Equality Magazine Winter 2010 by Human Rights Campaign

h u m a N

R I g h T s

c a m p a I g N

WI NTE R 2010

stepping up the

pressure on

Battling the National Organization for Marriage & Other Extremist Groups Big Myths About ENDA historic Hate Crimes win Special Q&A: U.S. Majority Whip James Clyburn

American Airlines is proud to support the community that supports us. That’s why we’re the first and only airline to score 100% on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index every year since 2001.

AmericanAirlines, We know why you fly, AA.com and AA.com/rainbow are marks of American Airlines, Inc. oneworld is a mark of the oneworld Alliance, LLC.

Ernst & Young refers to a global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm located in the US.

Better together? Absolutely! Our differences are what energize our culture at Ernst & Young. That’s why it’s important to us to support our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people and Allies—creating an environment where everyone can bring their whole selves to work. Because achieving our potential as a firm begins with helping our people realize their potential as individuals. It makes all the difference to our success.

What’s next? ey.com

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

HRC SENIOR STAFF Joe Solmonese President Ann Crowley Membership & Online Strategy Director Robert Falk General Counsel Andrea Green Finance Director John Greene Human Resources Director Allison Herwitt Legislative Director Anastasia Khoo Marketing Director Don Kiser Creative Director Brad Luna Communications Director Cathy Nelson Vice President for Development & Membership Betsy Pursell Vice President for Public Education & Outreach Jim Rinefierd Vice President for Finance & Operations

A HISTORIC MOMENT

Marty Rouse National Field Director Susanne Salkind Managing Director David M. Smith Vice President of Programs Christopher Speron Development Director Cuc Vu Chief Diversity Officer

As we hit the ground running in a new year, the Human Rights Campaign finds itself at a truly pivotal point in the fight for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. This year, HRC marks our 30th year of fighting for LGBT civil rights. And we’re working to build on the remarkable progress of 2009 — when we helped lead the way on the historic Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act … saw three more states and Washington, D.C., join Massachusetts and Connecticut in recognizing same-sex marriages … defeated an attempt to roll back a sweeping domestic partnership law in Washington state … and halted the decades-long travel ban on HIVpositive visitors and immigrants. But while we’re proud of these important accomplishments, we won’t be spending much time looking backward. Instead, we’re staying focused on the future. HRC has ramped up our campaigns to pass an

inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act — ENDA — to prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as well as to repeal the repressive “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that bars lesbian and gay Americans from serving openly in the military. We’re also pushing hard for the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, which would provide LGBT federal employees with the same health insurance, retirement savings and other family benefits offered to their married co-workers. We’re making promising progress toward all three of these goals. That being said, we still face some enormous obstacles in the year ahead of us.

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The forces of intolerance remain well-funded and politically formidable, as we saw this past November when marriage equality was overturned in Maine. Anti-equality groups like the National Organization for Marriage showed that no slander is too disgusting and no lie too despicable when it comes to denying LGBT Americans full equality under the law. That’s why HRC will be confronting anti-LGBT groups like NOM at every turn in 2010. Every time they spout a lie, we’ll be there to expose it and educate the public with the truth. And every time they try to dehumanize LGBT people and their families, we’ll be there with real-life stories about how bigotry diminishes us all — victims, perpetrators and bystanders alike. We’ll also be working to enlist more Americans in the fight for fairness, and turning up the heat on Congress and the Obama administration to fulfill their election-year promises to us. With such huge challenges and opportunities before us, I hope that HRC can continue to count on your personal commitment in 2010. To support HRC’s ongoing fight for equality, please go to www.hrc.org/winter2010 now to give a generous contribution online. You can also mail your donation to HRC today. Thank you.

HRC EQUALITY STAFF Janice Hughes Publications Director Carolyn Simon Staff Writer Sarah Streyle Senior Graphic Design Specialist Robert Villaflor Art Director CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jarrod Chlapowski, Darrin Hurwitz, Magdalena Posthumus, Margot Rosen, Lara Schwartz, Sarah Warbelow, Mike Wilson OTHER CONTRIBUTORS Tiffany Dean, Richard Gagliano, Justin Giaquinto, Sharon Groves, Allison Herwitt, Ellen Kahn, Anastasia Khoo, Joshua King, Don Kiser, Jamie Kors, Susan Lamb, Molly Levin, Jason Lott, Jonathan Monteith, Charlie Nordstrom, Mike Mings, Allyson Robinson, Camille Rodriguez, Marty Rouse, Susanne Salkind, Adam Scruggs, Chris Speron, David Stacy, Greg Sullivan, Aaron Teskey

Equality is a publication of the Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Equality (ISSN 1092-5791) is published quarterly by HRC, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Copyright 2010. 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 800-777-HRC3, visit www.hrc.org or TTY at 202-216-1572. Are you an HRC member? Have a question?

Gratefully,

HRC’s Member Services Team, led by Dana Campbell, works every day to provide HRC’s 750,000 grassroots members and supporters with the best membership experience possible. To contact Member Services, e-mail membership@ hrc.org or call 800-727-4723.

Joe Solmonese

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 the HRC Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index. Companies such as these have advanced the cause of LGBT equality through their own policies, and we encourage you to consider them when making purchase decisions. For specific scores, criteria and more information on the Corporate Equality Index, please visit www.hrc.org/CEI.

winter 2010

INSIDE FEATURES

Photo: Mario Tama / Getty

Photo: © Pat Ryan / HRC

8 A Historic Hate Crimes Law President Obama Signs Groundbreaking Federal Legislation 10

Big Myths about ENDA What You Can Say — And Do — To Dispel Untruths About the Workplace Bill

13 Prejudice & Progress A Special Interview with U.S. House Majority Whip James Clyburn 16

Right-Wing Storm The National Organization for Marriage and Others Work to Block Marriage Equality and Undo Recent Gains

A Year of Several Firsts ‘Tremendous Gains’ in New Hampshire, Vermont, Iowa & Elsewhere

22 cover story: Gay & Straight Veterans Speak Out on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ And an Openly Gay Israeli Soldier Talks About His Country’s Welcoming Military

Photo: © B. Proud

5 27

Q & A: U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand On the Military, Immigration & Nights in Manhattan

IN EVERY ISSUE 4

Sound Off

Up Front

Scene Out Upcoming gala events National Corporate Partners

Ulysses Dietz, the great-great grandson of President Ulysses S. Grant., on why his civil union in New Jersey with his partner of 34 years is simply not enough. “I want my relationship with my children’s other parent to be acknowledged by everyone for what it is — a marriage,” he said. “Anything less is just wrong. Anything less is unjust.”

“This is a political act. If anyone knows someone who’s gay or lesbian, they’re less likely to vote against them to take away their rights. I can be that lesbian you know now.” Actress Meredith Baxter — an HRC member — best known as the mom on the ’80s TV show “Family Ties,” on why she came out publicly at age 62. She is slated to speak at HRC’s upcoming Carolinas Gala.

President Obama and Washington, D.C., radicals plan to impose homosexuality and silence Christianity in workplaces. Will you help me warn Congress?” Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, in a recent six-page rant that warned his supporters about the potential “disastrous impact” of the Employment NonDiscrimination Act. Visit www.passENDAnow.org to urge Congress to vote YES on ENDA.

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Kim Allman DC, John Barry IL, Bruce Bastian UT, Terry Bean OR, David Beckwith CA, Les Bendtsen MN, Ken Britt GA, Stephanie Carreon TX, Marjorie Chorlins DC, Dan Cochran NY, Jane Daroff OH, Tim Downing OH, Linda Elliott AZ, Anne Fay TX, Jody Gates LA, Stephen Gilhooly TX, Sandra Hartness CA, Mike Holloman TX, John Isa DC, LeeAnn Jones GA, Barry Karas CA, Tom Kovach NV, Jani Lopez TX, Anton Mack CA, Joni Madison NC, Terry Penrod OH, Dana Perlman CA, Steven Reid AZ, Henry Robin NY, Henry Rosales CO, Mirian Saez CA, Linda Scaparotti CA, Tom Skancke NV, Meghan Stabler TX, Jill Stauffer MA, Faye Tate CO, Rebecca Tillet NY, Alan Uphold CA, Scott Wiener CA, David Wilson MA, Frank Woo CA, Lisa Zellner OH Board of Governors Robert Abernathy IL, Rick Aishman TX, Lacey All WA, Lili Alpaugh LA, Steve Amend NV, Andrew Arnold CA, Karen Aronoff OH, Varo Asorian CA, Matthew Bacon MA, Jessica Bair CA, Phillip Baker AZ, Joel Baldazo TX, Kevin Bass CA, Vanessa Benavides TX, Bob Berry IL, Blake Beyer TX, Dana Beyer MD, Scott Bishop NC, Wendy Blenning OR, Eric Blomquist NY, Patricia Bolton WA, Chris Boone WA, Sarah Booth DC, Ebonee Bradford GA, Byron Brady NC, Daniel Brennan TX, Tim Bresnahan IL, Barbara Browning MA, Brian Browning TX, Charles Buchanan TX, Deiadra Burns TX, Nancy Caldwell TX, Todd Canon OR, Carlos Carbonell FL, Christopher Carolan NY, William Castellani DC, Jeffrey Caywood OH, Fidel Chavoya CA, Kevin Cheng CA, Luana Chilelli UT, Lisa Conner NJ, John Cramer TX, Jeremy Davis TN, Fiona Dawson TX, Candace DiGirolamo OH, Robert Dogens NC, Michael Dunning MO, Nikki Eason NC, Patty Ellis NY, Jill Federico CA, Steven Fisher CA, Brian Flanagan NJ, Tom Floyd CA, Donna Flynn TX, Allison Ford IL, Jennifer Foster FL, Bruce Franck MN, Ralph Freidin MA, Charles Frew GA, Tucker Gallagher DC, Jeffery Garofalo NV, William Gautreaux LA, Krystal Gilliam TX, Brian Gilligan MN, Madeline Goss NC, Amos Gott TN, Deb Graves MN, Paul Guillory TX, Ron Guisinger OH, Edward Guzek MN, CM Hall OR, Kirk Hamill DC, Suzanne Hamilton OH, Jim Harrison TX, James Healey NV, Ted Holmquist CA, Miranda Hooker MA, Ajit Joshi DC, Douglas Kauffman OH, Eric Kenney CA, John Kerrigan TX, Thomas Knabel MN, Thomas Kovach NV, Christopher Labonte PA, Jason Lambert FL, Stephan Lampasso FL, John Leonard OR, Tedd Lesch CA, Billy Leslie TN, Ryan Levy TX, Alex Lindquist CO, Michael Long OR, Raymond Manci CA, John Mancuso MO, April Martin KS, M. Mason OH, Robert Mason CA, Sharlea McMurtry CO, Martha McQuade VA, Lori Megown NY, Andrew Melissinos CA, Ryan Messer OH, Gwen Migita NV, Patrick Miller LA, Tim Morneau CA, Kevin Moser WA, Dyshaun Muhammad MN, Heather Nevill CO, George Page TX, Paul Palmer FL, Bryan Parsons NY, Darrell Parsons TX, Lester Perryman LA, Steve Pospisil MN, Anna Prow DC, Michael Reiser MO, Susan Reyes LA, Brian Rice CT, Wendy Ringe TX, Mark Robertson NY, Jason Roundy CA, Andy Rubinson MA, John Ruffier FL, Terri Rutter MA, Minita Sanghvi NC, Catherine Scalise TX, Elizabeth Schleigh TX, Heidi Schreiber MN, Darren Sextro MO, Jon Shaffer OH, Lynn Shepodd CA, Mark Shura MA, Robert Sikorski TN, Molly Simmons GA, LaWana Slack-Mayfield NC, Catharine Smith NJ, Michael Smithson OH, Steven Spencer-Steigner CA, Chuck Stephens GA, Brian Stranghoner AZ, Kenneth Sugarman DC, Dan Tanner FL, Andrea Torrence MO, Nathan Treanor AZ, Marjorie Troxel-Hellmer MO, Timothy Walker OH, William Weeks IL, Richard Welch MA, Bruce Wessler MO, Edward Westreicher GA, Pam Wheeler TN, Sharon Wong MD, Julie Wood GA, Kathy Young AZ, Lisa Zellner OH

Photo: Peter Kramer

“Anything less is, truth be told, un-American.”

Board of Directors

Foundation Board Kim Allman MD, Gwen Baba CA, Vic Basile MD, Terry Bean OR, Lee Carter NC, Edie Cofrin GA, Lawrie Demorest GA, Anne Fay TX, Garry Kief CA, Marty Lieberman WA, Andy Linsky CA, Henry Rosales CO, Hilary Rosen DC, Judy Shepard WY, Mary Snider DC * As of January 2010.

Photo: Scott J. Ferrell / Getty Images

SOUND OFF

“Our country has moved one step closer to helping fight the stigma and ignorance that still too often guides public policy debates on HIV/AIDS.”

UP FRONT

HRC President Joe Solmonese, on the recent lifting of the U.S. ban on HIV-positive visitors and immigrants entering the country. HRC was a lead organization in lobbying Capitol Hill for the repeal of the ban.

Photo: © Pat Ryan / HRC

Bullying, Name-Calling… It’s a big problem, even in elementary schools. And HRC is working to try to stop it. It is teaming up with the National Education Association to better inform educators about anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender bias in the K-5 levels. The NEA — with 3.2 million members, most of whom work in public schools — will be able to use tools from the HRC Family Project’s Welcoming Schools initiative to address family diversity, gender stereotyping and preventing hurtful teasing and name-calling via organized school activities, lesson plans and staff training.

Just hours before the District of Columbia City Council’s historic vote for marriage equality legislation, 350 people rallied for the bill in an event co-hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, the Campaign for All D.C.

Buying for Equality — the Human Rights Campaign’s popular shopping guide — is now available at the touch of your fingertips! With the new Buying for Equality iPhone application, you can quickly search for businesses’ ratings, making it that much easier to support companies that support equality. Visit www.hrc.org/iPhone to download the app. No iPhone? Just text “SHOP” and a business or brand name to 30644 — and HRC will text you back with its rating.

Families and D.C. Clergy United — three active players in the months-long effort. At press time, Mayor Adrian Fenty had signed the bill and it was in a 30-legislative-day congressional review period.

100,000+ The number of LGBT youth who, annually, experience short periods of displacement from their homes.

Homelessness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth is a major, oft-overlooked problem in America. Last fall, the Human Rights Campaign began working with the National Advisory Council on LGBT Homeless Youth to increase awareness in Washington about addressing the issue.

WWW.HRC.ORG

WINTER 2010

As part of HRC’s ongoing efforts to reach out to women — after 6 years of successful “L Word” parties — HRC hosted “Her HRC” events in 35 cities in January, from San Diego to New York City. Again, thousands of women showed up for the fun! An evening highlight: a video with Judy Gold (below), Karen Williams and other comics who took time out to talk to Margot Rosen, HRC’s membership & community events director. Be sure to stay tuned for “Her HRC” next year. See www.hrc.org/herhrc.

What inspires you to be part of the LGBT civil rights movement? My kids. They make me realize that prejudice is learned and the way we are treated in this country is so unfair, and it really pisses me off. They asked questions like, “Why can’t you get married?” How do you explain that? “Well, because we are gay.” It’s just amazing to see it from another generation’s eyes. I grew up with homophobia. My mother invented the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy: “Don’t ask me about Judith’s personal life and I won’t tell you about Judith’s personal life.” And I did that for a long time. But now whenever I can say “gay” or “lesbian” or “queer” or “transgender,” I do. Why do you support HRC’s work? HRC has been around 30 years. Let’s think about what was going on then. OK, 30 years ago, believe it or not, was the year I graduated from high school. I wasn’t out but I had made out with a girl. … It was a big, big secret. Now let’s flash forward to now, and I don’t care where I am, I always hold my partner’s hand when I walk down the street. My kids are unapologetic that they have two moms. Well, now they have four moms: My ex has a girlfriend and I have a girlfriend. They are very healthy with the four mothers, three of them Jewish. … The strides we have made, thanks to organizations like HRC. In the next 30, it’s going to be a whole different world out there. You know people will be like, “Hold on, you couldn’t get married?” “Wait, you guys got called ‘dyke’?” If you weren’t working for equality, you would probably be… If I wasn’t involved, I don’t know what I would be doing. This movement is a huge part of who I am. I mean, people ask me now, “Are you more gay or more Jewish?” Which is a really great question — it shows just how intelligent we are in this country. Being Jewish is my lineage, it’s how I look, it’s what I eat, it’s how I talk, it’s my hair, my antidepressants, you know, that’s all being a Jew. Being gay is who I love, just who I love. What is the big f------ deal about that?

The number of companies that have joined the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness, a group of leading U.S. employers that support the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Find out who’s involved at www.hrc.org/bcwf.

“Governments representing entire communities must not be held hostage by any group that puts its own desire to discriminate above the needs of the larger community.” That’s what Harry Knox, director of the Human Rights Campaign’s Religion & Faith Program, said the facetious claim last fall by some religious leaders that equality — marriage, workplace or otherwise — is a violation of religious liberty. Knox spoke out in response to the release of the “Manhattan Declaration,” a document by 145 evangelical, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian leaders indicating that they will not cooperate with laws that conflict with their beliefs, including those recognizing marriages of samesex couples. By late December, some 300,000 people had signed the declaration. Though the document mostly focused its opposition on abortion rights and same-sex marriage, it also took aim at the federal Employment NonDiscrimination Act, viewed as an additional threat to religious liberty. On the contrary, Knox noted, ENDA — which bars workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity — broadly exempts religious organizations. “The declaration is just another attempt to perpetuate the fallacy that equality and religious liberty are incompatible. “In reality, non-discrimination laws are working all over this country, where religious freedom is existing side-by-side with equal opportunity,” said Knox. “Advocates of LGBT equality have taken great pains in their legislative efforts to ensure that the rights of religious groups and people under the First Amendment are protected.” See pp.10-11 for more on HRC’s work on ENDA.

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Photo: Bryan Bedder / Getty Images

‘Her HRC’ Celebrates Women

80+

Photo: Judy Rolfe / HRC

Up front

Photo: Susanne Salkind

Singer/songwriter Lady Gaga, to the tune of John Lennon’s ballad “Imagine,” performed at HRC’s 13th annual National Dinner last fall (above). She took the stage after President Barack Obama, leading bloggers and the mainstream media — as well as Obama himself — to joke that she was the biggest act of the night. “It is a privilege to be here tonight to open for Lady Gaga,” the president said when he took the stage. “I’ve made it.”

A young man came to the nation’s capital as a cast member of the newest season of MTV’s reality show “The Real World: Washington, D.C.” He left three months later with a real passion to fight for equality. Mike Manning, 22, from Thornton, Colo., had a conservative, religious upbringing and says he didn’t know anything about the Human Rights Campaign before he came to Washington. He was caught a bit off-guard on the first day of his internship at HRC’s national headquarters. “I was so overwhelmed,” he said. “I met with the field team, and they were using all of these acronyms like DADT and DOMA (“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the Defense of Marriage Act) and I had no idea what they were talking about. People really took me under their wing and I saw the importance of what HRC was fighting for.” Mike interned two days per week, focusing

“People of the nation, are you listening? It isn’t equal if it’s ‘sometimes.’ I want a real democracy. Imagine if all the people could love equally.” A highlight of his internship was meeting his openly gay congressman, Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo. The two talked about their experiences as members of the LGBT community in a conservative state and being fluent in Spanish. Another big moment was attending HRC’s National Dinner with his father and taking part in the National Equality March a day later, he said. “When I came to D.C., I was really in the closet. By the end, my dad’s coming to march with me. It was like a 180-degree change for the better.”

Mike, his dad & HRC Managing Director Susanne Salkind.

mainly on the No Excuses campaign. He worked directly with members and supporters in Delaware, scheduling meetings with their congressional representatives about expanding federal protections for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. “I learned that you need to take every opportunity to be vocal about your views on equality,” Mike said. “You need to do your part in changing the hearts and minds of friends and family for the better.”

34,650

Number of Facebook users who have added HRC’s “Conversations from the Heart” application to their pages. The application is part of a campaign that encourages every American — no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation — to be active voices for equality.

WWW.HRC.ORG

WINTER 2010

A historic hate Each year, thousands of people are targeted for violence because of who they are. Until this year, the federal government had no way to respond to crimes motivated by the victims’ sexual ori-

n October 28, President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law. Named for two victims of brutal hate crimes, the act provides assistance to states and local governments that request it, and also gives the federal government the authority to investigate and prosecute hate crimes when local authorities can’t or don’t.

entation, gender identity, gender or disability, and very limited jurisdiction over crimes committed because of the victims’ race, national origin or religion.

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At a news conference after the Senate passed this historic legislation, HRC President Joe Solmonese described its importance: “This marks the first time that we have as a nation expressed — explicitly, and with teeth — that LGBT people are to be protected. And this law sent a

hate Crimes law Photos: © Judy Rolfe

loud message that perpetrators of hate violence against anyone will be brought to justice.” When the president signed the legislation, the families of James Byrd Jr. and Matthew Shepard were by his side. These courageous families, including our own board member and hero Judy Shepard, have overcome tragedy and lent their unshakable wills to this bill for over a decade. The president presented each family with a signing pen. Back at HRC’s building that evening, Dennis Shepard, Matthew’s father, promised that their family’s pen would be used to sign future LGBT-related civil rights bills.

“This marks the first time that we have as a nation expressed…that LGBT people are to be protected.”

WWW.HRC.ORG

WINTER 2010

Big Myths about ENDA

And What You Can Say — and Do — to Dispel Them You could be fired simply for being who you are. It’s true. In 29 states, it is still legal to fire someone solely because they are lesbian, gay or bisexual. In 38 states, it is legal to fire someone solely for being transgender. What’s needed is a federal law that protects LGBT people from job discrimination. Fortunately, support is mounting and the momentum is building for the passage of an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, thanks in no small part to the Human Rights

Campaign and its members. In response to HRC’s nationwide No Excuses campaign, members have been scheduling in-district meetings with their representatives in Congress and urging them to support ENDA and get moving on issues of LGBT equality. “This grassroots activism is absolutely critical to getting ENDA passed,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “We have to keep the pressure on.” For their part, Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., are determined to bring ENDA for committee markup and a floor vote in the House of Representatives in early 2010. The Senate already held a committee hearing on ENDA in the fall — including written

Turning Up the Heat For a Better Workplace While the passage of ENDA is crucial, it is just one of several important steps in establishing safe workplace environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. There is often a disconnect between workplace policy and practice. Even though many employers, cities, counties and states bar workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, it doesn’t mean that LGBT employees feel comfortable enough to be open at work. For example, 51 percent of LGBT workers hide their identity to most people at work, according to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s

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testimony from Solmonese, HRC’s Associate Director of Diversity Allyson Robinson and Business Council Member and Board member Meghan Stabler. It’s not too late to speak with your members of Congress about ENDA. Congress is in recess from Feb. 16 to 20 and April 6 to 17 — it’s the perfect opportunity to schedule a meeting in your representatives’ home districts. When you meet with your congressperson, you will likely need to dispel a lot of myths about ENDA. Here’s a look at some misconceptions that you might come across — and exactly what you need to say in response. continued on page 11

new report, Degrees of Equality: A National Study Examining Workplace Climate for LGBT Employees. Just 27 percent of LGBT workers are open to everyone at work. The report — which finds that the inability of LGBT people to be open at work can negatively affect productivity, retention and professional relationships — is among several resources that HRC’s Workplace Project is releasing as part of the Degrees of Equality initiative. The next step is working with businesses to improve the workplace climate for LGBT workers. An LGBT climate assessment tool as well as a toolkit of resources for businesses and managers will be rolled out in the coming months. Visit www.degreesofequality.org for more.

Myth: ENDA will infringe on the rights of religious organizations.

Myth: ENDA would create thousands more lawsuits and hurt small businesses across the country.

Myth: If ENDA is passed, it will effectively end the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.

Myth: Complying with ENDA will be a financial burden for businesses.

Truth: The measure contains an explicit and broad exemption for religious groups. The language recognizes that the U.S. Constitution protects certain employment decisions of religious organizations and that some groups may have a specific and significant religious reason to make employment decisions — even those that take an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity into account. (In fact, hundreds of clergy members and more than 30 religious groups support the legislation. See www. hrc.org/religion.)

Truth: There has simply been no notable increase in litigation in states that have enacted LGBT non-discrimination laws, according to a November 2008 study by the Williams Institute at the UCLA Law School. Like our country’s current workplace non-discrimination laws that apply to religious affiliation, race, ethnicity, gender and disability, ENDA does not apply to businesses with fewer than 15 employees.

Truth: The passage of ENDA does not affect “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” HRC is fighting hard for the repeal of this discriminatory law that prohibits lesbian and gay people from serving openly in the military. For more, see p. 22.

Truth: Actually, companies that have their own non-discrimination policies — including the majority of America’s leading businesses — report that valuing diversity brings financial benefits to the workplace by encouraging full and open participation by all employees. These companies say that not having non-discrimination policies would drive away talented employees, putting the firms at risk of losing its competitive edge. (Eightyplus companies have joined the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness, a group of leading U.S. employers that support ENDA.

take action No Excuses

2.0

Another big myth: Dropping by to see your lawmaker in person doesn’t make a big difference. Truth: It makes a big difference. Your elected officials are supposed to represent you — but they can only do that if you tell them about the issues that are important to you. And if you’re not telling them what you think — well, others surely will! Tell your personal story to your lawmakers so they understand that there are real people behind their actions or inactions. As part of No Excuses 2.0, HRC is urging members and supporters to schedule meetings with their lawmakers or staff and to speak personally about the need for passing ENDA.

call for action as part of the first phase of No Excuses last summer. Here’s a look at what they accomplished, by the numbers: More than 200 meetings with members were held in 106 priority districts and states; More than 1,000 people participated; More than 6,000 questions were answered; More than 300 allied organizations all across the U.S. got involved; And dozens of new co-sponsorships on HRC’s priority legislation were obtained.

HRC members and supporters answered the For more information on ENDA, visit www.passENDAnow.org. For tips on scheduling an in-district meeting with your members of Congress, visit noexcuses.hrc.org.

WWW.HRC.ORG

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Equality is really big news.

For three years running, Harrah’s Entertainment has earned the distinction of a perfect score on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index. With 36 entertainment destinations located within a few hours of most people in the Continental United States, we take great pride in knowing it’s no isolated achievement. As always, we are proud to support HRC’s commitment to fairness, opportunity and social justice for all.

Special Interview

Prejudice & Progress

Photo: Scott J. Ferrell

James Clyburn, one of the most powerful members in the U.S. House of Representatives, knows civil rights. At the age of 12, Clyburn — the son of a minister — headed his NAACP youth chapter in his home state of South Carolina. Over the years, he marched in rallies, sat at lunch counters and, in his early 20s, was chosen as the star witness in a famous Orangeburg civil disobedience case. In fact, he met his wife, Emily, after a long night in jail in 1959 when the two, with hundreds of other college students, were arrested after a protest.

After college, Clyburn taught high school history, headed a farm workers program, served as an adviser in the governor’s office and, eventually, in 1993, won a House seat — the first African-American in the state to do so in nearly 100 years. As House majority whip, Clyburn, who had a crucial role in the passage of the historic hate crimes bill, holds the chamber’s No. 3 post, preceded only by fellow Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland. One of Clyburn’s key responsibilities is corralling votes for passing legislation. During the debate over the hate crimes bill, he stood up to conservative religious groups who warned the measure would stifle preachers. “It’s not going to muzzle pastors in their pulpit on Sunday morning … This is not about worship and expression, and I think they do a disservice to themselves and their faith to misrepresent this bill that way,” he said.

By Janice Hughes

Additionally, the lawmaker is a strong supporter of the Employment NonDiscrimination Act. “Bigotry and homophobia are sentiments that should never be allowed to permeate the American workplace,” he said during one debate on the Hill. Clyburn, who represents South Carolina’s sixth congressional district, scored a 95-percent rating on HRC’s most recent Congressional Scorecard. He is also a founder of the House Democrats’ Faith Working Group. Excerpts of an interview with Equality magazine follow. As the son of a minister and a man of faith, what do you say to people who invoke the Bible in opposing LGBT equality? The U.S. Constitution protects our fundamental right to hold true to our faith, to continued on page 15

They don’t know what it’s like to wake up every morning wondering whether or not this is the day that I lose my job because someone discovers who or what I am…I understand those feelings because I’ve lived them.

WWW.HRC.ORG

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S H O W T I M E

C O M E D Y

N I G H T

MONDAYS ARE LOOKING GOOD Ready to bare all

NEW SEASON

To America with love

10pm 10pm

one nation. impersonated.

NEW SEASON

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The First Amendment also stands for the proposition that the religious beliefs of some…cannot be used as the basis for public policy at the expense of those whose beliefs may differ. Clyburn cont’d from page 13

spread its teachings, to worship freely and without government interference, and to express our beliefs.

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I respect others with differences of opinion but believe that we have fought too long and too hard to end prejudice and discrimination in our great nation to allow the great forward march of progress to be halted by precisely the prejudice and fear we have sought to defeat for decades. The First Amendment also stands for the proposition that the religious beliefs of some (even a majority or perhaps especially a majority) cannot be used as the basis for public policy at the expense of those whose beliefs may differ. Why do you support LGBT rights? Because I believe they are basic human rights. I grew up believing in the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In the Book of Luke, Jesus sets forth two principles concerning the inherent dignity of individuals, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind,” and, “your neighbor as yourself.” We must remember and reinforce these fundamental commandments and show compassion to all people.

I also know what it’s like to be subjected to the wrath of those close-minded people who don’t understand what it is to yearn for freedom and basic equality. They don’t know what it’s like to wake up every morning wondering whether or not this is the day that I lose my job, not because of my job performance or work ethic, but because someone discovers who or what I am, or whether this is the day that I’m threatened physically because someone finds out who or what I am. I understand those feelings because I’ve lived them. I can remember what it was like to sit at a lunch counter, at a bus station in Orangeburg, S.C., and to have ketchup poured over my head or to have my face spat upon, all because I wanted to come off the back of the bus. I know what it’s like to just want to be treated like everybody else. And when I came to Congress, I brought those experiences with me. Can you talk about the House Democrats’ Faith Working Group? About five years ago, Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed me to chair the group. My role is to create an environment for Democrats to share their values with people of diverse religious backgrounds, find common ground on faith and policy issues, and become comfortable with issues of faith. The

Democratic Faith Working Group has developed strong relationships with the faith community. We work together on issues of common interest such as immigration, climate change, poverty, healthcare reform and more. You were a key leader in moving the hate crimes legislation through the House, which President Obama signed into law last fall. How did you help convince more conservative Democrats to support the bill? We pulled it off by appealing to the fundamental decency that exists in the vast majority of all people. We never made hate crimes legislation a faith issue, but I used the lessons I’ve learned over the years to help persuade others to vote for this legislation. I believe in what I call the “Luke 10 episode,” or the lesson of the Good Samaritan in which Jesus teaches his disciples that human kindness and compassion must be extended to all and that fulfilling the spirit of the law is just as important as fulfilling the letter of the law. As Dr. King said, “The time is always right to do what is right.”

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As the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community continues to make gains at both the federal and state level, extreme right-wing groups have been ratcheting up their efforts to derail marriage equality.

Some of these groups, like Focus on the Family, the Family Research Council and the Christian Coalition have been on the attack for years, using fear tactics and lies to deny equal rights to LGBT Americans.

Now a new group is flexing its muscle: the National Organization for Marriage.

he National Organization for Marriage, founded in 2007, provides organized opposition to marriage equality in states across the country. It played a pivotal role in the recent repeal of same-sex marriage laws in Maine and California, pouring $4 million into the two states. It also helped lead the way in New York, where the Senate recently voted against same-sex marriage.

and inflame false fears about marriage equality’s impact on schools, children and religious freedom,” she said.

tion by the state Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices for its fundraising tactics.

It faced recent ethics complaints in Maine and Iowa for hiding the names of donors to its politi-

NOM was also behind the infamous “Gathering Storm” TV ad. The group missed its intended mark in part because it reverted to hiring actors to make deceptive claims about the social consequences of marriage for same-sex couples. The ad was roundly criticized in the mainstream media and became the target of ridicule on “The Colbert Report” and other shows.

NOM has deep pockets — and is gearing up to do battle in several other states. “It’s running a well-funded campaign to deny marriage equality across the entire country,” said Marty Rouse, the Human Rights Campaign’s national field director. “Wherever we see a battle over marriage equality, we see NOM lurking in the background.”

Even NOM President Maggie Gallagher — who likes to defend her decades-long fight against marriage equality with statements like “I just don’t think that treating different things differently is discrimination” — has a questionable reputation. NOM’s Maggie Gallagher and HRC’s Joe Solmonese on MSNBC’s “Hardball”

“NOM has been the major funnel for antigay money into anti-marriage initiatives,” said Marge Baker, executive vice president at People for the American Way. It is also willing to pour money into ads “designed to create

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cal efforts as required by state laws. It has also filed lawsuits to keep secret pertinent information on who is bankrolling NOM’s efforts to deny the right to marry to same-sex couples. In Maine, the group is under formal investiga-

In 2005, Gallagher, a syndicated columnist, promoted the Bush administration’s radically conservative marriage initiatives in her column and failed to disclose that she had received at least $21,500 in federal funding to write brochures and other material that promoted the same initiatives.

By Carolyn Simon

NOM and other anti-LGBT groups work to block

marriage equality — and undo recent gains

“Spreading lies and misconceptions is nothing new for Gallagher,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “For years, she has been sending out the message that anti-LGBT activists are the victims in the fight for marriage equality. Such statements are patently false. Criticizing the National Organization for Marriage for making bogus claims about loving, committed same-sex couples isn’t punishment — it is fair discourse.” After voters in Maine overturned the state’s marriage equality law last fall, Gallagher said, “We do not believe gay marriage is a civil right; we think it is a civil wrong. And we do not appreciate the increasingly intense efforts to punish people who disagree with gay marriage as if we were racists, bigots, discriminators or haters.” It’s this kind of reasoning that makes one’s head spin. And leaders in Maine heard plenty of it. The bottom line is that NOM “is in it to win and will put whatever resources necessary to stop marriage equality or, frankly, any relationship recognition measure,” according to Jesse Connolly, one of the leaders on the ground in Maine. Now, NOM is pulling out all the stops on its “mission to protect marriage.”

Just recently, it moved its national headquarters from Princeton, N.J., to Washington, D.C., not far from Capitol Hill. And, last fall, NOM emerged as a leader in a push in D.C. for a ballot initiative defining marriage as between a man and a woman. NOM further boasts of spending

locked gays out of any more wins in the political arena and think they’re forcing gays back to court strategies,” noted Baker. Meanwhile, the group is zeroing in on other states that have already secured marriage equal-

“Wherever we will see a battle for marriage equality, we’ll see NOM lurking in the background.” — Marty Rouse $1 million in New Jersey in 2009 to keep the state from allowing marriage for same-sex couples. It claims to have spent $500,000 in December alone on radio ads, direct mail and advertising. NOM said it spent $600,000 in New York — much of it on phone calls to voters in districts of state senators who were undecided. “They may even weigh in more on judicial campaigns, as they believe that they have now

ity and is working to undo these hard-fought victories. “The 2010 elections will see major efforts in Iowa and New Hampshire, for example, to put in place the tools necessary to undo the samesex marriage regimes forced on those states by their courts or legislatures,” NOM Executive Director Brian Brown said recently. continued on page 19

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NOM cont’d from page 17

Brown was previously the executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, which he touted as being linked to Focus on the Family. While employed by the far-right Connecticut group, he worked to prevent the distribution of condoms in high schools and sought a referendum on a constitutional amendment to ban marriage between same-sex couples, among other initiatives.

And Burgmeier still lost.

NOM’s strategy in Iowa, New Hampshire and other states such as Maine includes a multi-year plan to fund the campaigns of anti-equality candidates in an effort to flip the statehouses and eventually pass constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriages in these states. To kick off the effort, NOM funneled at least $86,000 to Iowa in support of Republican Stephen Burgmeier, an outspoken foe of marriage equality, in a special election — a stunning amount of money for a state legislative race.

There is much work to be done in the fight for marriage equality, but these and other victories — like the passage of Referendum 71 in Washington, which upheld the state’s new domestic partnership law — show that voters are willing to support the expansion of rights for LGBT people.

NOM also boasted about spending $150,000 in New York’s 23rd congressional district to oppose a Republican candidate who supported marriage equality, and threw its support behind far-right Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. And Hoffman lost, too.

$4 million Amount that the National Organization for Marriage contributed to overturn marriage equality in California and Maine

$600,000 Amount NOM claims to have spent in New York to block marriage equality

$500,000 Amount NOM claims to have spent in New Jersey last December alone to block marriage equality there

“Slowly, but absolutely surely, we’re winning more hearts and minds every single day,” said HRC’s Rouse.

three more Groups to keep on your radar

Photo: Mark J. Terrill / AP

herever LGBT plaintiffs seek equal rights in the courts, the right-wing extremist group Alliance Defense Fund has opposed them every step of the way. ADF — which specializes in anti-LGBT litigation — has been involved in nearly every court case in the country related to discriminatory marriage and parenting laws. In fact, ADF was created as a way for extremist groups to pool their litigation resources. ADF’s founders include James Dobson, Focus on the Family; Donald Wildmon, the American Family Association; the late Bill Bright, Campus Crusade for Christ; and at least 30 other faith-

based groups. ADF, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., is also involved with several Christian ex-gay groups promoting “conversion” or “reparative” therapy. Recently, ADF has been involved in litigation in Washington state in order to hide the signers of the Referendum 71 petition. Currently, ADF is involved in litigation attacking the new domestic partnership registry in Cleveland, Ohio, demanding an unlawful referendum on marriage equality in Washington, D.C., and defending Proposition 8 in California. Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., Focus on the Family is an evangelical parachurch organization that was founded by Dobson and whose mission includes teaching “traditional” family values. Although Focus on the Family leaders say that they don’t want to “promote hatred against homosexuals,” they still attack any and all laws that would recognize LGBT individuals as a protected class. The group contends that sexual orientation can be changed; as a result, laws protecting LGBT people from discrimination should not be passed. It also believes that discrimination against LGBT people does not exist. Focus on the Family maintains

a national presence, but its involvement in the Proposition 8 fight in California and other antiLGBT initiatives reportedly forced the group into laying off hundreds of staff members. LGBT-supportive Roman Catholics and others have been shocked at the involvement of some Roman Catholic Church leaders in attacking marriage equality legislation in Maine and Washington, D.C. The archdioceses of St. Louis and Boston as well as the dioceses of Portland (Maine), Phoenix, Philadelphia and others gave large sums of discretionary cash to fund the bigoted advertising aired in Maine by the “Yes on 1” campaign. Also, the Archdiocese of Washington has threatened the City Council of the District of Columbia, disingenuously alleging that passing the law would force it to pull funding for homeless shelters, adoption services and other Catholic charities. Meanwhile, the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal group, gave $50,000 to the effort to take away marriage rights in Maine. It also contributed almost $1.5 million to defend Proposition 8 in California. — Mike Wilson

James Dobson

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A Year of Firsts ‘Tremendous Gains’ in New Hampshire, Vermont, Iowa and Elsewhere By Mike Wilson

2009 was a breakthrough year for same-sex relationships at the state level — despite disappointments over the votes by Maine residents and the New York Senate on marriage equality legislation. It marked the first year ever in the country’s history that state legislators enacted marriage equality without a court mandate. Grassroots efforts for marriage equality led to legislative victories in New Hampshire. Pro-equality legislators overrode the governor’s veto to enact marriage equality in Vermont. With a stroke of the mayor’s pen, marriage equality is becoming a reality in the District of Columbia. And the Iowa Supreme Court became the first court to rule unanimously in recognizing marriage equality under the state’s Constitution. Meanwhile, grassroots efforts led to further victories for relationship recognition. Washington voters voted “Yes on 71,” affirming the Legislature’s decision to expand the state’s domestic partnership law to “everything but

marriage.” In Nevada, the dedication of LGBT equality advocates led to the state Legislature overriding a veto, passing a domestic partnership law that provided lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples the rights, responsibilities and benefits of marriage. In Colorado and Wisconsin, state legislatures passed their first laws recognizing same-sex relationships.

unmarried couples from being adoptive or foster parents. Equality advocates in Tennessee and Utah have also fought off bills targeting LGBT families that would ban adoption by unmarried couples. In Tennessee, in fact, the legislation has failed for the past three years, meaning that same-sex couples can continue to adopt under

“Although we won’t stop until we’ve achieved marriage equality in every state, 2009 was a year of tremendous gains,” said Sarah Warbelow, HRC’s state legislative director.

On Election Day 2008, the LGBT community was stunned by the vote to pass Proposition 8 in California. But out of that disappointment was born a resolution — a renewed sense of purpose — that the fight is not over until the LGBT community achieved full equality in every state.

Even in states where there will be a long, uphill battle for LGBT civil rights, anti-equality legislators are finding it difficult to pass discriminatory legislation, noted Warbelow, author of Equality from State to State, HRC’s detailed annual report on state legislative activity.

an opinion by the state’s attorney general.

2009 5 Last year, for example, pro-equality forces in the Kentucky Senate convinced legislators to shelve a bill targeting LGBT families that would prohibit

“Look for more breakthroughs in the states this year,” said Warbelow. “The commitment remains strong, and in every corner of the country our community is demanding equality.” Check out the full Equality from State to State report at www.hrc.org/statetostate.

Number of states, plus D.C.*, granting full marriage equality — four more than in 2008.

The Year in Numbers

Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa, Connecticut and the District of Columbia*

6 15

Number of states, plus D.C.*, recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages — four more than in 2008.

Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa, Connecticut, District of Columbia* and New York

Number of states recognizing some form of samesex relationships — seven more than in 2008. Maine, New Jersey, Maryland, Wisconsin, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Nevada, California, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa, Connecticut and the District of Columbia* * Pending congressional review

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s Capitol Hill begins to look more closely at repealing the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, the Human Rights Campaign is stepping up the pressure to engage the entire country in a dialogue about the much-needed action. The U.S. House of Representatives could move forward as soon as this spring, some Capitol Hill observers say. Helping military veterans speak out for equality — whether they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or straight allies — has proven to be an effective way to educate America, HRC has found. Over the last few years, HRC has organized speaking tours for pro-equality veterans to bring their message to cities and towns across the country. Most recently, HRC has been engaged in a special, crosscountry “Voices of Honor” tour, involving openly gay veteran Jarrod Chlapowski, a former U.S. Army linguist. Equality spoke with Chlapowski (at left) and fellow Army veteran and linguist Kayla Williams (right), who is straight, about their experiences serving under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Additionally, we spoke with Roi Zylberberg, an openly gay man who served in combat (and is now in the military reserves) for Israel, one of at least 28 countries that allows LGB people to serve. Excerpts with Chlapowski, Williams and Zylberberg (p. 25) follow:

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Jarrod Chlapowski

Kayla Williams

Why did you join the military?

Did you find open service to be detrimental to unit cohesion?

I had grown up hearing stories of my grandfather serving as an Intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. He was among the first to train at the military’s Defense Language Institute at the Presidio in California in linguistics — Japanese — and learned six additional languages, all with a native fluency. So as I grew older, I more and more wanted to follow his legacy. I signed up for the Army in my senior year of high school, and left for basic training soon after graduation. Did you know you were gay when you joined?

I did not know I was gay. I suspected, of course. But it was not something I was ready to accept, and I had hoped the military would help me overcome whatever it was that was “making” me gay. But after graduating basic training, I knew I had to — as we like to say in the Army — “just suck it up and drive on.” Coming out at that point was more about sharing that part of me that I was learning, with no conscious consideration of any sort of legal consequences. Conversations with others with whom I served were always positive, and fortunately I didn’t serve under a command cadre who would initiate discharge proceedings based solely on hearsay.

Photos: Dakota Fine

Many outside the military imagine it to be unwelcoming to people who don’t fit a certain norm.

We know this was not the case with the integration of females and African-Americans into the military. Is there a military culture? continued on page 24

NO. No, no and no. Do you find other straight service members share your opinion?

I would say at least three-quarters of the troops I knew didn’t care about homosexuality. This is definitely generational — the people I know who are against letting gays serve openly are almost all old, often retired. Another thing: Troops can be discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and then become contractors and go to Iraq or Afghanistan and sleep in the same quarters, use the same showers, go on the same patrols and so forth — without hiding or lying about who they are. In my opinion, the whole thing is ridiculous. The same arguments against letting gays serve openly and against letting women serve in combat units were used to argue against racially integrating the military — and yet, unit cohesion did not collapse after President Truman integrated the military … Change is hard — when the policy is changed, there will be problems. But they are not insurmountable, many of our NATO allies allow gays to serve openly and it is not a problem. We have the most professional, proficient military in the world, and repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to allow gays to serve openly will only enhance our military readiness. continued on page 24

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Chlapowski cont’d from page 23

Yes. But this culture is learned in basic training and cemented through years of service, and has little to do with who one is before beginning their military service. How would you describe your time in the military?

It was a tremendously positive experience. There are aspects of the culture that I find very appealing — order, camaraderie — that I haven’t been able to find to such a degree in my civilian life, with perhaps the exception of social occasions with veteran and active-duty friends. Would you consider re-enlisting when “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is repealed?

Absolutely. I can’t tell you how much I miss the military culture and experience, and how much I have yet to adapt to being a civilian again. The question will be whether or not re-enlisting will be feasible with my current career track. There comes a point where you have to accept the fact

Williams cont’d from page 23

Did you know many lesbian and gay soldiers in your unit? Were they well known to be lesbian or gay?

One of my good friends was a lesbian. She used to bring her “cousin” to parties — I finally pulled her aside and said, “Hey look, everyone knows you’re gay, and no one cares.” … I personally witnessed a lot of difference in how males perceived homosexuality. They thought lesbians were “cool” but were grossed out by male homosexuality. I think part of this is wrapped up in a general devaluing of women — and their conception that a lesbian couple

28 24

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that you’re never going to go back in, that your time in the military service is done. I’m not there yet. How do you answer the inevitable “two guys in a foxhole” question? Or “guys packed into a submarine for months at a time” question?

It really comes down to conditions that already exist. Gay people already serve in foxholes, on submarines — even share showers! — with other American service members and it is not a problem. The reality is that any sort of abuse of these conditions — straight, gay or otherwise — will not be deterred by a proverbial “code of silence,” so it is ridiculous to presume that somehow repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and allowing open service will make these situations unworkable. The lack of incidents in foxholes and submarines, I would offer, indicates how unrealistic this argument really is. Is there any one moment — good or bad — while you were in the military that

stands out in your mind most about this whole issue?

I was in formation, about to graduate from the Defense Language Institute. The first sergeant was personally inspecting our dress uniforms one last time — more of a formality as opposed to a real inspection. A sending off. Anyway, when the first sergeant approached me, he asked how my “friend in Gilroy” was going to handle me leaving. I answered, “We do what we must. My friend understands what it means to be in the service.” He nodded, smiled knowingly, and moved on. This was the first and only time my being gay was discussed directly with a non-commissioned officer in my command. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I have a number of opportunities ahead of me, in a few different tracks. I definitely see something involving government. It’s in my blood to try and continue to nudge our country in a direction I believe we should go.

might be open to male participation, because who could possibly resist these men! (Laughter.)

homophobic hate crime at a post where I was assigned. So although I didn’t see any issues, that does not mean they don’t exist.

Once we were in Iraq, a guy in my husband’s unit said he was gay. The leadership reaction was: “Good for you. Go on patrol.” His sexual orientation was totally meaningless compared to his ability to help accomplish the mission. The same held true for me as a woman in combat — all that mattered was that I spoke Arabic and could translate between the local people and U.S. troops.

How did your fellow service member(s) come out to you? How long had you known them?

But I also know that a man was killed in a

It doesn’t stick in my memory because it wasn’t a big deal. One friend of mine — who was kicked out under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” — never came out to me directly, but it was widely assumed that she was gay because she and her partner wore matching rings and hung out all the time.

Currently, 28 countries — not the United States, of course — allow lesbian, gay and bisexual people to serve in their militaries. Five countries have policies that are transgender-inclusive. Take a look:

Meanwhile, outside the U.S. …

Out, Gay & In the Army Roi Zylberberg, 23, served for several years as a medic and non-commissioned officer in the Israeli Defense Forces, stationed in the West Bank. He is now in the IDF reserves.

How his fellow soldiers dealt with it “For the most part, what I experienced was a very warm acceptance. And because I was very open with the subject in general and was sharing information about myself and answering questions, I was able to a certain extent [help] the soldiers around me open their minds as well to accept it… .

Israel is one of 28 countries which allow gays and lesbians to serve openly.

I heard some reactions mostly behind my back, and that did not bother me at the time nor does it bother me now, and some were to my face, mostly humorous… .

“The IDF assigns roles to soldiers based on the personal qualifications of the soldiers and the needs of the IDF, not based on their sexual orientation or gender,” an IDF spokesperson told Equality. Zylberberg spoke with us by phone from Tel Aviv.

I was always open to the possibility that someone might feel uncomfortable [in my work as a medic], so I would ask, for example, if someone had a muscle cramp in his back and needed a shot in his gluteus maximus, then I would ask him if he felt uncomfortable, that I could call some other medic or a doctor to do it, and it was fine with me. The more open I was about it, the more open people were about it as well.”

On being openly gay in the military “When I joined the army, I was already out of the closet at home in high school. I went through basic training with the Yeshiva guys, very religious people, and after about five months I started sharing with my closer friends in my platoon — not intimate details, but personal information, my personal stories. Then I was transferred to the medical squad and by then everyone knew already I was gay. From the officers to the last soldier.”

Argentina Australia Austria Bahamas Belgium

Canada* Czech Republic* Denmark Estonia Finland

when I had to fight, I fought… . There’s always certain tension between people, in general. I think that it doesn’t matter if it is men and women or men and men [serving] … As a soldier, you should learn how to put aside your inner issues right now or your feelings toward other people when you have to be professional… . There’s no contradiction of being gay because men and women do serve together, different quarters of course, but in the same outpost.” On the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” “I’m not familiar with the ways of the American army or with how it works. But as an Israeli citizen and a soldier in the IDF, I can say that if the army had not recruited gay soldiers or had been discharging them for being gay, it would have been a great loss of high-quality people who are worthy of being a part of a greater circle and serving their country and nation.”

On serving in combat “I’ve experienced stressful situations in combat, though I was never part of a real face-to-face war. But I’ve been through some rough times in the army. My friends were injured and some even died. We had to fight, we were shot at and had to shoot back, and during all of this, the element of sexual orientation is not an issue… . It has nothing to do with how you function in the field, at least for me. I was very natural about myself in the army and

France Germany Ireland Israel* Italy

Lithuania Luxembourg Netherlands New Zealand Norway

Philippines Slovenia South Africa Spain* Sweden

Switzerland United Kingdom* Uruguay

* These countries, along with Thailand, also allow transgender people to serve.

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the military, Immigration & nights in manhattan

talking with u.s. sen. kirsten gillibrand W

Photo: Mario Tama / Getty

hether she’s talking about the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” or what she learned from her grandmother, a women’s rights advocate, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand speaks easily — and passionately — about equality.

The New York Democrat, perhaps best known as a centrist while in the U.S. House of Representatives, is becoming one of our community’s strongest allies in the Senate. She avidly supports getting rid of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and is a co-sponsor of an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The 43-year-old mother of two is also the first senator from New York to back marriage equality and lobbied state legislators in Albany for their support as well.

Gillibrand recently spoke by phone with Equality magazine. Equality: You’re one of the LGBT community’s most outspoken advocates in the Senate. Why? What motivates you? Senator Gillibrand: One

meeting I had recently was with [gay Iraq war veteran] Dan Choi. It was inspiring to me because he came in to talk to me about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Choi said the military trained him to never lie and to always follow his commanding officer, and that the reason, for him, why “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was such a horrible policy was because it asked him to lie every day to his commanding officer about who he was. I thought it was a poignant, very clear way of describing this debate. It motivated me to take a leadership role in “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” I think it’s wrong for the military and it has not worked as a policy. … My view is that it needs to be repealed.

Equality: You

urged the Senate Armed Services Committee to hold hearings this fall on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” — the first Senate hearing on the issue since 1993.

Gillibrand: A lot of people don’t know

much about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”… The more people know about how undermining and ineffective it has been for the military, they will realize that this policy is wrong not only from the military perspective, but also from the moral perspective. Equality: You

support full marriage equality, calling it “the civil rights march of our generation.” We need to fight for marriage equality in New York state and I’ve been a vocal advocate… . The next needed step is to continue getting marriage equality, state by state. On the federal level, we should focus on repealing DOMA. I think DOMA is a very destructive policy that undermines

Gillibrand:

continued on page 29

Lobbying someone directly… is the best way to convince them that this is an equal justice and an equal rights issue.

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My grandmother taught me the importance of grassroots advocacy. She organized women to have a say and to have a voice in who they elected for local government. … That’s the same kind of work that HRC does. Gillibrand cont’d from page 27

the ability to be married and have those marriages recognized across state lines. an attorney in Manhattan, you had the chance to get to know members of our community. Can you tell us about that?

sues we can deal with because it is fundamentally unfair for people in committed relationships to not be able to sponsor spouses or loved ones to stay in this country, and that is true for everybody.

Equality: As

It’s certainly true. When I was a young lawyer in New York City, we would work sometimes until midnight. Over time, most of the men got married. The women, for whatever reasons, didn’t have time to find boyfriends … so they tended to be single. The only men that were around were our gay male friends. So I would take almost all of my vacations and go out in the evenings with a number of gay men who are still among my closest friends today. Gillibrand:

Equality: We’re encouraging our members to do in-district lobbying now. Any advice? Gillibrand: I would commend them for doing it. It is so important for people to be able to hear your voice and meet you face-to-face so they can hear your passion. It’s the passion and the heartfelt feeling about what someone thinks is right. For a lot of people, they might not have thought through the issues or have a lot of information. Lobbying someone directly and meeting with them … is the best way to convince them that this is an equal justice and an equal rights issue.

for local government. …When she got started, women had very little role in government and in decision making. The ways she was able to achieve that for her and for her friends was to organize them and to get them involved in campaigns. That’s the same kind of work that HRC does. HRC is teaching people to organize and to be a voice for their values and what they care about and to use that voice to shape legislation and elect leaders that support their values and priorities. HRC’s Jonathan Monteith contributed to this report.

Equality: You’ve Equality: You’ve

co-sponsored the Uniting American Families Act to give our families the same immigration benefits that legal spouses of permanent residents have.

I’m hopeful that when President Obama takes on comprehensive immigration reform, this is one of the isGillibrand:

said that you learned a lot from your maternal grandmother, who was a women’s rights advocate. What did you learn from her?

Gillibrand: My grandmother taught me the importance of grassroots advocacy. She organized women to have a say and to have a voice in who they elected

WWW.HRC.ORG

WINTER 2010

Candy and Darlene HRC Members Since 1996

SNUGGLE UP TO EQUALITY Cozy up to equality with the HRC Snuggle Blanket. Like the warmth of a roaring fire, our soft, luxurious fleece blanket keeps the chill off those winter nights. With innovative, oversized sleeves that allow a full range of motion, the HRC Snuggle Blanket will keep you toasty warm from head to toe as you e-mail your member of Congress, enjoy a romantic comedy or catch up with a dear friend on the phone. HRC Snuggle Blanket $29.50

Shop HRC and buy into your future. Click shop.hrc.org | Call 888/932-7472 | Shop San Francisco, CA; Provincetown, MA; Washington, DC

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100% of your purchase goes to H RCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fight for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.

PLATINUM American Airlines Bank of America Citi   GOLD Deloitte, LLP Ernst & Young, LLP Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Prudential   SILVER BP Beaulieu Vineyard Chevron Harrah’s Entertainment Lexus MGM MIRAGE Nike Shell   BRONZE Chase Concierge Travel/Pineapple Point Cox Enterprises Dell Goldman Sachs & Co. Google IBM KPMG Orbitz Paul Hastings PricewaterhouseCoopers Replacements Ltd. Showtime Sweet Tylenol PM *List Current as of January 1, 2010 All advertisers in Equality magazine are HRC National Corporate Partners and must score at least an 85 percent or above on the HRC Corporate Equality Index. For specific scores and information about the CEI, please visit www.hrc.org/CEI.

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SUPPORT OUR NATIONAL CORPORATE PARTNERS*

1 Actors Cory Monteith (L), Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, Amber Riley and Jane Lynch from the TV show “Glee” at HRC’s 13th Annual National Dinner. 2 David Wilson, a member of HRC’s Board of Directors, speaks on National Citizenship Day at a news conference for Ya Es Hora, an initiative to provide Latino/a immigrants with resources to apply for citizenship. 3 HRC staff and interns wear shirts in support of equal rights in Virginia during a volunteer event for Robin Abbott, who defeated an anti-equality incumbent for a seat in the state House of Delegates race last fall. Abbott is at center with Democratic National Committee Chairman and former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. 4 Former professional tennis player Martina Navratilova at the HRC National Dinner. 5 More than 500 people turned out for Soulful Voices: A Faith Celebration in D.C., which brought together people of faith for music and worship in support of marriage equality in D.C. 6 Rallying at the National Equality March in the nation’s capital last fall. 7 San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom at the HRC Orange County Long Beach Garden Party. 8 Thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies attended the National Equality March.

HRC’s Upcoming Gala Events New York Gala, Feb. 6 • The Waldorf = Astoria / New York, N.Y. • Co-Chairs: Michelle Galindo & Bryan Parsons • greaterny.hrc.org/dinner

Austin Gala, March 20 • Hyatt Regency / Austin, Texas • Co-Chairs: Scott Tyson, Ceci Gratias & Joel Baldazo • www.hrcaustin.org

Speak the Truth: Greater Cincinnati, Feb. 20 • The Bell Event Centre / Cincinnati, Ohio • Co-Chairs: Ryan Messer & Chad Nielson • cincinnati.hrc.org

Arizona Gala, March 20 • Phoenix Convention Center / Phoenix, Ariz. • Co-Chairs: Claudine Sanchez & Nathan Treanor • www.hrcazdinner.org

Carolinas Gala, Feb. 27 • Raleigh Convention Center / Raleigh, N.C. • Co-Chairs: Madeline Goss, Joni Madison & Robert Dogens • www.hrccarolinas.org

Speak the Truth: Portland, April 11 • The Bison Building / Portland, Ore. • Co-Chairs: Katrina Wheeler & John Leonard • portland.hrc.org

Nashville Gala, Feb. 27 • Loews Vanderbilt / Nashville, Tenn. • Co-Chairs: Jeremy Davis, Debra Hyslop and Keith Hinkle • www.theequalitydinner.com Los Angeles Gala, March 13 • Hyatt Regency Century Plaza / Los Angeles • Co-Chairs: Andy Arnold & Clare Thomas • www.hrcladinner.com Philadelphia Gala, March 13 • Hyatt Regency Philadelphia / Philadelphia, Pa. • Co-Chairs: Jonathan Gunderson & Bernadette Littlewood • philadelphia.hrc.org

Colorado Gala, April 24 • Exdo Center / Denver, Colo. • Co-Chairs: Heather Nevill & Lisa Donato • www.milehighgala.org Atlanta Gala, May 1 www.atlantahrcdinner.org Cleveland Gala, May 1 cleveland.hrc.org Utah Gala, May 8 utah.hrc.org Houston Gala, May 22 www.hrchouston.org Louisiana Gala, June 5 neworleans.hrc.org Columbus Gala, June 12 www.hrccolumbus.org To buy tickets for HRC Gala Events, please contact Box Office Tickets, 800-494-8497, or www.hrc.org/boxoffice.

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WINTER 2010

What’ s your LEGACY

Asta Gregersen’s Legacy

When Asta Gregersen attended her first HRC San Francisco Gala in 1994, she was so moved to get involved with the fight for LGBT equality that she continued to support HRC yearly for the rest of her life. Asta also met with an attorney to establish a trust that would facilitate her wishes. The fruit of her life work was directed to the HRC Foundation. Asta’s financial support continued after she passed. HRC is honored to be part of her legacy.

WHAT’S YOUR

LEGACY? The HRC Equality Circle was established to recognize individuals who have arranged for gifts to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation through tax-wise planned giving.

for more information, visit

www.hrc.org/estateplanning

EQUALITY CIRCLE E N SU R I N G T H E F U T U R E for LG B T E Q UAL I T Y

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WINTER 2010

Some of the ways to give as a member of the HRC Equality Circle include: • Simple bequest in a will • Life insurance • Charitable remainder trusts • Retained life estate • Gifts of Heritage partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation

For more information about making a planned gift, please contact: Timothy L. Mahoney, Director for Estate Planning timothy.mahoney@hrc.org or 202-216-1563

Your first goal was to be judged on your ideas, not your partner. So, what’s your next goal? At Deloitte, our stance is simple: If you can do the job well, you should be on our team. For us, getting the job done means attracting the best talent from all walks of life. That’s why we: • Support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through our business resource group, GLOBE • Were named one of DiversityInc’s Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees in 2008 • Received a 100% rating in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for four consecutive years We know that you’ve always wanted a workplace where you would be judged on your ideas; the question now is — what will you do with it?

www.deloitte.com

As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Copyright © 2009 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved. Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

Merrill Lynch Financial Advisors, now with access to the resources of Bank of America, are committed to providing financial advice to the LGBT community. They understand there can be unique financial challenges faced by same-sex couples and can offer comprehensive solutions tailored to meet these unique needs. To learn more, visit ml.com/help2

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Investing involves risk. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Merrill Lynch Wealth Management makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (MLPF&S) and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation. MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer and Member SIPC. Banking products are provided by Bank of America, N.A. and affiliated banks, Members FDIC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation. Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value ÂŠ 2009 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. AR-96604, 11/2009 Help2achieve is a trademark of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.