Equality Magazine Late Summer/Early Fall 2014 by Human Rights Campaign

ROSARIO DAWSON & MARÍA TERESA KUMAR >> OF VOTO LATINO ON THE POWER OF VOTING H U M A N

R I G H T S

C A M P A I G N

LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL 2014

JENNIFER HUDSON ON GAY CLUBS, CHURCH SOLOS AND HER LATEST ALBUM

OUR OPPONENTS ARE HEADED TO THE POLLS ON NOV. 4

ARE YOU? FEARLESS IN ALABAMA EXPOSING THE WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING PROJECT ONE AMERICA

The LGBT community is part of ours. Citi is proud to support the Human Rights Campaign. We commend their efforts and thank them for making the world a better place.

ÂŠ 2013 Citigroup Inc. Citi and Citi with Arc Design are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc.

GREAT BRANDS. NO LABELS. Diageo’s celebration of life in all of its shapes, sizes, colors and preferences has earned us the top score of 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for the sixth year in a row.

PLE A SE D R INK R E SPO NSIBLY.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NEW BATTLES, NEW ALLIES, NEW PROGRESS

Tracie Ahern NY, Lacey All WA, Ian Barrett TX, Bruce Bastian UT, Terry Bean OR, Vanessa Benavides TX, Les Bendtsen MN, Michael Berman DC, Scott Bishop NC, Paul Boskind TX, Chris Carolan NY, Bill Donius MO, Chris Flynn MA, Jody Gates LA, Kirk Hamill DC, Suzanne Hamilton OH, Jim Harrison TX, Tom Knabel MN, Chris Labonte PA, Joan Lau PA, Joni Madison NC, Joshua Miller NV, Hank Provost CO, Cheryl Rose OH, Linda Scaparotti CA, Molly Simmons GA, Steve Sorenson CA, Meghan Stabler TX, Brad White CA, Frank Woo CA, Tony Woods DC

FOUNDATION BOARD Tracie Ahern NY, Gwen Baba CA, Elena Baca CA, John Barry IL, Bruce Bastian UT, Terry Bean OR, Les Bendtsen MN, Scott Bishop NC, Todd Canon TX, Lee Carter NC, Edie Cofrin GA, Bill Donius MO, Chris Flynn MA, Charlie Frew GA, Suzanne Hamilton OH, Sheila Kloefkorn AZ, Britt Kornmann TX, Joan Lau PA, Andy Linsky CA, Joshua Miller NV, Hank Provost CO, Henry Robin NY, Cheryl Rose OH, John Ruffier FL, Cathi Scalise TX, Frank Selvaggi NY, Judy Shepard WY, Ashley Smith DC, Steve Sorenson CA, Faye Tate CO, Frank Woo CA

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

DEAR FRIEND,

s summer comes to a close, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is facing new challenges across this country and around the world. Fortunately, as we take on these latest battles, more incredible allies are standing with us today than ever before. Our Project One America campaign in Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas has brought some outstanding new local staff to the HRC family — but it has also given the fight for equality a visible presence in the South. New HRC offices are opening in each of the three states, and fellow southern advocates, like openly gay Alabama state Rep. Patricia Todd, are part of the essential coalition it will take to make new progress across the region. With the November mid-term elections coming up fast, we also have to get out each and every vote. We need to support our allies in Washington, and send newly elected allies to join them in the next session of Congress and in statehouses around the country. In this issue, Equality magazine sat down with 2

EQUALITY

LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL 2014

U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, to discuss the importance of voting. Voto Latino’s Rosario Dawson and María Teresa Kumar also talked to us about the power of going to the polls. I hope you won’t pass up this opportunity to register a friend to vote and to get involved ahead of these decisive elections. Finally, we must expose the dangerous work of Americans who are exporting anti-LGBT hate abroad. Our new report, Exposed: The World Congress of Families, documents their disturbing efforts to promote hate in Russia, Nigeria and beyond. At this moment, we can’t afford to slow down our work. We can’t rely on momentum to carry us forward. We can’t afford to kick back or relax. There’s too much at stake. Thanks for your continued support of the Human Rights Campaign. Yours,

Chad Griffin President

Marilyn Abalos NY, John Affuso MA, Steve Amend NV, Tal Anderson MN, Carl Andrews TX, Andrew Arnold CA, Karen Aronoff OH, Jennifer Bajorek TX, Phillip Baker AZ, Greg Battaglia NY, Kevin Baucom TX, Vanessa Benavides TX, Jay Biles NC, Doris Bobadilla LA, Ronna Bolante PA, Chris Boone WA, Brian Bourquin MA, Kathy Bowman OH, Dawn Brown IL, Linda Brown OR, Brian Buzby TX, Rory Cahn OH, Nancy Caldwell TX, Torey Carrick CA, Jeremy Carter NC, Steven Cayton GA, Jeffrey Caywood OH, Jeffrey Coop WA, Angie Cottrell MO, Thomas Cowley CA, June Crenshaw DC, Lynn Currie TX, Dani Daley CA, James Depelteau CA, Brad DiFiore GA, Jaime Duggan TX, Patty Ellis NY, Tamra English TX, Alexandra Ernst DC, Michael Fifield UT, Taylor Fiscus IL, Heather Freyer CA, Patrick Gamble AZ, Matt Garrett GA, Cherie Green CA, Melinda Greene GA, Jonathan Gundersen PA, Mark Halsell TX, Randall Hance TX, S. Kelly Herrick CA, Gary Hilbert NY, Latoya Holman NV, Ted Holmquist CA, David Horowitz AZ, Tim Jenkins IL, Deanne Jockish MO, Dean Keppler WA, John Kim OR, Kyle Klatt IL, Champ Knecht NY, Kevin Knoblock MA, Kristine Kuzemka NV, David Lahti CA, Wally Lanci OH, Jason Laney DC, Duane Lefevre MA, Chris Lehtonen CA, Char Ligo OH , Alex Lindquist CO, Jeff Marsocci NC, David Martinez III AZ, Paul Mataras MA, Dan Mauney NC, Kelley McCoy CA, Sean MéHew UT, Missy Morgan NV, DyShaun Muhammad MN, Chris New GA, Robert Newhart IL, Derek Osterman MA, Bryan Parsons CA, Ed Patterson GA, Byron Pelt MO, Densil Porteous OH, Kaitlin Porter GA, Steven Pospisil MN, Robb Puckett TX, Ron Quinn NV, Catherine Reid WA, Michael Reiser MO, Chad Reumann TX, Mario Rodas MA, Jonathan Russell GA, Cathy Sarky OH, Shelly Schoenfeld NC, Dustin Schrecengost UT, Thearon Scurlock FL, Kristin Shrimplin OH, JR Simon TN, Daniel Slater CA, Matthew Smith TX, Ashley Smith DC, Corey Smith MN, Michael Smithson OH, LaRence Snowden TX, Leah Solo MN, Amy Speers CO, David Steiman CA, Kevin Stone CA, Jeff Strater TX, Dan Tanner FL, Tim Thomas TX, Paul Thompson CA, Tiffany Tosh TX, Lauren Verrusio NY, Ed Wagner IL, Benjamin Waldman WA, Willis Ward NC, Melissa Warren LA, Jamaul Webster IL, Claudine Wessel AZ, Amy White WA, Andrew Winters MD, Philip Wright TX

CURRENT AS OF AUG. 18, 2014

INSIDE

HRC SENIOR STAFF Chad Griffin President Brad Clark Director of Programmatic Development Ann Crowley Membership & Online Strategy Director Robert Falk General Counsel Andrea Green Finance Director Anastasia Khoo Marketing Director Don Kiser Creative Director

Photo: Spencer Platt / Getty

Jeff Krehely Vice President & Chief Foundation Officer Ana Ma Chief of Staff & Chief Operating Officer Cathy Nelson Vice President for Development & Membership Jason Rahlan Communications Director Jim Rinefierd Vice President for Finance & Operations

Stonewall Uprising — Officially Recognized

Marty Rouse National Field Director Fred Sainz Vice President of Communications & Marketing

FEATURES

Susanne Salkind Vice President of Human Resources & Leadership Development

Christopher Speron Development Director

IN THE STATES

9 HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING PROJECT ONE AMERICA

David Stacy Governmental Affairs Director Sarah Warbelow Legal Director

DISPATCH FROM THE SOUTH

11 FEARLESS IN ALABAMA

HRC EQUALITY STAFF Janice Hughes Publications Director

Photo: Phil Long / AP

Robert Villaflor Design Director

Tim Bahr, Ty Cobb, Liz Cooper, Justin Giaquinto, Alison Gill, Anastasia Khoo, Andrea Levario, Tommy Lodge, Jason Lott, Adam Marquez, Lisbeth Melendez Rivera, Mike Mings, Kate Oakley, Rebecca Parks, Jeremy Pittman, Fred Sainz, Beth Sherouse, Chris Speron, David Stacy, Hubert Tate, Sarah Warbelow, Joseph Ward Photo: Serkan Ozturk

17 WHY YOUR VOTE MATTERS

SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Jennifer Champagne, Karin Quimby, Ben Shallenberger

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 2014. 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 the Human Rights Campaign and 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? HRC’s Member Services team, led by Dana Campbell, works every day to provide HRC’s more than one million members and supporters with the best membership experience possible. To contact Member Services, email membership@hrc. org or call 800-727-4723. All advertisers in Equality magazine are Human Rights Campaign 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. Companies such as these have advanced the cause of LGBT equality in the workplace. For specific scores, criteria and more information on the Corporate Equality Index, please visit www.hrc.org/CEI.

Read Equality on your iPad — now available in the Apple iTunes Apps Store. Just type in “Human Rights Campaign Equality Magazine.”

FOCUS ON THE ELECTIONS

15 3 QUESTIONS FOR…

Jessie Sheffield Marketing Assistant

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS

Cover photo: Chris Floyd/ Camera Press/ Redux

Sarah Streyle Associate Director of Design

36 HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI, 1964

COVER INTERVIEW

18 JENNIFER HUDSON A TRIPLE THREAT

INTERNATIONAL

21 EXPOSING THE WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES 23 HAILING A REBELLION: STONEWALL 24 HRC’S FEDERAL CLUB COUNCIL & FOUNDATION PARTNERS

OUR OPPONENTS ARE HEADED TO THE POLLS TUESDAY, NOV. 4. ARE YOU? Every mid-term election, our opponents mobilize their voters in much greater numbers than we do. It’s time to change that. Make plans to vote Nov. 4. Talk to friends and family about voting!

Equality, always.

Proud Partner of the human rightS CamPaign sHOw yOuR suPPORt at w HOtEls wORlDwiDE

wHOtEls.COM

©2013–2014 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, Aloft, Element, Four Points, Le Méridien, Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.

INDUSTRY WATCH

AT THE PUMP

hich industry has nearly the worst response rate out of the 40 industries in the HRC Foundation’s annual Corporate Equality Index? Despite repeated invitations and encouragement to participate, only eight companies in the oil & gas industry have returned their surveys and are listed with official ratings in the CEI report. (The other 21 companies have unofficial scores, noted in gray in the report and at right.) The companies may think they can fly under the watchful eyes of LGBT consumers — since you won’t find all of their names at the pump — but these businesses are still accountable to their LGBT employees and should be filling out their surveys. The CEI survey is sent to official company representatives in March, with completed surveys due back to HRC staff in August for review. Scores are published in the fall. Help us rope in more oil & gas participants in next year’s survey.

2015 CEI SCORE 100

up front

COMPANY Chevron Corp.

TELLING TRANS STORIES

Shell Oil Co.

BP America, Inc.

Spectra Energy Corp.

ConocoPhillips.

Marathon Oil Corp.

Hess Corp.

Sunoco, Inc.

Cameron International Corp.

World Fuel Services

Baker Hughes, Inc.

Enbridge Energy Partners

Enterprise Products Partners, LP

FMC Technologies, Inc.

Halliburton Co.

Kinder Morgan, Inc.

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

Murphy Oil Corp.

National Oilwell Varco, Inc.

NuStar Energy, LP

Tesoro Corp.

Valero Energy Corp.

MRC Global

HollyFrontier Corp.

Plains All American Pipeline, LP

Western Refining, Inc.

-25

Exxon Mobil Corp.

OUR OPPOSITION OUTNUMBERS US

Like Our Bodies, Ourselves — the groundbreaking book on women’s health and sexuality first published in 1973 — the new Trans Bodies, Trans Selves is making the personal political and empowering countless readers. Researched, written and compiled by and for transgender and gender-nonconforming people, the book is helping to inform the entire country. “For trans people, and especially for our allies, this book is an incredible resource,” says Jay Brown, the HRC Foundation’s director of program strategies. “It’s also strong in its inclusion of essays that explore trans people at the intersection of multiple identities — including people of color, disability advocates and immigrants — who are facing some of the most critical challenges in the community.” Trans Bodies, Trans Selves offers unprecedented breadth and depth of information and personal testimony in a single volume. See http://transbodies.com for more.

FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

Reaches 238 million people in 130 countries*

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

1.5 million members and supporters

1.5 MILLION

50 MILLION

100 MILLION

150 MILLION

200 MILLION

Numbers make a difference. Spread the word www.hrc.org/support. * www.focusonthefamily.com

EDUCATORS, COUNSELORS AND OTHER YOUTH-SERVING PROFESSIONALS…

SIGN UP NOW for our second annual Time to THRIVE on Feb. 13-15, 2015. You’ll build awareness and cultural competency, learn current and emerging best practices and hear from leading experts and national groups in the field. Last year, attendees from 40 states came to hear actor Ellen Page, Chelsea Clinton and others at the HRC Foundation’s gathering. See www.hrc.org/timetothrive.

WWW.HRC.ORG

LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL 2014

PRIDE NEVER FADES. Proud to receive a 100 HRC score on the Corporate Equality Index for 10 years in a row.

up front Photo: Dakota Fine

“I’VE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY LIFE ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND A COMMON THREAD OF THE PEOPLE I ADMIRE …

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

are people who are proud and do things with love, who feel a sense of responsibility to others. What sensible person could be against that? The desire to love and be responsible to another person, to commit to another human being — these are virtues. That’s why we need nationwide marriage equality now.”

KATE OAKLEY HRC’s Legislative Counsel, State and Municipal Advocacy, and author, Municipal Equality Index

— Renowned chef and author Anthony Bourdain in an Americans for Marriage Equality campaign video. Host of CNN’s Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, he won a 2014 Peabody Award for distinguished achievement and meritorious public service. The campaign, led by HRC, provides up-to-the-minute information about marriage equality to lawmakers, legal experts, media and grassroots supporters.

Wife Carrie. Organic vegetable farmer. Photo: John Parra

Favorite film Mean Girls. Political hero “Hillary Clinton, hands down.” What she likes most about working on the MEI “My favorite part is when I see cities really getting into the competition. Some of the mayors will actually trash talk each other. They’ll say, ‘I’ll be damned if I let that city beat me.’” Another favorite part “When a city official tells me: ‘We had absolutely convinced ourselves that we were a very inclusive place, but now that we’ve seen our score, we realize how much more work we have to do.’” Law school standout While in law school, she led a protest of the then-Virginia attorney general’s opinion that public universities must abandon any policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The protest drew local and national media coverage. Real change “After being a law fellow here at HRC, I knew this is where I wanted to come after law school. I saw real change being made, and I wanted to be a part of that.”

Photo: Phil Long / AP

And what she’s known for at the office “Compulsive color-coding: legal briefs, the entire MEI database, my schedule — I do them all.”

Oakley works closely with cities of all sizes across the country to make their cities more equal, including those where state law is severely lacking on LGBT equality. She has a B.A. in economics from Smith College and a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law.

8,000 ATHLETES

ore than 8,000 LGBT competitors from 65-plus countries descended on Cleveland, Ohio, for the ninth annual Gay Games — for events in track, cycling, ice hockey, tennis, bodybuilding and more. A platinum sponsor of the Gay Games, HRC hosted the Official Opening Ceremonies brunch. HRC and its Athletes for Equality program also sponsored the marathon and half-marathon events, which included mile markers detailing HRC’s efforts to achieve equality at home and abroad. Inspired by the games, a number of local small businesses in northeast Ohio signed a letter in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The next Gay Games? Paris, 2018.

Look this fall for the release of the latest Municipal Equality Index on www.hrc.org.

WWW.HRC.ORG

LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL 2014

Around here, being yourself is a job requirement. When we encourage Googlers to express themselves, we really mean it. In fact, we count on it. Intellectual curiosity and diverse perspectives drive our policies, our work environment, our perks and our profits. At Google, we don't just accept difference -- we thrive on it. We celebrate it. And support it, for the benefit of our employees, our products and our community. We are proud that Google’s spirit of inclusion has been recognized with a 100% HRC Corporate Equality Index rating for six years in a row. We congratulate HRC for all of its work furthering equal rights for the LGBT community and look forward to our continued partnership.

HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING

PROJECT ONE AMERICA

Photos: Judy G. Rolfe

SINCE THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED PROJECT ONE AMERICA, IT HAS BEEN STEADILY LAYING THE GROUNDWORK IN MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS TO MAKE EQUALITY MORE OF A REALITY IN THESE THREE STATES. Already, there has been a huge outpouring of interest locally, regionally and nationally. Across the South, pastors, business leaders, state and local lawmakers, students, straight allies and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community have begun to mobilize. HRC recently announced the Project One America leaders in each of the southern states. Each has hit the ground running, and in August, they met in Washington, D.C., to strategize together and learn more about HRC’s work and resources in the areas of workplace,

HRC’s Joseph Ward (L) in Jackson, Miss.

BIRMINGHAM, ALA.

young woman nervously clutched a worn bible to her chest. “It took me a long time to admit to myself that

healthcare, religion, education and more. “All three state leaders are Southerners who have lived and worked in their communities for years,” says Karin Quimby, Project One Johnson America’s deputy director. “They bring to this work their considerable knowledge of what will or will not work in the South.” Rob Hill, the state director of HRC Mississippi, will be based out of Jackson. A United Methodist pastor for the past 12 years, Hill most recently led Broadmeadow United Methodist Church in Jackson for nine years. He also has served on various local boards aimed at helping youth, improving the Jackson community and providing resources for neighborhood revitalization. Based in Montgomery, R. Ashley Jackson is the new state director of HRC Alabama. Jackson, a native of Mississippi, is the co-founder of the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition. She moved to Alabama and started work for the civil rights power-

I am gay,” she said, asking how it was possible to be both gay and Christian. Another man stood up and talked quietly about his 12-year-old gay son. An older woman told how her church had asked her family members to sign a document saying they opposed marriage equality. A fourth man had to shut down his Facebook page after a deluge of people complained when he posted news about joining an LGBT-inclusive congregation. Each person had a different story. Each had a different struggle. They were among the 60 or so

Jackson

house, the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, as the liaison to the LGBT community. Jackson has also written for and has been featured in CNN’s “Gay in America” series. HRC Arkansas will be headed by Kendra R. Johnson, who will work out of Little Rock. Johnson studied at Spelman College and has a graduate degree from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, where her capstone project was entitled, “HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs in Arkansas: A Needs Assessment.” She most recently worked at Better Community Development; serves as the board chair of Southerners on New Ground, a regional continued on p. 13

who gathered on a recent summer evening — some from more than an hour away. They sat on folding chairs and wooden pews, arranged in a circle in the Beloved Community Church, an old brick building located on a quiet city street. Three Birmingham clergy spoke first, talking about the crucial need for every person to be able to find a secure place of faith. Project One America hosted similar faith gatherings — in Fayetteville, Ark., and Jackson, Miss. — also in partnerships with local churches and groups. In Fayetteville, a mother talked about

Hill

WWW.HRC.ORG

when her son came out as trans. In Jackson, a young woman — and ally — said she was raised to “hate homosexuals.” Each gathering drew longtime activists, faith leaders and “those who are new to the conversation,” said Project One America’s Religion and Faith Associate Director Joseph Ward. “It’s clear that many Christians and other people of faith are ready to break the silence, and do what they can to build safer, more inclusive faith communities for LGBT people.”

LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL 2014

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” - Dalai lama

Macy’s and BlooMingdale’s

a c t i v e ly s u p p o r t

the hu man r ig h t s ca m pa ign

a s t h e y i n s p i r e a n at i o n

FEARLESS

Photo: Dave Anderson

IN ALABAMA By Janice Hughes

Birmingham, Ala.

PATRICIA TODD IS VERY FUNNY. AND THAT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY WHEN YOU’RE THE FIRST AND ONLY OPENLY LGBT PERSON IN THE HISTORY OF ALABAMA TO BE ELECTED AND SERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

How has it been at the statehouse? How have your colleagues treated you? With the same respect they do each other. I’ve never had one bad instance, talk or anything from any of my peers. And that’s the number one thing that people ask me all over the country, assuming that it’s going to be horrible. But it’s been very respectful. I’ve made a lot of friends. Some of my closest friends are the most conservative people in the legislature.

Todd is also fearless. She loves being on the frontlines of change, talking at length with people with opposing views and standing up for those without a voice. A longtime activist, Todd was first elected to the state’s House of Representatives in 2006, and is starting her third term in office. Todd recently sat down to talk at a local coffee shop in her Birmingham district. Tattoos, homemade apple jelly, housing, political messaging — it’s all in an afternoon’s chat with the honorable, heroic Rep. Patricia Todd.

What, in particular, do you want people to know? That I take my work very seriously. The speaker, who is a Republican — a very conservative Republican — was quoted once in an article about me, saying that I was the best legislator he knew, that I took care of my district and that everybody knew exactly where I stood on an issue. And that I was willing to work across the aisle and didn’t play political games. I’m close to the speaker — anytime I walk into his office, he’ll see me. We’ve had many discussions about the issues I care about.

You’re the executive director of AIDS Alabama. What are the hurdles, the opportunities? The South has more increasing infections — more than any other region in the country. About one in four new diagnoses in this country are in the South. But we have not been adequately compensated to take care of those people. The money has gone to the big cities — always — and through entitlement programs. The money they get is based on the number of AIDS cases, living or dead. Kathie Hiers, our CEO, has been fighting nationally to say, “Look, the money needs to follow the epidemic. It needs to be based on living cases, not dead people.” The South is also faced with high poverty rates, discrimination. …

What prompted you to run for office? Well, I got really pissed off at the people who were representing me. I never intended to run. It was not in my plan. But we were fighting the same-sex marriage ban in Montgomery, and driving back to Birmingham — about the third trip — and a colleague said, “We are never going to change this conversation unless one of us is sitting at the table.”

And any words of wisdom about working with folks on the other side of the aisle? What I always try to keep in mind is that the country is not going backward. We’re going forward. And so we just try to roll that ball a little bit further down the road, as quickly as we can. … I have found that my most meaningful conversations are with the folks who oppose me the most. And here’s the thing that I don’t

… Discrimination on the basis of race and sexual orientation? Yes. If you’re HIVpositive, then you’re gay — well, that’s what people think. But now, more of the population who we are seeing are AfricanAmerican women with children. Now, we’re working with people who are faced with losing housing or their income not based on their HIV. They were poor before they continued on p. 21

WWW.HRC.ORG

think most activists learn: It’s how to listen to the opposition, to sit and talk to somebody and not to argue a point, but to talk to them about their life. You can determine a lot about how somebody formulates their political beliefs based on their life experience.

LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL 2014

Project One America con’t from p. 9 LGBT group known for its organizing and training across race, class, sexuality and other issues; and was the interim executive director at the Women’s Project in Little Rock. In her position as state director, Johnson — like Jackson and Hill — has begun to speak out publicly about the challenges of living as an LGBT person in the South. “There are no non-discrimination protections in employment, housing or public accommodations,” said Johnson in an interview with KUAR, a public radio station in Little Rock. “What does that mean? It means I can be kicked out of a restaurant for simply being a lesbian, or that a gay friend of mine can be fired just for being gay, or that a transgender woman can be kicked out of her apartment for simply being who she is. That’s not right and, as Arkansans, we can do better than that.” HRC is also hiring faith organizers and community organizers, who will work out of each state’s office — in Jackson, Montgomery and Little Rock, all slated to open this fall. Meanwhile, Project One America — which is supported by the HRC Foundation — has released the results of the largest survey of LGBT people undertaken in Mississippi, Alabama or Arkansas. A total of 2,758 people across the three states participated in the survey conducted by Anzalone Liszt Grove from Feb. 6, 2014, to March 20, 2014. The survey found, perhaps most importantly, that LGBT people in these states are thriving members of their community. But it also found that LGBT people face harassment and discrimination regularly, along with having no legal protections at the local or state level in employment, housing and public accommodations. “The survey revealed LGBT Alabamians are just like their friends and family members — living, working and volunteering in their communities,” said HRC Project One America Director Brad Clark at a news conference in Birmingham. “But they face harsh realities living in the state they call ‘home.’” HRC also held news conferences in Jackson, Montgomery and Little Rock

about the survey results, drawing coverage from major newspapers, TV and radio stations as well as local news outlets. At least one anti-LGBT group, the Arkansas Family Council — a vocal conservative organization — denounced the survey results. In memory of the historic Freedom Summer, HRC partnered with the NAACP and other groups in Mississippi to try to engage more people in the U.S. political process. During Freedom Summer decades ago, hundreds of people traveled south to challenge repeated attempts to keep African-American people from voting and holding public office. HRC’s Project One America was a lead sponsor of the Freedom Summer 50th Anniversary Conference in Mississippi, and HRC staff helped lead panels on race, sexual orientation and gender identity. Project One America also launched a campaign, “Summer of Conversations,” to encourage LGBT people and straight allies to host informal gatherings of friends, loved ones and colleagues, and to share their stories about family, work and faith. There is also a stepped-up focus on faith and inclusion in the region. (See p. 9.) Creating safer, welcoming environments within houses of worship is a top priority for LGBT people in the South. Project One America will be building relationships with various local and state leaders of the NAACP, the ACLU, chambers of commerce, healthcare institutions, schools, faith communities, community groups and grassroots advocates. HRC recently was honored by the NAACP’s metro chapter of Birmingham for its work to advance equality. “We’re excited to be partnering with you on the ground,” Derrick Johnson, president of the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP, told HRC leaders recently. “To get a friend you have to be a friend. I want to thank you for what you’re doing.” “Even your presence is going to make it safer for people to start coming out,” noted Joce Pritchett of Jackson, who, with her wife Carla Webb, are local leaders in Jackson. “Thank you for sticking your organization out there like that. Because it could be a long road.”

RC’s Project One America has released results of research on the lives of LGBT individuals and families in Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas. And the information is staggering. In Alabama, 40 percent of all respondents have experienced harassment in public establishments. In Arkansas, nearly 25 percent of all respondents have experienced workplace discrimination. One in three LGBT students in rural Mississippi reported experiencing harassment in school every week. Here are just a few excerpts:

My life was threatened in high school, and I was afraid to go to school.” (Ark.) “I am fearful that I may get hurt, or worse, be killed for being a transgender woman.” (Miss.) “When you go through 25 years of being taught at church that if you are gay, you are going to hell, despair sinks in.” (Ala.) “I lost custody of my two children only due to the fact that I was a lesbian.” (Ala.) “Right after I came out publicly, I was severely harassed and discriminated in my church.” (Ark.) “I was told that I wouldn’t be allowed to eat at a certain restaurant due to my sexual orientation.” (Ala.) “I was harassed by a police officer due to my HIV status.” (Miss.)

WWW.HRC.ORG

LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL 2014

C E L E B R AT I N G 2 5 Y E A R S O F

COMFORT FOR ALL

800.789.5401

mgbwhome.com

Photo: Sharon Farmer

(L-R) Dawson, Kumar

3 QUESTIONS FOR …

ROSARIO DAWSON & MARÍA TERESA KUMAR Q: THE COUNTRY’S MID-TERM ELECTIONS ARE APPROACHING RAPIDLY, AND MANY PEOPLE ARE MOBILIZING TO GO TO THE POLLS. WHY IS NOW SUCH A KEY TIME TO VOTE? A: Rosario Dawson We’re living in a time right when a lot is happening in our country, and we face a lot of pressing issues — like the recent shooting in Ferguson — and people are trying to figure out what they can do. With the power of our vote, we can turn things around in our communities. María Teresa Kumar It’s as simple as this: If you don’t vote, you’re conceding to the opposition. Too much is at stake for our communities not to vote. Mid-term elections are crucial because they decide everything from our congressional makeup to municipal elections where our many local laws are now bubbling up to impact and shape a national agenda.

Q: ADVOCACY WORK — WHY DO IT? A: Dawson There’s a long history of advocacy in my family — and it’s always been an honor to serve and to lead. When you have your moment, you give back, you contribute to society. Growing up, I watched a lot of people who didn’t have very much giving what they didn’t have. And that’s how it works. We have the ability to help each other and to do something together. Kumar I consider myself an accidental advocate. I started my career in Congress as a legislative aide and witnessed a lot of wellintentioned people drafting policy for a growing, diverse America whose life experience policymakers didn’t understand. My passion for Voto Latino is recognizing that if a growing group of Millennials are given the tools and given information, they can navigate the political process and help define these policies for themselves. Maximum participation should be our common objectives as Americans — it ensures a thriving democracy in pursuit of equality.

Q: WHY DO YOU SUPPORT LGBT EQUALITY? A: Kumar The two civil rights issues of our time are equality for the LGBT community to enjoy the same liberties as their neighbors and immigration reform for 11 million undocumented people — 5 million of whom are children who came to this country through no fault of their own. Our children will judge where we were during these two major struggles. Dawson It’s not something that requires a lot of thinking. We take for granted the diversity of being different. We’re all part of this world. What is our society coming to when we judge one demographic over another? Two years ago, at San Francisco Pride, I took a photo with the HRC Equality sticker and put it up as my Twitter profile photo. It initiated many good conversations!

MARÍA TERESA KUMAR, the president and CEO of Voto Latino, is a frequent commentator on MSNBC. ROSARIO DAWSON, chairwoman and co-founder of Voto Latino, is an actor and political activist. Her most recent film, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, premiered in August. A nonpartisan organization, Voto Latino works to engage Latino Millenials in the civic process by leveraging the power of media, technology and celebrity voices. The group has registered nearly a quarter million voters since its founding 10 years ago. See www.votolatino.org/hrcvotes to register to vote today.

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YOUR VOTE MATTERS Photo: Susan Walsh / AP

You grew up during the ‘50s and ‘60s — a momentous time for the civil rights movement. I was helping my mom organize for her labor union. … My scope was limited, being the child handing out pamphlets and leaflets, but the impression it had on me lasted a lifetime. My mom’s activism helped me understand the importance of speaking up and the value of representing the American people.

ne of America’s leading voting advocates is U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge. The Ohio Democrat

and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, a prominent voice on Capitol Hill, knows that a fair voting law at the federal level is crucial in allowing all Americans — regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identity or socioeconomic status — to have their voices be heard. A staunch HRC ally, Fudge supports marriage equality and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and is a leader on HIV/AIDS. She is also a skilled fencer. En garde!

It’s true. Just a few votes can reshape the political landscape of a district, a state or an entire country. (Remember Bush v. Gore?)

“Vote like your life depends on it,” you often tell people. Policies that can have a direct, very significant impact on your life are made by our elected officials. Having a voice at the ballot box does matter. Some people are in office or running for a seat to eliminate resources for vital lifelines like unemployment insurance, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program… and healthcare in the name of deficit reduction. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of the Voting Rights Act that protects voters in states with a history of voter intimidation and discrimination. It sent the wrong message to the American people — a message that discrimination does not exist any longer. I think we all know that is not the case, particularly for minorities and the LGBT community. So instead of accepting the setback, we decided

to make [a new measure, the Voting Rights Amendment Act] stronger. Hopefully, it will be passed into law before the fall elections. One of your mentors was the late Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a courageous leader on HIV/AIDS, among other issues. How did she shape your own activism on the issue? Stephanie was known to be bold, unafraid and to lead by example. [Early on], she galvanized HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. She visited free medical centers in [our district] and challenged African Americans, women in particular, to get tested. … Her legacy has influenced me to push people to take care of themselves. Last year, I made it my goal to get every person I knew covered by a health insurance plan. The Affordable Care Act requires that everyone age 15 to 65 have access to free HIV testing; it also ensures that individuals living with HIV are not prevented from accessing the care and treatment they need. Stephen Colbert recently challenged you to a fencing match. He must have practiced with his staff before he challenged me to a duel. He had quick reflexes and maybe even a strategy, but I held my own.

2 VOTES SPELLED VICTORY initially for state

34 VOTES WAS THE WINNING MARGIN

165 OF THE 2 MILLION VOTES

Sen. Jim Tracy in a recent GOP primary race in Tennessee for a seat held by U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, ranked by the National Journal as the fourth most conservative House member. (But after a recount, DesJarlais led by 38 votes.) In addition to his anti-LGBT stance, DesJarlais is hypocritical about reproductive choice. DesJarlais is anti-choice — at least in public. It was recently revealed he told a woman, whom he was seeing outside his marriage, to get an abortion after learning of her pregnancy.

for a heated contest in the 2012 Republican Iowa Caucus, which signifies the start of the Republican delegate selection for the White House. The race was so close that it initially had been wrongfully called for Mitt Romney, rather than the actual winner, Rick Santorum, known for his notoriously anti-LGBT views. Some two weeks passed before Santorum was declared having the most votes, robbing him of the momentum that generally comes with winning this contest.

in Virginia’s recent elections put Mark Herring into the state’s attorney general seat. Even while running for the Democratic ticket, Herring released his “equality agenda,” outlining his positive stance on LGBTrelated issues, including non-discrimination, bullying and adoption. After taking office, Herring announced that he would not defend the state’s ban on marriage equality from a challenge in federal court.

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JENNIFER HUDSON

o doubt about it: Jennifer Hudson is a triple threat. She has won a Grammy for her singing and an Academy Award for her role in Dreamgirls. Her memoir is a New York Times bestseller. And she’s only 32. Where she came from, Hudson says, made her what she is today. It was her childhood in Chicago — singing gospel solos at the age of seven at her Baptist church, watching drag performers at the local gay clubs and always listening to her mom’s advice — that made the difference. Hudson, who has a third album coming out later this month, recently spoke with Equality from her home in Chicago, where she lives with her fiancé and son.

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Photo: Chris Floyd / Camera Press / Redux

You often say you like to “Jenniferize” people. It’s a difference from the Jennifer Hudson persona that everyone sees, versus when you meet me, the person. … I like people to be comfortable, and once they get a chance to sit with me, JHud or Jennifer-the-girl, they say, “Oh, she’s cool. She’s just JHud. I feel so good being around her energy.” … That’s the goal in this album. It’s my energy through the music. Musically, as a person, my personality, my perspective. Everyone says, “This album seems more upbeat and it feels different.” And that is because you’re getting to know me. And I call that “Jenniferizing.” As a teen, you performed in gay clubs? Oh my God! It’s a huge part of my background! That’s how I really started performing and getting out. The gay community definitely embraced me first and always supported me. I used to sing at a club here in Chicago called the East of the Ryan. They had talent shows on certain nights of the week and they would tip the drag queens when they would perform. And it gave me an idea. I called my assistant and said, “Wait a minute. I sing for real … so I’m going to go up there and sing.” Then I started making a lot of tips and that was my weekly thing. So it was the place to be able to groom my talent and perform. I don’t think there’s a bolder crowd to perform for than the gay community. And before that? My first solo was in church. I was seven years old. My grandmother was the lead solo in our church, so she used to teach me songs and I would sing them in choir rehearsal. Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church — it’s a family church that we all grew up in. Some people contend that you can’t be a person of faith and also be supportive of LGBT people. I don’t think that’s a fair statement to say. Everybody is their own individual. I think we all have our own beliefs and feelings and how we go about life. …I feel as though as long as you’re happy, it doesn’t matter. And who are we to judge anyone, you know?

Tell me about your work on Disney cruise ships. It was a great experience — actually 10 years ago to the day, pretty much. I worked on the Disney Wonder Cruise ship. I was a part of the main stage cast where we did the “Welcome Aboard” show, really just a variety show. …That’s part of how I was able to get Dreamgirls as well, because they took that as an acting credit. How was it playing Winnie Mandela in Winnie? She’s such an iconic figure, and just to see the impact that she’s had on Africa and the world. I was intimidated by the role — by the time I got to Africa to film, I actually considered going back home. I didn’t know much about Winnie Mandela until I received the script. Once I read it, I said, “Why don’t we know this part of history?” I just wanted to help get the story told and out there. It was an honor to be able to do that. Where would you say you got your confidence from? I have to give that credit to my family, to the women in my family and my mother — the way she raised us was just to “Do your best. Put your best foot forward. No matter whatever you do, and always say, ‘If God placed me there I have no choice but to be prepared.’” I remember when I first started filming Dreamgirls and we had rehearsals. Beyoncé walked into the room and I thought, “Oh, my God. It’s Beyoncé.” But I told myself, “Beyoncé had to do a job just like you; you have to start somewhere.” … I just hopped into it and took advantage of the opportunity, especially considering the experience of coming from “American Idol,” and being eliminated, so it’s like having a second chance. So, I said, “No, I’m not missing the boat on this one.” I just stayed focused. Any acting plans in your future? I’m definitely seeing what’s out there. My dream role would be to play Aretha Franklin.

Her album, “JHUD,” will be released Sept. 23, 2014 (Sony/RCA Records). See www.JenniferHudson.com.

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Fearless con’t from p. 11 got HIV and they’re still poor. We believe stable housing is the answer to better health outcomes and prevention. We all know that when we don’t have to worry about a roof over our heads, we are better able to take our medication, we go to the doctor more, we eat better. National studies show people living with HIV who are stably housed, in regular medical care, can lower their viral load to the point that it is undetectable and they will not infect their sexual partner. Do you feel your life is at risk? Could be. I don’t think about it every day, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Everybody knows where I live. Have you had any threats? Yes, I’ve had three people threaten my life. All anonymously, all by phone.

Photo: Serkan Ozturk

On your website, it says you’re “fearless.” [Pushes up her sleeve, shows a tattoo on her arm. In big letters is the word “Fearless.”] And my car tag says “Fearless.” That’s what my friends always say: That I have no fear.

EXPOSING THE WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES HRC LEADS THE WAY

ext year, thousands of international anti-LGBT leaders will gather in Salt Lake City for the World Congress of Families conference. What’s at the top of their todo list? Strategizing about how to convince more countries to follow in the footsteps of Russia and enact harsh anti-LGBT laws. The World Congress of Families, or WCF, is a U.S.-based anti-LGBT organization with strong ties to extremist groups and high-level government officials around the world. Their planned October 2015 convening in Utah marks the first time that they will meet in the United States. This August, HRC released a comprehensive cutting-edge report on the activities of the WCF around the world. Exposed: The World Congress of Families details how WCF leaders have frequently praised the Russian government for its crackdown on LGBT people and freedom of expression, and how they travel often to Russia to meet with high-ranking officials and influential policymakers. Russian lawmakers with ties to the WCF include Yelena Mizulina, a member of the Duma, who authored the country’s anti-LGBT

“propaganda” legislation. After the bill became law, LGBT Russians have been subjected to horrific incidents of discrimination, harassment, public beatings and more. Exposed also documents WCF officials’ regular travel to, and forceful advocacy in, Africa — which has corresponded with a disturbing rise in harsh penalties for LGBT Africans. WCF officials have also been active for years in Australia and have helped stymie attempts to enact marriage equality there. Already, Australian activists have been able to use HRC’s report to call attention to a planned WCF gathering in Melbourne. Using Exposed, the Australians put pressure on government officials to drop their participation in the event and on event venues to cancel space for the group. The WCF received so much negative attention in Australia that they issued an “Open Letter” smearing LGBT and pro-choice activists as “sexual radicals.” “We’re committed to tracking and combatting this hate group wherever they go,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.

Australian LGBT advocates like New South Wales Assembly Member Alex Greenwich are using HRC’s report on the World Congress of Families to call attention to the dangerous anti-LGBT work the group has done in their country.

Why do you like the South? Because people smile at you. And they speak to you. And they’ll open the door for you. And they say, “Bless your heart.” And when there’s a natural disaster, we come together like nobody else. But it is the friendliness. It’s the front porch swing, and talking to your neighbor across the fence and saying, “Oh, I made this apple jelly!” Well, actually, I don’t make apple jelly. [Laughs.]

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TALENT HAS NO ORIENTATION. CURIOSITY HAS NO AGE. EXPERTISE HAS NO ETHNICITY. At Prudential, we believe a diverse and inclusive workforce gives us a distinct competitive advantage: one that helps us understand the needs of our market — and fuels innovations tied to those needs. Case in point: our long-standing commitment to the LGBT community. We were at the forefront of adopting a non-discrimination policy and sponsoring an internal LGBT business support group, and providing domestic partner benefits for our associates. Our mission is to foster a business culture where a rich array of perspectives informs the work we do for our customers.

To learn more, visit www.prudential.com/lgbt and download Prudential’s “LGBT Financial Experience 2012-2013 Research Study.”

© 2014. Prudential, the Prudential logo, the Rock symbol and Bring Your Challenges are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. 0199711-00003-01 A4101

HAILING A HISTORIC REBELLION STONEWALL GETS ITS OFFICIAL RECOGNITION, GILL FOUNDATION PLEDGES $250,000 FOR STUDY

Photo: Bebeto Matthews /AP Inset: Hyoung Chang / Getty

n June 1969, police officers raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular nightclub in Greenwich Village. At the time, New York law barred public displays of “homosexuality” and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clubs were often raided, with countless LGBT people were arrested. But that night at Stonewall, as the policemen made arrests — mainly targeting the club’s transgender and drag patrons — bottles began flying as the officers began handcuffing people, putting them into paddy wagons. The incident sparked a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations for days afterward. Forty-five years later, officials with the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior stood outside of Stonewall (above) to commemorate the anniversary

of the uprising and announced plans for an important, new study that would recognize significant places, events and figures within LGBT history. U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell delivered preliminary remarks, which included special recognition to Tim Gill and the Gill Foundation for helping to finance the study. The foundation has pledged $250,000 to the effort. “LGBT history is not littered with historic, larger-than-life figures,” said Gill at the landmark event outside of Stonewall. “Rather, it’s a history made by each and every individual who works for equality.” Gill is the founder and former chair of Quark, Inc., the popular page layout software. He created the Gill Foundation in 1994 shortly after a 1992 Colorado ballot initiative tried

to deny legal protections to the LGBT community. In 2000, Gill sold his interest in Quark to focus on his philanthropic efforts. The Gill Foundation has since become one of the largest fundraisers for LGBT equality in the United States, investing more than $259 million dollars in American programs and non-profit organizations. This summer, the U.S. Department of the Interior held a panel to present the scholars and archivists who will lead the National Park Service’s heritage initiative. Among the special guests was House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who praised the initiative.

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“It’s about expanding freedom. It’s about making America more American,” she said. “It’s long overdue,” Pelosi expressed, “but nonetheless wonderful.” National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis also emphasized the importance of community input to build upon a more comprehensive, more inclusive history. Those who wish to participate in the study can submit nominations for places, events and historical figures through the National Park Service website. The National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Theme Study is projected to be completed by 2016. For more information about the study, visit www.nps.gov/ heritageinitiatives/LGBThistory.

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We’re passionate about creating a diverse and fair workplace where our employees are enabled to be themselves. This year we received our 12th 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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You and Us. What a great combination.

Since 2010, Nationwide has been a proud HRC Platinum National Partner, serving HRC members as our own. Nationwide has scored 100% on the HRC Corporate Equality Index for ten consecutive years, and our specially trained agents understand insurance for domestic partners. What matters to you, matters to us, and that’s a great combination.

Remember, insurance rules, like LGBT rights, vary by state. Nationwide knows how things work where you live. Become a member today by calling 1-888-490-1561 or visit nationwide.com/HRCsaves for a free, no-obligation quote including your HRC discount.

Nationwide may make a financial contribution to this organization in return for the opportunity to market products and services to its members or customers. Products Underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies, Home Office: Columbus, OH 43215. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review, and approval. Products and discounts not available to all persons in all states. Nationwide policies are written by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company or a company directly or indirectly owned by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Not all Nationwide companies are mutual companies, and not all Nationwide policyholders are members of a mutual company. Policyholder rights and benefits are determined by policy language, underwriting company charter and bylaws, and applicable law. Nationwide, Nationwide Insurance, the Nationwide framemark, and On Your Side ® are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. ©2013 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Goldman Sachs is a proud supporter of the Human Rights Campaign

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HRC’S GALA EVENTS TWIN CITIES GALA

SEPT. 6 • Minneapolis Convention Center • Alicia Schwarz & Tal Anderson • twincitiesdinner.org SEATTLE GALA

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NOV. 8 • The Historic 1956 Palm Springs Estate of Famed Actor William Holden • Brad White, Federal Club Co-chair • hrc.org/psgardenparty

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WHAT WILL YOUR

LEGACY BE? ENSURE THAT YOUR VALUES ENDURE WITH A GIFT TO ADVANCE LGBT EQUALITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

Your support of the Human Rights Campaign reflects your values — values of justice, equality and compassion. Leaving a gift to HRC in your will or trust or by beneficiary designation is a way to ensure your values live on for future generations. Your commitment to a future of equality and fairness for all can be part of your enduring legacy. For more information, download our complimentary planning publications at www.hrc.org/planning or contact: Adam Swaim, Director of Estate Planning, at adam.swaim@hrc.org or 202-216-1563.

EQUALITY CIRCLE E N S U R I N G T H E F U T U R E F O R LG B T E Q UA L I T Y

frican-American citizens fill out voter registration forms (above) at the Forrest County Courthouse office of registrar. The sign on the wall indicates the ordeal of public exposure applicants faced, a tactic used to discourage black registration. Applicants could lose jobs, or even have their houses firebombed after their names were published in the local newspaper.

The photographers in the book, This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement, were activists — covering the momentous, day-to-day fight for justice from within the movement — in particular, the historic Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The photo above underscores the huge obstacles.

An exhibit based on This Light of Ours is now traveling across the country. It is slated for the Brooks Museum of Art (Memphis, Tenn.), Feb.May, 2015; the Florida Holocaust Museum (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Sept.-Dec. 2015; and the Allentown Museum of Art (Allentown, Pa.), Jan.-May 2016. The exhibit was developed by the Center for Documentary Expression and Art in Salt Lake City, Utah. Generous financial support came from Bruce Bastian, a longtime HRC National Board member, through the B.W. Bastian Foundation. The book is edited by Leslie Kehlen and published by University Press of Mississippi, Jackson, 2011. 36

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