lesbian.

But recently, when Kayla heard about HRC’s Equality Summit, she told herself she could hang in there, Kayla’s mother told HRC recently in Jackson. That’s where HRC’s Project One America held its first-ever statewide LGBT advocacy training. And folks were more than ready. Some 150 people participated. And that included Kayla and her mom.

The daylong gathering in Jackson — as well as summits in Birmingham, Ala., and Little Rock, Ark., this fall — train volunteers to advocate for LGBT equality in all areas of daily life, including in their schools, workplaces, hospitals, places of worship and their cities.

Attendees are coming from all corners of each state. Mississippi State University sent a vanload of students to the Jackson gathering.

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Top Left, Back Row (L-R): HRC’s Blossom Brown and Alison Gill, actress Candis Cayne and writer Jen Richards; Behind Caitlyn Jenner: TransTech Founder/CEO Angelica Ross; Bottom Row (L-R): Jenner, HRC’s Jay Brown, writer/GLAAD Board Co-chair Jennifer Boylan, HRC’s Laya Monarez and activist Chandi Moore. Above: Jenner and Brown

things you need to know about…

Liberty Counsel

A fervently anti-LGBT group, Liberty Counsel, has been advising and representing Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Ky., clerk who refused to follow a federal court order to issue marriage licenses to all qualified couples.

Liberty Counsel Chairman Mat Staver calls marriage equality the “beginning of the end of Western Civilization,” and is urging officials who oppose same-sex marriage not to resign their positions, but to stay and fight with representation by Liberty Counsel.

Meanwhile, Staver has also called laws prohibiting so-called reparative therapy “religious discrimination.”

Find out more at HRC’s website, www.hrc.org/libertycounsel for “10 Things You Should Know…”

WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

7

A TRIBUTE

J

ulian Bond, a champion of equality, was a passionate supporter of the equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans for years – lending his powerful voice to our fight for marriage equality, hate crimes protections and more. This year alone, Bond spoke out on LGBT equality – for a federal non-discrimination bill, for equal treatment in the South and against state-level legislation cloaked in the guise of religion.

With roots in student activism in the 1960s, Bond served as the first president of the Southern Poverty Law Center, chairman of the NAACP and a longtime Georgia lawmaker.

The renowned civil rights leader died Aug. 15, at the age of 75. He leaves behind his wife Pamela Horowitz, an attorney and a close collaborator, and five children.

Bond advocated “for every group, indeed every person subject to oppression and discrimination, because he recognized the common humanity in us all,” noted SPLC Co-Founder Morris Dees. He “helped change this country for the better,” said President Obama.

A special tribute to Bond by HRC President Chad Griffin (p. 9) ran in The Advocate and elsewhere.

LGBT AMERICANS FOUND A HERO IN

JULIAN

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EQUALITY

SUMMER 2015

Photo: Jack Plunkett/AP

The fight for LGBT equality has had many heroes, some known, many more unknown. They are individuals who have devoted their lives and risked so much for the pursuit of a nation that is more just and more equal. But our collective movement has had few heroes like Julian Bond.

Julian Bond’s commitment to equality, his pursuit of justice for all, and his pointed criticism of those who would permit discrimination in any form made him an icon, a hero, and a legend.

His legacy was cemented long before he decided to speak out on issues of importance to LGBT Americans. He stood up against white supremacy; he battled for his right to speak freely in the Georgia

a trail for others to follow. In the years I got to know Julian, I discovered a man whose generosity had no bounds. There was no ask too big or too small for Julian.

His voice was instrumental in helping to secure support for marriage equality, and he was an early supporter of the federal court challenge to California’s Proposition 8. He joined HRC’s Americans for Marriage Equality public education campaign in 2011. A few years later, he wrote “LGBT Rights Are Human Rights” on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.

Throughout the first half of this year, he wrote multiple opinion pieces in support of LGBT equality, including those that highlighted the need for equal treatment in the South and opposed anti-LGBT religious

Court during oral arguments in the marriage equality case, Obergefell v. Hodges.

We were in the courtroom as the justices considered the case that would ultimately bring marriage equality to all 50 states. We waited together in line outside and inside for hours. It might just have been a few of the most memorable hours of my life, and Julian emailed me later to express what a profound moment it was for him and Pam.

It’s rare in life to get to know one of your heroes. Julian is one of mine. I not only looked up to Julian, I had the great honor and privilege of meeting him, learning from him, and working with him. And for that, I am forever grateful.

When it came to equality, Julian was not a patient man. He knew our work was

“[ALTHOUGH] SO MUCH WORK REMAINS AHEAD FOR OUR GREAT NATION, THE LEGACY JULIAN BOND HAS LEFT US IS OF A WORLD THAT IS FAR MORE JUST AND FAR MORE EQUAL BECAUSE OF HIM.” state legislature — an issue that was finally settled by the U.S. Supreme Court — where he served the people of Georgia for 20 years. His devotion to equality took him from his roots in Tennessee to helping establish the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, chairing the NAACP for more than a decade, and serving as the first president of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

In short, he didn’t have to fight for LGBT equality. But he did, and he became our champion.

Julian spent his entire life standing up for the equal rights of each and every person. And throughout it all, he was a champion of the rights of LGBT people, blazing

refusal legislation in state legislatures.

When discussing the need for comprehensive federal LGBT nondiscrimination protections earlier this year and our path forward to securing them, Julian looked at me and very quickly said, “Why wouldn’t you just amend the existing civil rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity?” Several months later, we’re attempting to do just that with the Equality Act, and Julian came out in strong support of those efforts. He was one of the boldest champions our cause has ever known.

The last time I saw Julian and his wife, Pamela Horowitz — his partner in the fight for equality — was at the U.S. Supreme

far from over. Quoting Frederick Douglass, his greatest advice was to organize and to agitate. There are very few throughout human history who have embodied the ideals of honor, dignity, courage, and friendship quite like Julian Bond. Future generations will look back on his life and legacy and see a warrior for good who helped conquer hate in the name of love.

For the LGBT movement, we have lost a champion. For our country, we have lost a true American hero. But despite the fact that so much work remains ahead for our great nation, the legacy Julian Bond has left us is of a world that is far more just and far more equal because of him.

N BOND WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

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Being yourself is just being human.

Everywhere.

Every day.

We’re with you.

We Bank Human and celebrate the LGBT community.

TM

A SPECIAL FEATURE

IN THEIR OWN WORDS Hurdles of all kinds stand in the way of full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people — both in the United States and abroad. But the Human Rights Campaign and its allies continue to stay the course, pressing ahead to ensure that moment finally arrives.

For this issue of Equality magazine, we decided to let readers hear directly from nine different people — each one of them a leader – about the worlds they work in and what they are doing to fight inequality. They are each forging their own path toward fairness — be it for housing protections or family acceptance or transgender awareness. Many are members of the LGBT community, others are allies. All have partnered with HRC across its wide breadth of work.

In the following pages, each of the nine share their thoughts, in their own words — either in a one-on-one interview with Equality or in an essay they have specifically written for the magazine.

U.S. State Dept. Special Envoy Randy Berry made time while on travel. Actor Samira Wiley called and chatted from New York. TV’s Jazz Jennings also joined in — just days before starting her first year of high school.

Whether on Capitol Hill, in southeast Asia, in business circles, on TV or elsewhere, each of these leaders continues to step up to the plate and speak out for justice. Each is on the forefront of change. HRC salutes them.

ABOVE, L-R: U.S. Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, TV’s Jazz Jennings, U.S. Housing Chief Julian Castro, Actor Samira Wiley, State Dept. Special Envoy Randy Berry, Trans Activist Geena Rocero, White House HIV/AIDS Chief Douglas Brooks, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard

WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

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100

%

IT’S A START

Bank of America thanks the Human Rights Campaign for recognizing us with a 100% score on the Corporate Equality Index. We’ll keep doing our best to share the benefits of diversity at work and in the communities we serve. And we invite everyone to join us on a journey that is by no means finished.

We are 100% grateful. bankofamerica.com/diversity

©2015 Bank of America Corporation. | AD-02-15-0221 | ARK7VJFW 12

EQUALITY

SUMMER 2015

FEDERAL LEGISLATION

DAVID CICILLINE

A NEW PATH FORWARD FOR LGBT EQUALITY

By David Cicilline

R

ep. David N. Cicilline of Rhode Island has introduced the Equality Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, with Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Cory Booker of New Jersey in the U.S. Senate.

The landmark federal non-discrimination bill, unveiled in late July, already boasts 209 co-sponsors. Cicilline, the former mayor of Providence, was the first openly gay mayor of a state capital.

Here is what he told Equality about the bill:

Photo: Fine Photo:Dakota Tom Williams/Getty

The U.S. Supreme Court decision — holding that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans are entitled to the same marriage rights and responsibilities as all other Americans — was an important, historic step toward full equality. But there is still much more work that remains to be done.

Today, in most states, an LGBT person can get married on Saturday, post photos of their wedding on Sunday, and then risk getting fired from their job or thrown out of their apartment on Monday just because of who they are.

Today, in most states, there are still no explicit laws to protect LGBT Americans from discrimination in employment, housing, public services and spaces, education continued on p. 15

63+37+H 56+44+H 70+30+H 82+18+H 38+62+H 64+36+H 63%

56% 70%

82%

38% 64%

63 percent of LGBT Americans report having experienced discrimination at some point in their lives.

56 percent of LGB Americans have experienced discrimination when trying to get healthcare, and 70 percent of transgender Americans report the same.

82 percent of LGBT students say they’ve been verbally harassed, 38 percent have been physically harassed, and 64 percent have felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.

WWW.HRC.ORG

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ORB_LGBTRewards_MenTub_DinahBookletSize_20150806.indd 1

8/5/15 10:47 AM

Cont’d from p. 13 and other core areas of day-to-day life. This system — a patchwork of protections and lack of protections across the states — is not working. Here’s just one fact: More than 60 percent of LGBT Americans say they have experienced discrimination at some point in their lives.

This is completely wrong. Fairness and equality are core American values and part of the very reason for our nation’s founding. And it’s critical that we affirm these values by passing a bill that guarantees LGBT Americans the same rights and protections as all other Americans.

That’s why, in July, I introduced the Equality Act in the U.S. House of Representatives to prohibit discrimination in core areas of everyday life – including public services and spaces, federal funding, education, employment, housing, credit and jury service.

The Equality Act, which Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon has introduced in the U.S. Senate, is co-sponsored by 168 of my colleagues in the U.S. House. This commonsense legislation would expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as other existing laws, to ensure that LGBT Americans can live their lives free from the fear of discrimination.

Just 10 years ago, when the U.S. Senate came within a dozen votes of passing a constitutional amendment to discriminate against same-sex couples, this kind of bill would have been unthinkable.

But today, public support for LGBT equality is stronger than ever. And it’s time for political leaders on both sides of the aisle to affirm this reality.

More than 50 years ago, just days after he took office, President Lyndon Johnson promised a grieving nation that he would continue President John F. Kennedy’s work to advance the cause of civil rights. Speaking before a Joint Session of Congress, President Johnson said, “We have talked long enough in this country about equal rights. We have talked for one hundred years or more. It is time now to write the next chapter, and to write it in the books of law.”

The same is true today.

The time for political posturing and partisan gamesmanship is over. The introduction of the Equality Act is an important step in this struggle, and now it’s time for us to stop talking about full LGBT equality and, with your help, to write it in the books of law.

Photo: Kevin Wolf/AP for HRC,

See www.hrc.org/equalityact

On Capitol Hill: Rep. David Cicilline (left) and HRC’s President Chad Griffin, at the landmark bill’s introduction.

LEADING COMPANIES SUPPORT EQUALITY ACT In the weeks since the Equality Act was introduced, a slew of companies have voiced their support, saying they recognize that equality is good for business and they want full, federal equality for all LGBT Americans. The historic bill, unveiled this summer, would guarantee explicit, permanent protections for LGBT people from discrimination in many key aspects of their lives — employment, access to public spaces, housing, education, jury service, credit and federal funding.

AMAZON AMERICAN AIRLINES APPLE INC. DOW CHEMICAL CO. EMC CORP. FACEBOOK INC. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. GENERAL MILLS INC. GOOGLE INC. HEWLETT-PACKARD CO. IBM CORP. INTEL CORP. KELLOGG CO. LEVI STRAUSS & CO. MICROSOFT CORP. NIKE INC. ORACLE ORBITZ WORLDWIDE INC. PAYPAL SYMANTEC CORP. TARGET CORP. Have you faced discrimination based on your sexual orientation or gender identity, or know someone who has? Take a minute to share your story with HRC. See www.hrc.org/shareyourstory.

WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

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Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s proudly support The Human Rights Campaign and their mission of equality for all.

Love

Grow

E v o lv e

FAMILIES

JAZZ JENNINGS

ON BEING TRANS, STARTING HIGH SCHOOL & MORE

Photo: TLC

T

By Jazz Jennings

LC reality show star Jazz Jennings, 14, is a transgender activist. Last year, she co-authored a children’s book, I Am Jazz, the name of her TV show, and also was named an HRC Foundation Youth Ambassador. This fall, she begins high school. Jennings, in her own words, below:

Adults are always telling me that I’m brave for sharing my story. But I don’t feel particularly brave. The truth is, I’m just a teenager.

Like most other teenagers, I spend at least 16 hours a day eating, sleeping or hanging out with my friends, watching television from my bed. I also make mermaid tails and obsess over things trending on YouTube. Like I said, I’m a teenager.

Life is about change, and I’m about to hit a milestone as I enter high school.

I’m nervous, yet excited, and I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead. I’m a perfectionist, so I put a lot of pressure on myself. Just knowing that colleges are going to look at all my grades makes my palms sweat. Everything matters now! I’m pretty lucky because I have older brothers who will be seniors at my high school. If anyone messes with me they’ll have to face the wrath of Sander and Griffen!

But I also realize my life doesn’t seem typical. I’ve been on television since I was a little kid, and now my family and I have a reality TV series on TLC. It’s not like I’m Taylor Swift, but people do recognize me when I go out in public. I sometimes see the book I

wrote on shelves in stores. And I get letters from parents and other kids all the time.

When people tell me their stories, it makes me realize how lucky I am to have a family that has always loved me, supported me and taught me to be proud of who I am.

Too many transgender kids don’t have that.

Instead, they have parents who tell them there’s something wrong with them or kick them out of the house. Some kids become homeless. Many face bullying. Many can’t get the medical care they need to transition so they can be seen as their true selves.

Sometimes I get really sad thinking about how lonely some other transgender kids must feel when they don’t have that kind of support, when they can’t be proud of who they are. That’s why I keep sharing my story with others — so that transgender kids and their parents can learn that it’s okay to be transgender, that it’s just another part of who a person is, no different than what color their hair is or how tall they are.

When I look to the work ahead, I want to continue spreading the message to transgender kids everywhere that they

“Too many transgender kids… have parents who tell them there’s something wrong with them.”

Don’t get me wrong — being transgender hasn’t always been easy for me.

I’ve been teased and bullied by other kids.

Sometimes I was excluded from things that other girls were allowed to do, like playing on the girls’ soccer team. But through it all, I knew that my family had my back and that I was never alone.

are not alone, and that it’s possible to live a completely happy, normal life as a transgender person, even if things are tough right now.

So much has changed just in my lifetime, but until all LGBTQ youth are loved and supported for who they are, we still have so much work to do.

WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

17

Celebrating the few who change the lives of many.

Citi recognizes the Human Rights Campaign and those who work together to build a better tomorrow.

Š 2015 Citigroup Inc. All rights reserved.

Citi and Citi with Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc.

PROTECTIONS IN HOUSING

JULIAN CASTRO

ENDING HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

By Julian Castro

J

Photo: Courtesy of HUD.

ulian Castro, the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, served as the mayor of his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, from 2009 to 2014. A staunch ally for LGBT equality, Castro learned early on to stand up for fairness from his mother, Rosie Castro, a community activist who fought for better housing and more on the city’s west side. Castro recently shared some of his thoughts with Equality, below:

Our nation is at its best when opportunities are available, not just to some, but to all — regardless of what they look like, where they come from, who they love or who they are.

For decades, a movement has been gaining momentum to ensure that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has a fair chance to share in the American Dream. Generations of activists — known and unknown — have joined together to stand up to prejudice, speak out against injustice and fight for a fairer future.

I am proud of the historic efforts the Obama administration has undertaken to move our nation toward LGBT equality.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development also has done its part to help advance LGBT equality. In February, we issued guidance on how to best serve transgender persons in single-sex shelter facilities. Its intent is to address the fact that up to 40 percent of unaccompanied homeless youth are LGBT, and the majority

of them report harassment, difficulty or even sexual assault when trying to access homeless shelters.

To help address the very real problem of LGBT youth homelessness, HUD and other federal agencies created a pilot program with the True Colors Fund, focusing on working with families to address and prevent the conflicts that often forces LGBT youth to run away, helping them build a future that’s defined by hope, not homelessness.

All of this work has been based on the groundbreaking rule that HUD issued in 2012 to ensure that every HUD program is open to all Americans, no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.

Clearly, we’ve come a long way in the march for equal rights, but there’s still a long way to go to achieve equality in every aspect of our national life. In 2013, a firstof-its-kind HUD study found that same-sex couples are often discriminated against when trying to find a home or apartment

online. And whenever a family is denied housing in a vibrant community, they’re also blocked from the job and educational opportunities that come with it. That’s why HUD is doing everything it can to help LGBT Americans obtain a safe place to call home.

This progress is only possible because of the local leaders on the ground who work every day to shape a tomorrow that’s better than today. HUD is eager to continue working with our partners to ensure that every person has the chance to contribute to our nation’s prosperity. Our Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity combats housing discrimination every single day. And we’re proud to help build communities where every American is welcomed, respected and accepted.

Now, our nation must come together, look ahead and recommit ourselves to finishing the job until all the barriers come tumbling down that have hindered too many of our fellow Americans from living and loving freely.

WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

19

VISIBILITY

SAMIRA WILEY

ON FAITH, INCLUSION & TELLING OUR STORIES

T

Photo: Megan Mack/Getty

he Juilliard-trained daughter of Baptist ministers, actor Samira Wiley is known for her work on the Netflix hit, “Orange Is the New Black.”

The 28-year-old, who is lesbian, received the Visibility Award from HRC at its North Carolina gala this year.

Wiley spoke recently with Equality by phone from her home in New York about her faith, TV, the Internet … and her love of Shakespeare.

Many people don’t know that your parents are co-pastors at a Baptist church in Washington, D.C., and are longtime allies of our community.

A lot of times, people think that I came out to my parents and then they decided to be more open about their support, but it really didn’t happen that way. I’ve been really lucky to be born into a family where my parents are people of faith and more than accepting, they are embracing, of all people in the community. In 1994, they had their first revival at the church, an interfaith revival, called “Breaking Down the Barriers that Divide Us.” And one of the things that was in the revival’s mission statement was that they wanted to include people regardless of any differences — race, creed, all those things. And they also included sexual orientation, a new idea in the African-American church in 1994. … continued on p. 23

WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

21

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Twitter and Instagram, and it really, really, touches my heart. … I’ve got girls writing me from Africa, telling me that my character has given them hope and shown them that it’s OK to be themselves. I can’t even count the number of women who have written me extensive letters talking about how Poussey, by proxy, has helped them so much, and helped them gain self-esteem.

Scenes from the Netflix hit, “Orange Is the New Black.”

cont’d from p. 21

Photos: Jessica Miglio for Netflix, Linda Kallerus for Netflix, Paul Shiraldi for Netflix

It was their open heart that allowed me to see that it is 100 percent OK for me to live my life openly with love, and just be OK with who I am.

Does your faith still factor in to your life in any way?

Yes, my parents are my role models. …

They’re not conservative at all, and I’ve seen, in my life and their lives, how faith has helped us. … My faith never creates barriers. My faith always just allows me to be able to receive people for who they are. I have the utmost respect for people who are anything: Jewish, Muslim, atheist, whatever. What my father always tells me is … a famous quote from [theologian/philosopher/civil rights leader] Howard Thurman: “I just want to learn how to be me while not hindering you from being you.” I really think that my faith has just allowed for me to be open and accepting, and having an open heart.

HRC and others try to, as we say, change the hearts and minds of people about equality.

Honestly, a big thing that would help is just more and more visibility. Visibility in media, where, if you live in a small town and you’ve never seen a black person, you’ve never seen a gay person, to make that more real and put it in front of you, but making a conscious effort to not make those stereotypes.

What specifically do you like about “Orange Is the New Black”? The

show has been pioneering in so many ways.

When I first got this job, I was a bartender, and I remained a bartender the entire first season that we filmed. And looking back on it, I just showed up and had no idea what this was going to be. … So I wasn’t able to really fully appreciate the presence of all of the women in power on our set — in the cast, our head writer, creator. I think we’re the only show out right now that has more women than men in the writers’ room, and all the producers are women. It just showed me that women can do everything.

…But of course, there’s the show itself: I just think it’s innovative and powerful to have people on your television who aren’t there just to be beautiful. They’re there to tell a story. They’re there to be an actual representation of what you look like, or what your mom looked like, or even, “That person reminds me of the woman I always pass on the street.” In personalities, in shapes, in sizes, in colors, we have so many women represented. And it’s really showing people that we are, and women are, in general, beautiful in so many different ways. And it is also showing, in terms of it being set in a prison, that there aren’t really huge barriers between incarcerated people and us out here. With backstories showing such a full picture of who these women are … is really special.

Are you hearing from any of your viewers about Poussey, your character, who is lesbian?

I hear from people when I am just walking down the street. Another way is through

You’ve heard from Africa…

And Brazil, a lot. Brazilians love the show! … I also have heard from France, Iceland, Australia, Scotland, so many places.

Any words of advice for youth who may be interested in going into acting?

It’s hard work, and I think that if I could imagine myself doing anything else, I would probably do that because this is really hard. Before this [job], I had zero job security, and I’d go seven months without a job, two years without a job. I would just want to make sure that they think about what they are passionate about: What makes you smile? What makes your heart sing?

… My advice is just listen to yourself.

Listen to your heart. Take time to literally sit down for five minutes and just breathe and listen to your heart beat. Because that is how you learn to be yourself, and not trying to be different than anything. And the only way you can be yourself is if you know yourself. And the only way you can know yourself is if you spend time with yourself.

What role do you want to take on next, or in the future? Have you thought much about that?

Yes, I have, I think about it a lot. I went to Juilliard, and so I come from a very classical theater training program. What I miss the most is doing plays — I haven’t been in a play for five years now, and I used to do around four plays a year. I did! I really love Shakespeare — so, so much. Actually, my first professional job here in New York City was at The Public Theater, and it was Shakespeare! So that, honestly, feels like home. To be on stage, reciting lines from Shakespeare, oddly feels much more comfortable to me than being on television.

WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

23

THANKS HRC FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO.

LasVegas.com/gaytravel

GLOBAL RIGHTS

RANDY BERRY

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT, SPECIAL ENVOY

O

Photo: Courtesy of U.S. State Department.

penly gay Randy Berry is the U.S. State Department’s first-ever Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons, a newly created, senior-level post. A veteran U.S. Foreign Service Officer, Berry has held postings in Bangladesh, Egypt, Uganda, South Africa and elsewhere, and speaks Spanish and Arabic. HRC helped spearhead the years-long effort to create this position, with more than 26,000 HRC members weighing in with Secretary of State John Kerry in its favor.

Equality recently caught up with Berry for a conversation by email.

You’ve been on the job for less than six months. Seeing any trends?

To date, I’ve had the opportunity to travel and engage in 17 countries on four continents, and by the time I log in six months in the job, the total will be near 25.

Those extensive contacts and travel have demonstrated to me that there is truly irreversible, positive progress being achieved on a global scale — some of it quickly, some of it coming at a more measured pace, but change is truly coming — I see that every day in my job and in my interactions. …

However, there are glaring exceptions to this general global progress. In far too many places, discrimination and violence are actively supported by statutes that criminalize same-sex relationships and activity, including in a handful of countries where being a member of our community carries the death penalty. That

is why we must continue to work together — governments, civil society organizations, communities of faith, businesses and individuals — to make sure equality eventually extends to every corner of the map.

What do you say to officials who believe that protecting the human rights of LGBT people defies cultural norms or reflects a Western point of view?

I believe that human rights can never be situational or culturally defined. Rights are rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights means just that — universal, without exception.

When a person is negatively impacted or discriminated against because of their identity, that’s a human rights issue whether it occurs on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, disability or sexual orientation and gender identity. continued on p. 27

19 10 75

COUNTRIES HAVE FULL MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

COUNTRIES PUNISH SAME-SEX ACTIVITY WITH DEATH.

COUNTRIES CRIMINALIZE SAMESEX RELATIONSHIPS.

HUNDREDS

OF TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS WERE MURDERED IN PAST YEAR.

WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

25

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Cont’d from p. 25 You visited Uganda, which recently passed a draconian anti-LGBT law, to meet with government officials and LGBT leaders.

I learned that there is great value in dialogue and finding partners on the other side of the table. Meetings there with civil society organizations, governments and businesses revealed promising evidence of constructive dialogue between players in Uganda. … It reinforced to me that we need to be exceptionally mindful of local dynamics and the views of local LGBT community leaders when we engage.

How can the United States, and your role, have the most impact on helping LGBT people and communities abroad?

We have the potential, and the promise, to play a key role in supporting and encouraging positive change, and we can do this by clearly and consistently engaging in conversations to bring the dialogue back to the basic principles of equality and human rights.

I believe it’s important in my role to engage honestly about our own continuing path to equality, learn lessons and

support the efforts of our friends and allies around the world in their own leadership on these issues, and broaden the coalition of those who support this basic human rights issue.

Most importantly, we must listen closely to the experiences, needs and concerns of local rights organizations who know the context and history of their efforts, and help them in the manner that ultimately strengthens their own ability to do their critical work.

What can HRC and others do?

Organizations like HRC have a critical role to play in establishing and maintaining links with rights organizations globally, and engaging in frequent and results-focused dialogue with government, civil society and business leaders.

I believe sustainable change only comes as a result of civil society organizations working to achieve equality. …

Public-private partnerships are essential, like the Global Equality Fund. The GEF brings governments, businesses, foundations and organizations together to push — together — for global change and, to date, has provided support to human rights defenders, organizations and allies in more than 50 countries, and more than $20

million in assistance. HRC is an important partner in this effort.

How can everyday Americans support you in these efforts?

Americans can best support these efforts by remaining engaged, tracking global developments and continuing to support those individuals, organizations and coalitions that are working for equality.

We have an active, transparent, ongoing conversation with civil society leaders, and that is absolutely fundamental to our work.

There is a wide range of ways in which individuals can make a difference, contribute expertise, engage with legislators and executive-branch officials, and work for global change. HRC and a number of other globally focused rights groups are performing exceptional advocacy work. There are ways to tangibly support equality, and to support businesses that make equality a key component of their brand.

And the toughest part of your job so far?

Undoubtedly, juggling the significant demands and urgency of this new portfolio with similar demands and urgency of raising two toddlers.

WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

27

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GLOBAL ACTIVISM

GEENA ROCERO

ADVANCING TRANS RIGHTS AROUND THE WORLD, ONE ADVOCATE AT A TIME

By Geena Rocero

G

Photo: Larry French/Getty

eena Rocero, 31, is a Philippines-born transgender model and founder of Gender Proud, a group that focuses on empowering marginalized transgender communities worldwide to advocate for their legal rights. Below, Rocero, who now lives in the U.S., talks about a recent trip back home, in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign.

This summer, Gender Proud and the HRC Global team joined forces for a three-city tour of the Philippines to create an empowering conversation of the transgender experience. In Cebu, Vigan and Quezon City, we ran a series of workshops, group discussions and panels that advocated broadly for the expansion of LGBT rights.

While the conversation in the West about being transgender has advanced rapidly, in most countries around the world, trans people’s rights are hugely limited.

For this reason, we chose the Philippines as the focus for Gender Proud’s global advocacy work.

While trans Filipinos have high social visibility, they have few legal rights: for instance, the government doesn’t recognize their right to transition. This means that legal documents — passports, licenses, ID cards — often do not match one’s true identity.

We spoke with nearly 1,000 trans community members about their rights during our three weeks in the Philippines. That included acquainting them with my own story. Born in Manila, I started out as a pageant queen, then went on to become a model. While I kept my trans identity a secret for nearly a decade before coming out, I am now working to use my platform to create change. With my story and others, we talked about the importance of combining traditional advocacy with new media, with an emphasis on storytelling.

Soon after we left the Philippines, Trixie, a trans

woman who attended two of our events, decided to act. Valkyrie, a Manila nightclub, refused entry to Trixie because her ID did not match her appearance, claiming she “was not dressed properly.” Since Trixie better understood the power of speaking out, she immediately contacted the local media to speak out against the club owners.

The country’s trans community mobilized against the Valkyrie management. The nightclub issued a public apology, saying that it would ensure that any concerns of the LGBT community will be addressed, and met with community members to launch a full review of its current policies. Together, both parties have revised these policies, collaborating to ensure similar situations do not occur.

Empowering action and fostering education are what Gender Proud is about. We strive to elevate the conversation about transgender justice and equality. There is considerable work ahead.

Rocero, during the three-city public awareness campaign — a partnership of HRC, Gender Proud and the Association of Transgender People in the Philippines. With HRC’s support, each stop on the tour featured a day-long media workshop for trans advocates.

WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

29

SO YOU CAN CONGRATULATE THE HAPPY COUPLE.

We’re passionate about creating a diverse and fair workplace where our employees are enabled to be themselves. This year we received our 13th consecutive 100% rating in the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, making JPMorgan Chase the only financial institution to achieve a perfect score every year since the list’s inception.

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JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC © 2015 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

HIV & AIDS

DOUGLAS BROOKS

ON SMASHING STIGMA AND PROMOTING PrEP

D

Photo: Paul Morigi/Getty

ouglas M. Brooks is the Director of the White House’s Office of National AIDS Policy. His appointment made history – not only is he a well-respected social worker and community leader, but he is also an openly gay black man living with HIV. The White House recently released an executive order, updating the National HIV/AIDS Strategy with a new focus on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and more.

In the listening sessions you’ve held around the country, what messages did you hear the most from individuals living with HIV? From organizations working in prevention and health providers?

What stood out most was the reminder of the daily barriers to HIV prevention and care.

For instance, at the very age where he should be dreaming of the best future that he can have, a young gay man who has been kicked out of his home for being gay, or has left because the environment

was so toxic, must focus on finding a safe place to sleep at night. A transgender woman who might otherwise be focusing on a new life for herself is instead struggling to avoid violent situations on the streets and in shelters.

We also heard about people who are building comprehensive health systems that are sensitive and welcoming to gay and bisexual men and transgender women.

They are integrating prevention and care in a holistic manner that is patient-centered and trauma-informed.

The stigma associated with HIV can be devastating. What is new or updated in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy to address the discrimination and prejudices and their wide-ranging consequences?

There is still too much social stigma assigning blame to people who acquire HIV, and even for those who are actively seeking to prevent themselves from becoming infected. More than 30 years after the first cases of AIDS were identified, people living with HIV still face discrimination in employment, housing, provision of healthcare services and public accommodations.

This discrimination is unacceptable and undermines efforts to encourage everyone to learn their HIV status! It also makes it harder for people to disclose their HIV status to their medical providers, their sex and needle-sharing partners, and even clergy and others to whom they might otherwise turn to for understanding and support.

Educating the public about HIV, in a destigmatizing way, is also a key piece of the puzzle. We have to create learning environments that are safe, inclusive and without stigma or implicit discrimination.

There has been some controversy about PrEP after it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2012. Can you talk about that?

When the FDA approved PrEP, a daily pill to prevent HIV, it was hailed by many as a much-needed prevention breakthrough. It was also met with great contention. Critics asserted it would lead to greater promiscuity and reduced condom use. But there is no evidence that PrEP makes people more likely to engage in risky behaviors and, when used consistently, it can reduce the risk of HIV by up to 92 percent! In our updated Strategy, we call for full access to comprehensive PrEP services as one of the areas we really need to focus on over the next five years. continued on p. 33 WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

31

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PrEP and other interventions, like Treatment as Prevention, have transformed the landscape of HIV. … Our latest research shows that the risk of transmitting HIV can be reduced by 96 percent within couples if the infected partner gets treatment early. These are tools we have at our disposal — now we just have to use them!

What is stopping us from achieving the elusive “AIDS-free generation?”

What more needs to be done at the community level?

HIV does not impact all Americans equally. … To have the greatest impact, we must focus on the right people, the right places and with the right practices.

In other words, we need to focus on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men of all races and ethnicities — noting the particularly high burden of HIV

“People living with HIV still face discrimination in employment, housing, provision of healthcare services and public accommodations.” among Black gay and bisexual men, Black women and men, Latino men and women, people who inject drugs, youth aged 13 to 24 years — with the particularly high burden of HIV among young Black gay and bisexual men, and transgender women — and the particularly high burden of HIV among Black transgender women.

We need to focus on those in major metropolitan areas and in the Southern United States. And we need to focus on widespread testing and linkage to care, enabling people living with HIV to access treatment early; broad support like housing

and transportation for people living with HIV to remain engaged in comprehensive care; universal viral suppression among people living with HIV; and full access to comprehensive PrEP services for those whom it is appropriate and desired.

The Obama administration has made great strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS. With this renewed focus, I think we can eventually get to an AIDS-free generation.

But it’s going to take all of us, from the federal government and local communities to faith leaders and readers of Equality, to get there.

MOVING FORWARD AS ONE REQUIRES EQUALITY FOR ALL A nationwide momentum is fueling the campaign to ensure educational and employment opportunities for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans.

For 35 years, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has played a vital role in this effort, becoming a source of inspiration to millions — including corporations like Shell. Being a sponsor to the 19th Annual HRC National Dinner is an honor we welcome.

We value HRC’s commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive society because ensuring equality for all is essential to moving forward as one. www.shell.com/diversity

@Shell

GREG BALLARD

EQUALITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

A REPUBLICAN MAYOR, “RELIGIOUS FREEDOM” BILLS… AND MAKING BUSINESS SENSE

O

pponents of equality are introducing a wave of measures in statehouses across the country – known as Religious Freedom Restoration Act bills, or RFRAs – designed to undermine LGBT progress. After a highly publicized battle, Indiana narrowed a law that would have allowed businesses and individuals to discriminate under the guise of religious liberty.

Some leaders, however – like Greg Ballard, the GOP mayor of Indianapolis – are standing up for fairness.

Photo: Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty

Your city’s human rights ordinance bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Why have such a law?

The entire state of Indiana was under a spotlight at the beginning of 2015 because of the proposed Religious Freedom Restoration Act. … It was important for us in Indianapolis, the largest city in the state, to make clear that we believe every single person has value, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Indianapolis has had a comprehensive law on the books for a decade that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Increasingly, Democrats and Republicans alike are supporting equality. How do you respond to those in your party who do not?

I’m a lifelong Republican, and it’s important to remember that our party historically has been about guaranteeing liberty by protecting the rights of individuals. These are conservative principles and I don’t see them at odds with welcoming and supporting our LGBT friends, co-workers, neighbors and family members.

On a more political level, it’s simply not a winning strategy to exclude LGBT people and their families. The understanding and acceptance in the general population of

LGBT people has changed dramatically, and the trend is clear — voters overwhelmingly do not want politicians to run on a platform of division and exclusion.

Indiana’s new RFRA law has damaged the state economically. Many corporations have severed ties with your state, and Angie’s List, which is based in Indianapolis, cancelled its planned headquarters expansion.

Why does non-discrimination matter to these businesses?

Well, I think there was certainly the potential for damage, and leaders in Indianapolis spent a lot of energy reaching out to businesses and conventions to assure them that they would find Indianapolis welcoming to all of their employees, residents and visitors. …‌ The truth is that it’s good for their business.

Young talent and customers believe it is wrong to discriminate against someone because they identify as LGBT, and businesses are reacting to that.

Any advice for lawmakers who may face similar discriminatory legislation in legislative sessions ahead?

Focus on the fundamentals, and don’t get too distracted by the small group of detractors. As mayor of Indianapolis, my two terms have emphasized economic growth, bringing the city into the 21st century and

“I’m a lifelong Republican, and it’s important to remember that our party historically has been about guaranteeing liberty by protecting the rights of individuals.” building a first-rate city that attracts top talent and millennials. Lots of people doubted us and said Indianapolis wasn’t that type of city, but we’ve proven them wrong.

Indianapolis has a score of 82 on the Municipal Equality Index — an excellent score. It’s the highest MEI score in the state, and one of the highest in the region.

Indianapolis is one of the largest cities in the country, and it’s a wonderful place to live. People are increasingly moving to where they want to live, and not necessarily because of where the jobs are. For any city to be competitive and attract top talent, they need to lead by showing they’re open for business. As a municipal government, they can demonstrate that goal by putting into place policies that value diversity. That’s what we’ve done in Indianapolis.

WWW.HRC.ORG

SUMMER 2015

35

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HRC’S GALA EVENTS SEATTLE GALA SEPTEMBER 19 • Sheraton Seattle Hotel • Christie Brezina & Jennifer McCullar • hrcseattle.org

NATIONAL DINNER OCTOBER 3 • Walter E. Washington Convention Center • Lynn Fussell & Hudson Young • hrcnationaldinner.org

CHICAGO GALA OCTOBER 17 • Hilton Chicago • Xavier Esters, Pete Cassell & Anne Klingeberger • hrcchicago.org SAN FRANCISCO GALA OCTOBER 24 • Westin St. Francis • Cherie Green & Jim Baney • www.sfhrcgala.org

PALM SPRINGS GARDEN PARTY NOVEMBER 7 • Kimberly Yang & Dr. Ossie Saguil • www.hrc.org/psgardenparty

NEW ENGLAND GALA NOVEMBER 7 • The Westin Boston Copley Place • Mario Rodas & Alyssa Jones • www.hrc.org/newenglanddinner DALLAS BLACK TIE NOVEMBER 14 • Sheraton Dallas Hotel • blacktie.org

ST. LOUIS GALA NOVEMBER 14 • St. Louis Union Station Hotel • Leslie Eaton & Aaron Rutledge • www.hrc.org/stlouisdinner SAN ANTONIO GALA NOVEMBER 21 • JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa • Monica Stolte & Dilshan Edussuriya • www.hrc.org/sanantoniodinner

To buy tickets for HRC gala events, please visit www.hrc.org/boxoffice.

Her will provides for her wife, her niece and a future when everyone, everywhere, enjoys full equality.

FOUNDATION PARTNERS AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LEARNED SOCIETIES ANONYMOUS AT&T BANK OF AMERICA FOUNDATION BBVA COMPASS FOUNDATION BLACK TIE DINNER, INC. BROWN-FORMAN E. RHODES AND LEONA B. CARPENTER FOUNDATION THE COCA-COLA FOUNDATION GILL FOUNDATION GOOGLE ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION THE JOHN C. KISH FOUNDATION THE KORS-LEPERE FOUNDATION LEVI STRAUSS FOUNDATION MARGARET AND DANIEL LOEB — THIRD POINT FOUNDATION METLIFE FOUNDATION MICROSOFT MORNINGSTAR PHILANTHROPIC FUND NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION NIKE PEPSICO FOUNDATION PFIZER, INC. PhRMA THE SHERWOOD FOUNDATION PAUL E. SINGER FOUNDATION TIE THE KNOT TIME WARNER UPS FOUNDATION, INC. WELLS FARGO FOUNDATION CURRENT AS OF JUNE 30, 2015

Make your dreams for the future a reality by leaving a gift for HRC in your will or trust. For more information, contact Adam Swaim, director of estate planning, at 866-772-9499, adam.swaim@hrc.org, or download our complimentary planning publications at hrc.org/legacy.

Leave a gift for HRC in yourWWW.HRC.ORG will or trust.

SUMMER 2015

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COMFORT FOR ALL WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR QUEST TO MAKE THE WORLD A MORE COMFORTABLE PLACE: FOR EVERYONE

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A little thank-you for your passion Nationwide® appreciates your commitment to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Thanks to HRC members like you, marriage equality is now a constitutional right in all 50 states!

We’re passionate about making a difference, too. Working with HRC is just one way we prove that we’re more than a business. Another way is helping HRC members save money on their car insurance.

Learn more about our relationship with HRC and special discounts for members.

Nationwide Insurance has made a financial contribution to this organization in return for the opportunity to market products and services to its members or customers.

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