Equality Magazine Winter 2011 by Human Rights Campaign

h U M a n

r i g h t s

C a M p a i g n

w i nte r 2011

the path to repealing

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Historic Legislation

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL Investing in a Shared Future.

t oge T nce e r e iff D a ing k a M

Proud to Support Human Rights Campaign.

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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.

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

HRC SENIOR STAFF Joe Solmonese President Michael Cole Press Secretary 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 Cathy Nelson Vice President for Development & Membership

The Path Forward to Equality

‘So where do we go from here?’

Betsy Pursell Vice President for Public Education & Outreach Jim Rinefierd Vice President for Finance & Operations Marty Rouse National Field Director Fred Sainz Vice President of Communications & Marketing Susanne Salkind Managing Director

It’s a question I’m hearing a lot after our historic victory to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law. Although winning the 17-year battle to allow lesbian and gay patriots to serve proudly and openly in our armed forces was a truly landmark achievement, we still face big obstacles in the fight to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. After the defeat of many champions of equality in the 2010 elections, we’re confronting a dramatically altered political landscape. With anti-LGBT lawmakers in charge of the U.S. House of Representatives, advancing LGBT civil rights in Congress has become much more difficult. We face a similar challenge on the state level, where election gains by antiLGBT forces threaten marriage equality in New Hampshire and open the door for attacks on adoption by lesbian and gay couples in Florida, Arizona and Tennessee. Right now, HRC is working to harness the momentum from our “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” victory to protect our hard-won progress and move forward on LGBT civil rights, including the opportunity to advance marriage equality in New York and Maryland, and civil unions in Delaware and Hawaii. Efforts are also underway in Rhode Island. The current political realities make it clear that we cannot limit our efforts to just legislative and electoral battles. So HRC is intensifying our focus on touching and changing hearts and minds — to make everyday life better for LGBT individuals and their families. HRC is also stepping up our work to combat bias-based bullying through initiatives like our “Welcoming Schools” program, which helps elementary schools teach children respect and tolerance — to prevent name-calling and bullying later in middle and high school. We’re also publicly calling out religious and political

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leaders who denigrate young people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

David M. Smith Vice President of Programs Christopher Speron Development Director Cuc Vu Chief Diversity Officer

Meanwhile, HRC’s Workplace Project is working to improve conditions for LGBT workers by convincing more corporations to implement pro-equality policies. Our Religion and Faith Program is engaged at every level, creating a new movement for change that embraces a culture of compassion. And our Family Project is aiming to build on the historic progress we made last year when we played a key role in convincing President Obama to issue the directive requiring hospitals to provide equal visitation rights to LGBT families. Although we face daunting challenges ahead, our success in the fight to overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has given a critical boost to the LGBT rights movement. I am confident that we will continue moving forward if we join together and recommit ourselves to the fight for equality. Thank you in advance for your continued support of HRC in 2011.

HRC EQUALITY STAFF Janice Hughes Publications Director Sarah Streyle Senior Graphic Design Specialist Robert Villaflor Design Director OTHER CONTRIBUTORS Joanna Blotner, Liz Cooper, Alison Delpercio, Ryan Fleury, Justin Giaquinto, Allison Herwitt, Ellen Kahn, Anastasia Khoo, Don Kiser, Mollie Levin, Tommy Lodge, Jason Lott, Timothy Mahoney, Adam Marquez, Cathy Nelson, Kevin Nix, Jeremy Pittman, Karin Quimby, Margot Rosen, Marty Rouse, Fred Sainz, Susanne Salkind, Carolyn Simon, James Servino, David M. Smith, Chris Speron, David Stacy, Tom Sullivan, Sarah Warbelow, Monica Watson

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 2011. 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.

Gratefully, 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?

Joe Solmonese P.S. As HRC expands the scope of our fight for LGBT equality, we need your help more than ever before. So please consider rushing a special contribution to HRC today or giving online at www.hrc.org/winter2011. And if you can take your support to a higher level at this time, please become a monthly HRC Partner or join our Federal Club program. Thank you!

HRC’s Member Services Team, led by Dana Campbell, works every day to provide HRC’s more than 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.

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.

winter 2011

INSIDE Dear Fellow HRC M

ember,

membership for As I renew my HRC to do the same. u 2011, I’m urging yo nd beside I was honored to sta he signed President Obama as Ask, Don’t Tell” the repeal of “Don’t mbers deserve into law. HRC’s me playing a key enormous credit for ustice. role in ending this inj e repeal of “Don’t While the legislativ historic victor y, Ask, Don’t Tell” is a re to do. Please there is so much mo hip today. renew your members Sincerely,

photos (top to bottom): Randy Holmes / Getty, Joan Marcus, Natacha Pisarenko / AP

Eric Alva, Retired

Marine Staff Sgt.

on the COVER: President Obama is

joined by HRC’s Eric Alva, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others as he signs the landmark legislation repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

FEATURES 8

an epic battle Securing Repeal Of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Unwavering, Down to the Wire Susan Collins: A Key Leader on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Luke MacFarlane On “Brothers and Sisters,” His First Hollywood Party and Coming Out Every Single Day

fighting them off at every turn Readying for a Rise of Anti-LGBT Legislation In Statehouses Across the Country

marriage on the rocks In the Granite State?

priscilla!

Early Intervention HRC’s “Welcoming Schools” Gets at the Root of Bullying

15 21

Argentina, Mexico City and counting… Why & How Latin America Is Moving Ahead On LGBT Equality

Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

IN EVERY ISSUE 4

Sound Off

Up Front

Gala Events National Corporate Sponsors Foundation Partners

SOUND OFF

Board of Directors Lacey All WA, John Barry IL, Kevin Bass CA, Bruce Bastian UT, Terry Bean OR, David Beckwith CA, Les Bendtsen MN, Stephanie Carreon TX, Dan Cochran NY, Jane Daroff OH, Tim Downing OH, Linda Elliott AZ, Anne Fay TX, Chris Flynn MA, Jody Gates LA, Kirk Hamill DC, Mike Holloman TX, John Isa DC, LeeAnn Jones GA, Barry Karas CA, Tom Knabel MN, Tom Kovach NV, Chris Labonte PA, Jani Lopez TX, Anton Mack CA, Joni Madison NC, Josh Miller NV, Michael Palmer DC, Terry Penrod OH, Dana Perlman CA, Henry Robin NY, Mirian Saez CA, Cathi Scalise TX, Linda Scaparotti CA, Molly Simmons GA, Meghan Stabler TX, Faye Wilson Tate CO, Rebecca Tillet NY, Julius Turman CA, Alan Uphold CA, David Wilson MA, Frank Woo CA, Lisa Zellner OH

No student should be driven to take their own life simply because of who they are.”

Board of Governors

New Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on his plans to enact a strong, anti-bullying measure. HRC deployed several staffers, mobilized HRC members and contributed considerable resources to elect Dayton and other pro-equality candidates. An earlier Safe Schools bill was vetoed by Dayton’s twoterm predecessor (and potential presidential candidate), Tim Pawlenty.

“We are confident of victory.” National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown about his group’s work to repeal New Hampshire’s marriage equality law. In coordination with state-based groups, HRC has mounted an extensive campaign to counter efforts by NOM, the Family Research Council and others — in what is seen as a battle with nationwide implications. (See p. 21.)

“Shouldn’t everybody have it?

photo: Eugene Gologursky

Actress and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg on marriage equality — as part of HRC’s public video series in its “New Yorkers for Marriage Equality” campaign — as the legislative fight for marriage equality heats up in Albany.

Robert Abernathy IL, Rick Aishman TX, Steve Amend NV, Andrew Arnold CA, Karen Aronoff OH, Varo Asorian CA, Matthew Bacon MA, Jessica Bair CA, Phillip Baker AZ, Ian Barrett MA, Vanessa Benavides TX, Bob Berry IL, Scott Bishop NC, Wendy Blenning OR, Eric Blomquist NY, Patricia Bolton WA, Chris Boone WA, Ebonee Bradford GA, Tim Bresnahan IL, Barbara Browning MA, Charlie Buchanan TX, Deiadra Burns TX, Rory Cahn OH, Nancy Caldwell TX, Frank Caliguri OH, Todd Canon TX, Carlos Carbonell FL, Christopher Carolan NY, Bill Castellani DC, Steven Cayton GA, Jeffrey Caywood OH, Kevin Cheng CA, Dawn Christensen NV, Jeff Coop WA, Thomas Cowley CA, John Cramer TX, Jeremy Davis TN, Fiona Dawson TX, Brad DiFiore GA, Candace DiGirolamo OH, Robert Dogens NC, Michael Dunning MO, Nikki Eason NC, Patty Ellis NY, Brian Endicott OH, Jill Federico CA, Michael Fifield UT, Steven Fisher CA, Brian Flanagan NJ, Randy Floyd NC, Tom Floyd CA, Donna Flynn TX, Jennifer Foster FL, Charles Frew GA, Patrick Gamble AZ, Jeffery Garofalo NV, Sepi Ghafouri CA, Krystal Gilliam TX, Madeline Goss NC, Amos Gott TN, Deb Graves MN, Cherie Green NC, Deb Guidry LA, Paul Guillory TX, Ron Guisinger OH, Jonathan Gundersen PA, Edward Guzek MN, C.M. Hall OR, Suzanne Hamilton OH , Jim Harrison TX, James Healey NV, Jason Held IL, Katie Hill TN, Ron Hirth OH, Ted Holmquist CA, Miranda Hooker MA, Brian Irwin TX, Deanne Jockish MO, Ajit Joshi DC, Eric Kenney CA, Sheila Kloefkorn AZ, Tom Kovach NV, Jason Lambert FL, John Leonard TX, Tedd Lesch CA, Billy Leslie TN, Ryan Levy TX, Char Ligo OH, Alex Lindquist CO, Michael Long OR, Raymond Manci CA, John Mancuso MO, John Marez CA, M. Mason OH, Robert Mason CA, Keith McCoy IL, Lori Megown NY, Beth Mejia MN, Andrew Melissinos CA, Ryan Messer OH, Gwen Migita NV, Patrick Miller LA, Tim Morneau CA, Kevin Moser WA, Dyshaun Muhammad MN, Christine Nelson MA, George Page TX, Joseph Palacios DC, Bryan M. Parsons NY, Darrell Parsons TX, Ed Patterson GA, Lester Perryman LA, John Piedrahita DC, Hank Provost CO, Anna Prow DC, Catherine Reid CA, Michael Reiser MO, Susan Reyes LA, Brian Rice CT, Wendy Ringe TX, Andy Rubinson MA, John Ruffier FL, Jonathan Russell GA, Terri Rutter MA, Minita Sanghvi NC, Elizabeth Schleigh TX, Creg Schumann MN, Jon Shaffer OH, Lynn Shepodd CA, Mark Shura MA, Molly Simmons GA, Ashley Smith VA, Corey Smith MN, Michael Smithson OH, LaRence Snowden TX, Steven Spencer-Steigner CA, Colte Suggs DC, Deb Taft MA, Dan Tanner FL, Donna Tarabella OR, Andrea Torrence MO, Marjorie Troxel-Hellmer MO, Ben Waldman WA, Willis Ward NC, Julie Watson MN, Pete Webb NY, Bill Weeks IL, Edward Westreicher GA, Amy White WA, Sharon Wong MD, Julie Wood GA, Kathy Young AZ Foundation Board of Directors Lacey All WA, Gwen Baba CA, Bruce Bastian UT, Terry Bean OR, Ken Britt GA, Lee Carter NC, Dan Cochran NY, Edie Cofrin GA, Lawrie Demorest GA, Anne Fay TX, Sandra Hartness CA, Garry Kief CA, Andy Linsky CA, Hilary Rosen DC, Judy Shepard WY, Mary Snider DC

Current as of 2/1/2011

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photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty

“It’s a beautiful thing to be able to represent everything that our country stands for — freedom, uniqueness, joy, love.”

photo: Kelly Davidson for HRC / etchedonfilm.com

Three-time U.S. Figure Skating Champion Johnny Weir, in his acceptance speech at HRC’s Pacific Northwest Gala in Seattle. Weir, 26, who competed twice in the Olympic Games, was honored with HRC’s Visibility Award.

Singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick, who is openly lesbian, takes the stage at the sold-out “Her HRC” bash in Boston, which drew a crowd of 500. HRCers in 26 cities threw “Her HRC” celebrations last month, attracting huge crowds and lots of new members. Attendees of the annual events receive free HRC memberships with their ticket purchase. See www.hrc.org/herhrc.

photo: Elaine Thompson / AP

300+

Number of Jewish nonprofit workplaces nationwide to be surveyed on their LGBT employment policies, under a new partnership of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, The Morningstar Foundation and Stuart Kurlander. The goal of the 12- to 15-month project: an equality rating system for Jewish nonprofit groups and the development of education and outreach tools.

U P FRONT vigilance! Anti-LGBT leaders now control the House of Representatives, having picked up 53 more seats there in the last election, according to a Human Rights Campaign analysis. As a result, anti-LGBT lawmakers have a solid majority of 225. In the Senate, they picked up five more seats. Additionally, anti-LGBT lawmakers in both chambers wield positions of power as House leaders and committee chairs. Many of them, unfortunately, scored “0” on HRC’s Congressional Scorecard in the 111th Congress and earlier. (See below.) In fact, new House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio (at right), who replaced Nancy Pelosi at the helm, has garnered a “0” in the last three congressional sessions on hate crimes protections, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal, the Early Treatment for HIV Act and more. Additionally, Boehner voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. “I oppose any legislation that would provide special rights for homosexuals,” Boehner said in a letter responding to an HRC member about LGBT equality. “Please be assured that I will continue to work to protect the idea of the traditional family as one of the fundamental tenets of western civilization,” he wrote another.

What’s ahead? The anti-LGBT lawmakers may try to block progress in a number of ways — by meddling with Washington, D.C.’s marriage laws, rolling back hospital visitation protections and holding up nominations of pro-equality federal judges. And, of course, they could unleash new anti-LGBT legislation. But their new clout won’t halt everything, says HRC Legislative Director Allison Herwitt. HRC and its allies will ensure that bills critical to the LGBT community are reintroduced, including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the repeal of the socalled Defense of Marriage Act. Fortunately, Congress could still push ahead with bills in the areas of anti-LGBT bullying as well as tax and benefits, including the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act.

How They Scored On LGBT Issues In the 111th Congress

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) – 0% House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) – 0% House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) – 0% Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) – 0% Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) – 0% Senate Repub. Confer. Chair Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) – 6%

WWW.HRC.ORG

winter 2011

photo: Sarah Streyle

Hospital Visitation: What You Need To Know The new rules are in! The new federal regulations for patients’ hospital visitation rights require nearly every hospital in the country to have written policies and procedures that ensure that LGBT families are not kept apart in times of crisis. Under the new rules, developed by the Obama Administration with input from the Human Rights Campaign and others, hospitals must: 1 Inform each patient of his or her right to receive visitors whom he or she designates, including a domestic partner;

It’s here! A ‘pop-up’ store for equality. In February, HRC threw open the doors of a new kind of store in Palm Springs, Calif. It will house an HRC action center and retail shop through Memorial Day.

2 Not restrict or limit visitation rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity, among other factors; and 3 Ensure that all visitors have full and equal visitation rights, consistent with a patient’s wishes.

See HRC’s Hospital Visitation Guide at www.hrc. org and click on www.hrc.org/protect-your-rights for more on advanced directives and other documents. And keep your eye on the HRC website for more.

Like at HRC’s other action centers and stores, visitors will get information on LGBT-related legislation and more. Part of merchandise sales will go to the purchase of HIV test kits distributed by the Desert AIDS Project, the main provider of medical care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS in the desert community (www.desertaidsproject.org).

Palm Springs draws many of its wintertime visitors from Chicago and other parts of the Midwest, along with Portland, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles and Dallas. It is a popular LGBT destination, drawing tens of thousands each spring to the Dinah Shore weekend and the city’s White Party. Its Coachella music festival draws many others, too.

“So often, our stores are entry points for those people who have yet to find their political voice, where they can learn more, contact their members of Congress, even join HRC,” said Andy Linsky, a longtime HRC leader and co-chair of the HRC Foundation. “This move gives us exposure to folks who might never get involved in politics, volunteer for a political candidate or even be familiar with HRC.” Linsky, who lives in Palm Springs, spearheaded the effort, working closely with HRC Creative Director Don Kiser. The store will be at 3881/2 North Palm Canyon Drive, on a vibrant block with restaurants, art galleries and boutiques.

There’s a new best practice among employers that want to step up their commitment to equality. And it’s been gaining in popularity over the last year.

The Human Rights Campaign’s Workplace Project is developing a guide for employers on the topic, including how-tos on decisionmaking and implementation. Among those employers that have instituted grossing up are:

Previously, only a handful of employers had a “grossing up” policy in place — where they financially reimburse employees who are taxed for their domestic partner’s healthcare benefits.

Bain & Co. Inc. Boston, MA

HRC’s “pop-up” store is a temporary, campaignstyle space created to reach out to a new audience and increase support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.

Since federal law treats the value of domestic partner benefits as imputed income, employers that choose to gross up employees’ wages estimate the fair market value of their partner’s healthcare cost and pay back the employee to offset the additional tax burden. Employers do so in a lump sum or over the course of the year.

Barclays Capital New York, NY CoreLogic Westlake, TX Cisco Systems Inc. San Jose, CA Facebook Inc. Palo Alto, CA Fenwick & West LLP Mountain View, CA Google Inc. Mountain View, CA Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group Inc. San Francisco, CA

“The best thing we can do to be extraordinary is to be ordinary… to live, love and learn.” Daniel Hernandez, the intern of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., widely credited with saving his boss’ life with his medical skills, speaking during a visit to HRC a day before the State of the Union Address, where he was a guest of the First Lady. The openly gay Hernandez, 20, a political science major at the University of Arizona, was five days into his internship when the Tucson shooting occurred. Giffords is an HRC ally.

Talking to the Congregations From Jackson, Miss., to LaPorte, Ind., to Rochester, N.Y., HRC’s Religion and Faith Program is educating faith communities nationwide about issues related to gender identity. Hundreds of people — including clergy — in 40 cities have participated in HRC’s Gender Identity & Our Faith Communities workshops. They cover everything from personal experiences, religious and cultural analysis, and diverse faith journeys recorded in the essays of a dozen nationally recognized transgender and allied leaders. The workshops are led by transgender educators (themselves clergy or people of faith).

The 2011 Clergy Call for Justice and Equality is May 22-24, 2011!

This is the LGBT movement’s only clergy-based conference and national lobby day. We need religious leaders — like your local pastor, deacon or rabbi — to participate. Help us spread the word. See www.hrc.org/ClergyCall.

Morrison & Foerster LLP San Francisco, CA WWW.HRC.ORG

winter 2011

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.; HRC President Joe Solmonese and then-Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Securing Repeal of ‘don’t ask, Don’t Tell’

It was 17 years in the making — and it came down to an intense battle of strategy and wills in the final weeks of 2010. Looming overhead was the fact that new, anti-gay leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives would be in control and any hopes of moving repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law would be near to impossible to achieve for years. Up and down, up and down. Throughout much of December, the future of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was unknown. Congress was caught up with passing legislation to keep the government funded, dealing with the possible expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts, and securing a nuclear arms reduction treaty. Lawmakers were trying to wrap up the session for the holiday. Opponents of repeal — including Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain — were quietly urging the White House to drop the repeal efforts in exchange for their support of the arms reduction treaty, a priority of the president’s. In fact, repeal was pronounced dead by many on Capitol Hill, especially after the failed vote in the Senate on Dec. 9 to proceed to debate on the National Defense Authorization Act, to which “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal was attached. The legislative time clock kept running shorter and shorter. 8

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photo: Alex Brandon / AP

An Epic Battle

photos: Alex Wong/Getty, Chip Somodevilla/Getty

But Human Rights Campaign Legislative Director Allison Herwitt and key allies on the Hill had an idea. Why not try a different route: a stand-alone bill, distinct from the defense bill. Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Ct., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced the stand-alone repeal bill at a news conference Dec. 9 and Herwitt raised the idea, at a gathering later that evening, with then-Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and members of his staff. The key to success? Convince the House to vote on the stand-alone bill first and send it over to the Senate as a “privileged” bill, thus eliminating critically challenging procedural votes. Clearly, it was no easy task as the House, in May, had already voted on the Murphy

Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal bill. And as planned, it went to the Senate as a “privileged” bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, with the leadership of Lieberman and Collins, then passed the stand-alone repeal bill, by a 65 to 31 vote. Eight Republicans joined 57 Democrats to end the discriminatory law. Herwitt, with her team of lobbyists, had been largely driving HRC’s legislative strategy, and this was one last maneuver. For more than a year, Herwitt had worked closely with Murphy, a veteran of the Iraq War; Hoyer; Sens. Lieberman; Collins; Carl Levin, D-Mich.; Mark Udall, D-Colo.; Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; and Reid and their staffs, charting strategy through both chambers, working with lawmakers and

make the difference,” Solmonese said. “It came down to the often unglamorous work of moving six senators to vote the right way.” HRC’s goal, across the organization, was “getting it done, and never losing sight of the end goal — and it was respectful, more carrot than stick,” he said. Smith agreed. “HRC was singularly responsible for the field effort that resulted in getting the key Committee votes,” he said. HRC succeeded in its full-court press on Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson in Nebraska, Robert Byrd in West Virginia, and others. HRC organizers worked hard to identify and activate supporters to contact their lawmakers on repeal, even going to such lengths as getting

the path to repealing One of the Most important Pieces of Civil Rights Legislation in our time By Janice Hughes

Then-Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.; then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt.; and Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee

HRC President Joe Solmonese, HRC Spokesman Eric Alva and then-Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa.

Amendment. Hoyer understood that the fate of repeal was in the House leadership’s hands. He promptly got on the phone with other Hill leaders, including Senate Republicans, to put in motion the process of getting the House to take one more vote. Hoyer also called HRC President Joe Solmonese who then called senators — Democratic and Republican alike — to get their commitment to move once the House passed the stand-alone repeal bill. Lieberman and Collins pushed to garner more support in the Senate for the stand-alone bill.

their staff on both sides of the aisle. Meanwhile, Solmonese, HRC Vice President of Programs David Smith and Herwitt had vigorously worked with top White House officials and other major players in Washington, urging them to commit to move forward. It was a matter of “putting all of the right pieces in place,” Solmonese said.

former talkshow host Phil Donahue to call Byrd’s staff. Meanwhile, people close to Nelson said it was the best campaign on the ground their office had ever seen.

More calls and e-mails were made across Washington. Then, on Dec. 15, Hoyer, then-Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., and then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., successfully charted the House to once again overwhelmingly approve a “Don’t

HRC moved aggressively ahead on the ground — starting in early 2010 and going into the final weeks of December. HRC deployed organizers to six states, homes of key senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee, recruiting and mobilizing veterans, in particular, to speak out. “The HRC field staff carried out the considerable strong-arming of senators through countless letter-writing, calling members and grassroots organizing in the six states that would

Of course, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal wasn’t the only game in town over 2010: Early that year, healthcare reform was consuming nearly every ounce of oxygen that Congress had — both in Washington and back home in their district offices. But HRC kept on. It sent organizers to military air shows, church services, suburban malls, seafood festivals. HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse worked furiously, leading efforts to ensure that Americans’ voices, especially those of military veterans, were being heard. continued on page 10

WWW.HRC.ORG

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What’s crucial to note, says HRC’s Smith, is that the gears to repeal started rolling intensively in November 2009. That’s when Solmonese, along with Smith, met with Jim Messina, one of President Obama’s deputy chiefs of staff, in his White House office. Solmonese stressed to Messina that HRC was ready to mount a massive campaign to get “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repealed in 2010. It was after this meeting that things began to move, said Smith.

Already, a confluence of events was happening. On Capitol Hill, Murphy had taken over as lead sponsor of the repeal bill, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act. Advocacy groups were keeping the topic in the public eye. Earlier in 2009, HRC had launched a “Voices of Honor” Tour, in partnership with Servicemembers United, to help straight, lesbian, gay and bisexual military veterans speak out for repeal. After four months and 18 stops, it helped bring on board 30 new congressional co-sponsors. HRC worked closely on strategy with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and the Center for American Progress. On March 3, Lieberman unveiled the first-ever Senate bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” A

authorization bill that would repeal the ban — the first time in history that Congress had ever taken a vote to repeal the ban. Later that same day, the House voted 234-194 to adopt the Murphy Amendment to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the defense bill. Committee Chairman Levin, Lieberman, and Murphy, in the House, worked with the White House to set the stage for the votes. But the measure did not come to the Senate floor until September. And of course, by early summer, it was increasingly clear that the Democratic control of the House and maybe even the Senate was in jeopardy. Consequently, there “was a brand new sense of urgency in

Solmonese, Smith and Herwitt had vigorously worked with top White House officials and others, urging them to commit to move forward. It was a matter of “putting all of the right pieces in place,” Solmonese noted.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and Defense Secretary Robert Gates

Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., and a veteran during Veterans Lobby Day

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and veterans at the May 11 event on Capitol Hill

In January 2010, President Obama pledged in his State of the Union address to work with Congress and the military to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” After that, the top military officials spoke out.

few weeks later, Gates announced administrative changes to ease the rules regarding investigations and discharges under the current law.

HRC’s efforts,” Smith noted. HRC redoubled its efforts in key states to urge members and supporters to contact their senators when they were home over the August recess. Members of the Senate were reluctant to take a vote on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” before the elections.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates — who also served under President George W. Bush — and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen testified on Feb. 2 before the Senate Armed Services Committee, coming out firmly in favor of repeal. “No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens,” Mullen said. Gates announced that a Pentagon Working Group would carry out a study, to be completed by Dec. 1, 2010, on how best to implement repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

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HRC and Servicemembers United held a joint Veterans Lobby Day on May 11. Hundreds of veterans descended on Capitol Hill to lobby their members of Congress — one of the largest lobbying events ever on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Soon after, members of Congress debated the National Defense Authorization Act, the major piece of legislation that was to contain repeal language. Later in the month, a new poll by CNN/Opinion Research showed that 78 percent of Americans believed lesbians and gays should be able to serve openly in the military. Two tremendous steps toward ending the ban came on May 27: the Senate Armed Services Committee voted 16-12 to include a Lieberman, Levin amendment in the defense

In September, when the measure failed to get cloture in the Senate because of obstruction by the Republican leadership, repeal seemed dead. Frustration mounted. Activists on the left were frustrated that the pace was not fast enough. Meanwhile, the Senate’s first and second attempts to move forward on the defense authorization bill were stymied by Republican leaders looking to score political points before the mid-term elections. Fast forward to late November. There’s a big victory: The Pentagon’s Comprehensive Working Group found few hurdles to implementation.

photos: Alex Wong/Getty, Pat Ryan for HRC

A White House Meeting in November 2009…

The momentum grew. More hearings followed on the Hill; Gates, Mullen and the Pentagon Working Group co-chairs spoke in favor of repeal. But day by day, the tables seemed to turn. Reid was at odds with the Republican leadership and Collins over amendments and debate time on the defense authorization bill. The calendar kept rearing its ugly head. It was a historic “18 days in December,” said

Jonathan Capehart, a Washington Post editorial writer, who followed the wrangling closely. The victory, he noted, included the “never-say-die attitudes of activists” along with some luck, as well as steady leadership by Lieberman, Collins, Hoyer, Levin, Reid, Murphy and Pelosi. Most importantly, steadfast leadership and an all-out effort by HRC staffers, members and supporters was a huge factor — going back to November 2009 and even earlier, according to Solmonese.

“The vote was one of the most important civil rights votes of our time,” the New York Times said in an editorial the day after the Senate vote. “Perhaps a new moral momentum may help… erase the remaining traces of prejudice in public life, including Washington’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriage.” Finally, on Dec. 22, 2010, history was made. President Obama signed into law a measure that would clear the path for ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

HRC’s efforts have included… • Conducting the “Voices of Honor” tour in partnership with Servicemembers United, with stops in 50+ cities nationwide and concluding with Veterans Lobby Day, co-sponsored by over 70 other organizations, with hundreds of lesbian, gay and straight veterans lobbying members of Congress; • Reaching out to new allied communities and forging new relationships by hosting a Spanishlanguage “Voces de Honor” event and creating the first-ever, HRC Spanish-language “Take Action” web page; • Conducting the Countdown 2010 Grassroots Campaign in partnership with Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, to prompt supporters to contact their senators through in-district meetings and written communications; • Sending 19 million e-mails to members and supporters nationwide to take action on DADT repeal, generating over 625,000 e-mails urging repeal to members of Congress;

• Conducting polling in key districts to better understand public opinion and educate decision makers; • Placing print and online ads in national and local publications, including full-page ads in Politico, the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Ohio), the Boston Herald (Mass.), the Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Va.), and the Indianapolis Star (Ind.) and ads in 20 major LGBT outlets calling on key senators to put the security of our nation and our troops first; • Holding regular strategy meetings with coalition partners; • Recruiting and mobilizing 20,000 veterans to speak out, holding public events and blanketing local media with pro-repeal messages to raise the issue’s profile; • Calling on the Pentagon to release the report on how to integrate gays and lesbians into the military earlier than the December 1 deadline; and

• Launching two campaigns in late fall, prompting more than 8,000 reported telephone calls to U.S. Senate offices and 37,000 e-mails to Senate offices. As part of its nationwide “Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’” campaign, HRC put extra emphasis on six priority states whose U.S. senators were identified as key votes on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee: Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Virginia and West Virginia. Four of those six senators voted to repeal the law. After repeal successfully passed in the committee, HRC placed emphasis on 11 additional states whose senators were identified as key votes: Alaska, Arkansas, Illinois, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and West Virginia. HRC placed 27 staff on the ground in key states. For a full list of HRC’s efforts on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal, see www.hrc.org/repealdadt.

photos: Mary Schilpp for HRC

• Gathering nearly 50,000 handwritten, prorepeal communications to Congress;

• Conducting more than 1,000 grassroots lobby visits, both in Washington, D.C., and in districts;

WWW.HRC.ORG

winter 2011

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Unwavering, Down to the Wire Susan Collins: A Key Leader on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” The effort to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law came down to the very final days of the Senate’s session late last year. And when the dust settled, it was clear that the exceptional leadership of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was crucial to securing the historic measure — beginning with her vote in favor of repeal in May in the Senate Armed Services Committee.

photo: Brendan Smialowski / Getty

Collins’ leading role was no surprise, though. The senator — known for being able to deftly negotiate across party lines — is a staunch ally. Years ago, she opposed the anti-gay Federal Marriage Amendment. She is also the lead Republican sponsor of two important bills, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act. In the new Congress, Collins — the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee — intends to work closely with its chairman, Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., another champion in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” battle, on key LGBT issues, she told Equality in an interview recently. That includes working to move the domestic partnership measure, which would provide benefits to LGBT federal employees and their families, out of committee and bringing it to the Senate floor for a vote. Excerpts of Equality’s interview follow. Senator, what moment for you stands out the most about the repeal effort? As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I was committed to passing a Defense Authorization bill that included a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Senator Joe Lieberman and I felt we were making progress toward a deal with the majority leader that would have allowed Republican amendments and paved a successful path toward the 60 votes needed to begin debate. It was very frustrating when the majority leader scheduled a vote knowing it would fail. continued on page 29

WWW.HRC.ORG

winter 2011

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 five 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.

Around here, being yourself is a job requirement. To learn more, visit us online at www.google.com/diversity 14

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photo: Miranda Penn Turin / Getty photo: Randy Holmes / Getty, Danny Feld / Getty, Richard Cartwright / Getty

luke macfarlane On “brothers & sisters,” His First Hollywood Party and Coming Out Every Single Day Luke MacFarlane may be best known for his role as Scotty on the ABC’s hit television series, “Brothers and Sisters,” where his husband, Kevin, is a member of the complicated, but certainly lovable, Walker family. “Brothers and Sisters” was the first show on American network TV to air a same-sex marriage ceremony. And it goes on to talk about the everyday issues of our lives — like gay parenting, who teaches the child how to bait a hook, who leads on the tango and so much more. And it stars Sally Field! MacFarlane, 31, made his feature film debut in Bill Condon’s film, Kinsey, opposite Liam Neeson and Laura Linney, and also starred in Robert Altman’s series about American politics, Tanner on Tanner, opposite Cynthia Nixon. The Julliard graduate — who has a twin sister — hails from London, Ontario, and lives in Los Angeles. MacFarlane received the Visibility Award at HRC’s most recent Chicago Gala.

Excerpts of his HRC address follow. “During my first week in L.A., I was invited to my first Hollywood party. It was a sprawling contemporary home, high in the Hollywood Hills. And I knew almost no one there, and I wandered around large rooms a bit lost, with a drink in my hand, looking for someone to talk to. Eventually, a pretty blonde casting assistant recognized me from an audition and called me over and introduced me to a group of her friends. We talked for a bit, and she asked how I was adjusting to life in Los Angeles — how my driving skills were, and the superiority of Los Angeles sushi over New York sushi. “But then she said to me, ‘I heard a rumor, Luke, I heard you were gay. Are you gay?’ I think my heart skipped a beat, and I impulsively responded, ‘No, I’m not gay.’ I felt sick to my stomach. And somehow, I agreed to have a date with her. This might not seem like a shocking lie, coming from the lips of a newly arrived actor in Hollywood. Lord knows, there is a rich legacy of gay male actors going on dates with women. But the truth was, up until that point, I believed I was comfortable and secure in my sexuality. I had been living as an openly gay person in New York for years. Why did I feel like I had to say, ‘I’m straight,’ in that moment? Coming out for me had been relatively painless. When I sat down with my continued on page 31

MacFarlane on “Brothers and Sisters,” with his TV husband, Kevin (Matthew Rhys), and mother-in-law, Sarah (Sally Field).

WWW.HRC.ORG

winter 2011

which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm located in the US.

Ernst & Young refers to a global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of

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 their allies — creating an environment where all of us can bring our 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

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FIGHTING THEM OFF AT EVERY TURN readying for a RIse of Anti-LGBT Legislation in Statehouses across the country

fter sweeping electoral changes across the country

this past November, state legisla-

“This year, Americans will likely see an uptick in bills with a negative impact on the LGBT community,” said Sarah Warbelow, the Human Rights Campaign’s state legislative director. “But we will continue to fight them off at every turn.”

tures are back in session and ready to begin crafting new laws. While there were new fair-minded governors elected in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, 21 legislative chambers shifted to anti-equality control.

HRC is working to engage with as many states as possible. However, it has set Maryland, New Hampshire and New York as top priorities. In 2010, HRC and others were able to hold off anti-LGBT legislation at the state level, including helping to stave off anti-marriage equality amendments to state constitutions in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, noted Warbelow, author of Equality from State to State, HRC’s newly released yearly report on state-level activity.

EQUALITY AT RISK “DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE” CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND/OR REVERSAL OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY LAWS INDIANA, IOWA, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA NEGATIVE ADOPTION-RELATED MEASURES FLORIDA, KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EQUALITY MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILLS MARYLAND, NEW YORK AND RHODE ISLAND CIVIL UNION BILLS COLORADO, DELAWARE AND HAWAII GENDER-IDENTITY BILLS MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW YORK COMPREHENSIVE NON-DISCRIMINATION BILL UTAH MARRIAGE LEGISLATION MEASURES IN 2012/2013 MAINE, OREGON AND WASHINGTON COMPREHENSIVE, ANTI-BULLYING LEGISLATION TEXAS

See www.hrc.org/statetostate for more.

WWW.HRC.ORG

winter 2011

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marriage on the rocks in the granite state?

photo: Win McNamee / Getty

By Karin Quimby

ll eyes are on the Granite State. Proequality leaders in the New Hampshire legislature were swept out of office last November on a tide of economic fear, and the social conservatives who replaced them have vowed to repeal marriage equality, which is just a year old. If they are successful, it would be the first time a legislature will have been able to reverse marriage equality. While the New Hampshire Republican leadership recently announced that repealing marriage equality is not an “immediate priority,” it remains on their agenda. There is immense pressure by right-wing members of the legislature and anti-gay groups to repeal the marriage equality law. “The Human Rights Campaign is not sitting by, waiting for the freedom to marry to be stripped away this year or next,” said Marty Rouse, HRC’s national field director. Partnering with the statewide group, New Hampshire Freedom to Marry, HRC has built a robust campaign on the ground, that includes 8 full-time HRC staff, to remind Republican and Democratic legislators that taking away rights is not the New Hampshire way. “While over 1,000 committed gay and lesbian couples have married this past year, the sky has

not fallen in New Hampshire,” said Rouse. “The dire predictions hollered from the anti-gay right haven’t materialized, of course.” Marriage equality has provided not only important protections for families but it is good for business, allowing employers to attract the very best employees in a state that doesn’t discriminate, he noted. For several years, HRC has invested widely in the advancement of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in the state, providing field and communications expertise and mobilizing HRC members and supporters to contact their legislators and the governor. HRC was there in 2006 to help elect fair-minded legislators, in 2008 to pass civil unions and in 2009 to pass marriage equality. With the LGBT community’s hard-won rights on the line, HRC is already mounting another vigorous campaign with local organizations. “New Hampshire Freedom to Marry enjoys a very productive partnership with HRC that will result in retaining marriage equality here,” said Mo Buckley, the Concord-based organization’s executive director. But our opponents are not resting, either. The so-called National Organization for Marriage and the Family Research Council will be invest-

ing significantly in the fight. “We are poised to start taking back territory where [marriage equality] was wrongly enacted in places like New Hampshire and Iowa. That will be the next battleground,” said NOM President Brian Brown. NOM claims it spent $1 million on TV ads targeting the re-election of Democratic Gov. John Lynch, who signed the equal marriage bill into law in 2009. FRC also invested in the last elections to put more anti-LGBT legislators in the statehouse, Tom McClusky, an FRC official, told the Concord Monitor in January. “We don’t want to see that go to waste.” “Both groups want a New Hampshire win badly,” said Kevin Nix, director of NOM Exposed, a joint project between HRC and the Courage Campaign that exposes the rhetoric and ethics of NOM, the nation’s leading anti-gay organization. With the 2012 presidential primary season already beckoning potential candidates to this first-in-the-nation primary state, there are national implications to this campaign, says Rouse. “New Hampshire may be a small state, but the stakes are huge. We’re ready to make history here.” Quimby is an HRC regional field director overseeing HRC’s work in the Granite State.

WWW.HRC.ORG

winter 2011

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priscilla! It’s just a simple story, really — about a parent-and-child reunion. And love. And acceptance. And oh yeah, there’s lots of men in drag, 3-foothigh wigs, imported glitter, ostrich feathers, a big ol’ school bus, and gobs of top-tier talent and grandeur. It’s Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Musical, making its debut in the United States. The show, opening on Broadway in the spring, is coming off of critically acclaimed runs in London and Toronto. Bette Midler is a producer. Human Rights Campaign member, activist and philanthropist Paul Boskind is another. The show, full of ’80s music, is adapted from the Academy Award-winning film. Equality magazine caught up with Nick Adams (at right), best known for his roles on Broadway in La Cage Aux Folles and A Chorus Line, about playing Felicia, one of a trio of friends rolling through the Australian outback, looking for love and redemption. After seeing Priscilla, one reviewer said, “It’s impossible to come away from the show without your prejudices being challenged.” I completely agree. You see three people go through quite a journey and face a lot of challenges along the way. The audience is instantly on board with us, and they absolutely question stereotypes and prejudices when they begin to really care for these characters. It’s really humbling to see

By Janice Hughes

the audiences respond with such joy to this story … It speaks not only to the gay community, but to anyone who has ever searched for love and acceptance. Is the show getting support from the drag community? We have been welcomed with open arms by the drag community in Toronto. They have shown us nothing but support and encouragement. They went as far as to arrive at the show in a giant Priscilla bus, dressed in Priscilla-inspired costumes. I understand your dad deserves some thanks. It was at my father’s suggestion that I did a community theater production of La Cage Aux Folles when I was fifteen. We didn’t anticipate at the time that I’d be doing that show on Broadway eleven years later. There are 261 costumes changes in the show. How many for you? Twenty costume changes … The secret is a team of amazing dressers. At times, I have nine people hidden in the bus getting me out of something and into another. The show happening backstage is just as exciting. What’s the best part about Priscilla? The letters I’ve received from people that tell me how this show has inspired them to no longer live in fear, to be open with themselves and with others about who they are.

backstage Priscilla’s beauty secrets 150: Pairs of false eyelashes used each month (24 per performance)

2 lbs: Amount of imported glitter used per month (handmade in Australia)

3.5 inches: Length of the longest pair of eye lashes

72: Number of wigs per show

175: Tubes of lipsticks per month 75: Number of pots of eye shade per month

photo: Joan Marcus

495: Number of costumes (18 design houses in 4 countries) 150: Pairs of shoes per show

3 ft.: Height of highest wig in show 4: Hairdressers required per show to maintain and prep wigs 200: Number of hats and head dresses 11 seconds: Fastest makeup change in the show

To purchase tickets for Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Musical, e-mail Priscilla@martianentertainment.com for a special promo code benefiting HRC. WWW.HRC.ORG

winter 2011

early intervention HRC’s ‘Welcoming Schools’ Gets at the Root of Bullying By Aimee Gelnaw

Every day, children in schools across the United States are ridiculed and humiliated because they have lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents. Ellen Kahn hears the stories all too often. “They’re the daily news of the job,” says Kahn, the director of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Family Project. She’ll never forget hearing about one boy, a second grader in Lafayette, La. The 7-year-old was made to come to school early and write over and over, “I will not say ‘bad words’ in school again.”

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Why? While waiting for recess one day, a classmate asked about his mother and father. He responded that his mother is gay. “Gay is when a girl likes another girl,” he said. A teacher overheard the remark, scolded him, told him “gay” was a bad word and sent him to the principal’s office. “What must it be like for a child to be told that a word that accurately describes the person closest to them is bad and forbidden in school?” said Kahn. It is stories like these, in fact, that fuel the work of a unique HRC initiative for children and the elementary schools that serve them.

While LGBT parenting has proliferated across the United States, the issues that strike fear into the hearts of LGBT parents have not grown any less prevalent. One of the worst things any parent can hear is that their child is being picked on or bullied at school. And other problems emerge when these families are ignored as part of the fabric of the community. When children of LGBT parents feel invisible in their school community, their well-being and potential for success in school is undermined, experts say. Five years ago, the HRC Foundation hired Kahn, a social worker with several years of experience in LGBT parent organizing and support, to head its Family Project. As she thought about the direction of the project, Kahn took a telephone call from a distraught mom in Washington state. The woman, a lesbian, and her family had just transferred from one school to another within the state. But while she had felt safe and welcome in her previous school, she had promptly been rejected from appearing on a family panel at the new school because of her “kind of family.” With that call, Kahn says, she understood more clearly what kind of family advocacy was needed. And as a lesbian parent of young children, Kahn was interested in creating tools and resources that could help schools support students with LGBT parents starting in the earliest grades. The Family Project began doing an informal audit of anti-bullying and anti-bias curricula and programs used in elementary schools. It found that the vast majority did not address LGBT issues at all, and those that did had very little content.

To better understand how HRC could fill this gap, Kahn convened a meeting at HRC with educators and leaders in safe-schools work to share ideas about an elementary-school solution. Among the attendees was a parent from Boston who had been working with a group of other parents and educators on a “Welcoming Schools” guide, still a work in progress. It was designed to do two things: to meet the needs of children in kindergarten to fifth grade (K–5) whose family structures were not being represented or included in the schools, and to help educators who were asking for tools to address bias-based name-calling and bullying. It also offered a wide range of resources for school administrators and educators to support students who don’t conform to gender norms. Kahn started to work closely with the “Welcoming Schools” leaders and set up a national advisory council. Later, HRC assumed stewardship of the initiative for development, piloting, further research and distribution. The initiative, fine-tuned over the last few years, offers tools, lessons and resources on family diversity and gender stereotyping as well as bullying and name-calling. It also provides resources to parents and guardians as well as educators and administrators for the K–5 grades. It has now been piloted and evaluated in 12 schools across five districts in California, Massachusetts and Minnesota. Upon completion, Kahn and her team will distribute the “Welcoming Schools” tools further. continued on p. 31

Some key outcomes from the pilot evaluation, based on pre- and post-pilot surveys of administrators, found:

• A positive improvement in school diversity climate. Almost 60 percent of educators indicated their school’s climate around diversity was different in May than it was in the prior September • Reduction in teachers’ concerns about their own lack of training or resources, from 54 percent to 30 percent • Reduction in teachers’ fears of parental dissatisfaction, from 52 percent to 28 percent • Positive difference in believing that children of every age could benefit from discussing gender roles and expression and families with LGBT parents • Growth in positive intentions to address topics of diversity, including families with LGBT parents and gender roles/expression in their classrooms and schools

Who’s Interested in ‘Welcoming Schools?’ 11.1

Since HRC put the introduction to

who’s interested percentage

“Welcoming Schools” online last

Parent

34.2

Classroom Teacher

20.8

year, more than 2,000 people have

School Counselor

13.5

Student

11.1

downloaded the resource guide.

School Administrator

7.7

Other

4.1

School Social Worker

3.3

School Principal

2.0

The table (at right) reflects the breakdown by percentage. See www.welcomingschools.org for more.

School Psychologist

1.2

Professor

1.1

School Librarian

1.0

20.8

3.3 1.2 2.0 1.0

4.1 13.5

7.7 1.1

WWW.HRC.ORG

34.2

winter 2011

Take pride in who you are...

...and where you are going.

You’ve got a vision, and there’s nothing that’s going to stop you. With your tenacity and our technology, you can accomplish anything. At Microsoft, we believe people are free to be themselves, and be amazingly successful at it. We applaud the efforts of the Human Rights Campaign to achieve equality around the globe.

www.microsoft.com/citizenship Lead more 24

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photo: Natacha Pisarenko

Argentina, Mexico City & counting… Why & How Latin America Is Moving Ahead

arriage equality is now a reality in parts of Latin America — Argentina and Mexico City, the largest city in the region — thanks to the efforts of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups there. Their gains were made in what seems to be the unlikeliest of places: Latin America is rife with homophobia, Roman Catholic bishops and a very full closet. A new collection of writings about LGBT politics in the region helps explain how progress was possible … and why so many challenges still remain. It also gives what may be some valuable lessons to LGBT groups in the United States. “The Politics of Sexuality in Latin America: A Reader on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights,” the first-ever Englishlanguage reader on LGBT politics in Latin America, comes none too soon. The book is a broad mix — an interview with LGBT activist Mariela Castro (the daughter of

By Janice Hughes

Cuba’s current president), a piece on gay and lesbian electoral activism in Brazil and Mexico, another on Internet organizing, and lots more. Contributing writers include scholars, activists, analysts, politicians, even a judge.

Equality: Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgen-

The book starts out with a fascinating look at the comparative politics of sexuality across Latin America — from organized religion (and its ambiguity) to political allies (where’s the Left?) to the role of LGBT youth (nearly all of them at home and in the closet). It was written by the book’s editors, Javier Corrales, an associate professor of political science at Amherst College, and Mario Pecheny, a professor of political science at the University of Buenos Aires.

Corrales: We tend to have two images of

Equality magazine caught up with Corrales — a member of HRC’s monthly giving Partners program — after he spoke at the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think tank, upon the book’s release. Excerpts of our interview follow.

der groups in Latin America have made remarkable political strides recently — even though the region, as you describe it, is marked by “profound homophobia.”

Latin America, neither of which is fully accurate anymore. One is the idea that the region is inflexibly ultra-conservative. This is less true today. Almost every Spanish-speaking country in the region and Brazil has introduced some piece of legislation that advances LGBT rights or protects LGBT citizens from some form of discrimination. And this progress of the last decade culminated earlier this year when Argentina and Mexico City approved gay marriage and adoptions. These moves extended gay rights to almost 49 million people. This is huge. However, the image that the region is a gay paradise, often seen in gay travel magazines, is also inaccurate. There are countries and regions where the advances are

WWW.HRC.ORG

winter 2011

SPORT DOESN’T CARE if you’re

gay straight lesbian bisexual male female transgender married a virgin beautiful ugly boring rich last season’s MVP a mother a father a teenager mean sweeter than cotton candy autistic unranked #1 in the world the President poor old an outcast popular from Moldova endorsed by a major sports retailer unemployed blind black white blue or any other color of the rainbow. It only cares about how good you are. Which is what matters to us, both in the office and on the playing field. The more diverse our talent, the better we will be. It’s why we support an open workplace for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, and why we support the Human Rights Campaign.

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very timid, if any, and where levels of homophobia and hate crimes are high relative to other democracies. Equality: Who knew that as far back as 1821, Brazil created laws that decriminalized homosexuality … followed in the 1880s by four other Latin American countries? And yet, Mexico City shut down every gay bar in 1959, Cuba incarcerated gay people in the mid-1960s and so on. Was there a “Stonewall” moment in Latin America? Corrales: In the 1970s, when the time would

have been right for a Latin Stonewall to happen, most social movements were perhaps concerned with other, arguably more urgent matters — fighting repression by autocratic governments or fighting poverty. However, one could argue that most countries have had an LGBT pride march at some point in the 1990s. These marches start out small, but they are very visible and generate enormous public debate, often for the first time ever in that particular country. One could argue that these gay marches, the initial ones, are proxy Stonewalls. Or some might argue that the onslaught of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, which affected the region profoundly and led to some of the most visible forms of political activism by LGBT or LGBT-friendly groups, constituted the region’s real Stonewalls.

photo: Samuel Masinter for HRC

Equality: Argentina permits both marriage

equality and same-sex adoptions. One reason it was able to do so, you say, is due to separation of church and state — unlike Mexico and Colombia, where there are strong links between the ruling party and the ultra-conservative Opus Dei, or unlike the connections between the Republican Party and far-right evangelical groups in the United States. Can you talk about that? Corrales: Most importantly, there is separation

of state and party. This latter point is what distinguishes Argentina from so many other countries in Western democracies, where there usually is

a party or a set of parties with strong links with a church or church group. In Latin America, some of these church–party links date back to the 19th century, such as the Conservative parties in Colombia and Uruguay. Other links date back to the mid-20th century, such as the Christian Democrats in Chile, Venezuela or Costa Rica. In Central America and the Caribbean, parties have developed strong links with evangelical groups, as has the Republican Party in the United States. Parties that have strong links with churches, or which try to draw support from church groups, tend to be unwilling to challenge the churches on the issue of LGBT rights. Argentina is relatively exceptional for Latin America in that its largest parties have had a long tradition of secularism. Equality: Marriage equality in Argentina

was also made possible by President Cristina Fernandez’s decision to take the risk of backing the bill. And while there may be different reasons why she did so, she did it. A historic and gutsy move. Will we see more of that? Corrales: I hope we do, but I’m not too opti-

mistic about it. The reason is that the churches’ officialdom, in most countries now, has decided to fight LGBT marriage and adoption rights with renewed vigor, and it’s not clear to me that there will be many presidents out there willing to take on the churches on this issue. The political gain, in terms of votes gained, seem miniscule relative to the immensity of the fight with the churches. Perhaps I’m wrong, but even the most left-wing presidents in the region have ultimately been hesitant on this topic, bowing to religious pressure.

cially in the middle and upper classes, men and women are socially allowed to stay in the closet — double lives are tolerated by peers, as long as a minimum degree of discretion is observed. Many members of the professional class stay in the closet, depriving LBGT movements of both visible members and potential leaders. The more celebrities and professionals come out in any given society, the more a country can become used to the idea that being LBGT is neither freaky nor dysfunctional. Equality: Are young people getting involved in

pushing for change? Corrales: LGBT movements in Latin America,

as everywhere, are populated by many young people. Are the region’s LGBT movements attracting as many young people as one would expect, given levels of economic development, schooling and urbanization? No. One reason is that many young folks in Latin America, those in the 18–24 age group, still live in their original households …. Having such a large percentage of young people living at home, sometimes as high as 90 percent, is a problem because homophobia begins at home in all societies. And Latin America is no exception.

Equality: In your book, you underscore how

the closet remains a very comfortable place to be in Latin America, particularly for many in the upper-income brackets — much more so than in the United States. Corrales: This is a serious political problem.

Many studies show that in Latin America, espe-

Author and professor Javier Corrales, an HRC member

“This is a serious political problem. Many studies show that in Latin America, especially in the middle and upper classes, men and women are socially allowed to stay in the closet — double lives are tolerated by peers, as long as a minimum degree of discretion is observed.” WWW.HRC.ORG

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hat’sYourLegac

The HRC Equality Circle was established to recognize individuals who have created

gifts to the Human Rights Campaign or the Human Rights Campaign Foundation through their estate planning. By making a gift in this way, members demonstrate their long-term commitment to the mission of the Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The gifts made by HRC Equality Circle members enable the Human Rights

Campaign to plan for the long-term — the programs, activities, outreach and general operations that work to achieve and protect equal rights for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

WHAT’S YOUR

LEGACY? Please join the hundreds of other Equality Circle members who want to establish their legacy of ensuring the future of LGBT equality.

• Charitable remainder trusts • Retained life estate

www.hrc.org/estateplanning

EQUALITY CIRCLE ENS U RING THE F U T U RE f o r LG B T E Q U ALIT Y

EQUALITY

• Simple bequest in a will • Life insurance

for more information, visit

Some of the ways to give as a member of the HRC Equality Circle include:

winter 2011

• 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

“I have always believed that the Republican Party must be an inclusive, big-tent party that will always stand for fairness over discrimination, equality over bigotry, and freedom over fear.”

photo: Alex Brandon / AP

con’t from p.13 Senator Lieberman is the true champion. He and I had no intention of giving up, and it was there, on the Senate floor, that we decided we would introduce a standalone bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” We drafted the bill that afternoon and introduced it. That bill provided the pathway to a vote on repeal the next week. What prompted you to be so engaged on this issue? I attended many hearings and heard testimony from many officials, including the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, our nation’s highest military officer, who agreed that Congress should repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” with adequate time given for careful preparation, education and training. My decision to lead the effort to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” along with Senator Lieberman, was based not only on their strong recommendations, but also on the powerful testimony I heard from service members who served honorably but were discharged simply because they are gay. Their experiences were deeply troubling to me. I also had conversations with a retired Navy rear admiral in my state of Maine and the retired admiral and former president of Bath Iron Works, who both gave me compelling first-hand knowledge that dismissing brave, dedicated and skilled service men and women because they are gay is simply wrong. I was also influenced by the experience of our allies. At least 35 nations, including our closest allies, welcome the military service of all qualified persons regardless of sexual orientation, and I believe it was time for the United States to do the same. The bottom line is we, too, should welcome the service of any qualified individual who is willing and capable of serving our country.

Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Mark Udall, D-Colo.; Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.; and Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” required bipartisan support. In the Senate, 8 Republicans voted with 47 Democrats in favor of the repeal bill. Does it signal growing support for LGBT civil and human rights among Republicans? “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was implemented under President Clinton in 1993 because there wasn’t enough support on either side of the aisle at that time to allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly. But society has changed a great deal in 17 years. During the debate, I had many personal conversations with my Republican colleagues and, in the end, seven of them joined us in voting to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

informed and bipartisan advocacy. By motivating those who cared so deeply about this issue, HRC was able to clearly show why repeal was so important. This passion and determination helped elected representatives see that it was time to end this outdated policy.

I have always believed that the Republican Party must be an inclusive, big-tent party that will always stand for fairness over discrimination, equality over bigotry and freedom over fear.

You’re the lead Republican sponsor of two key legislative priorities for our community. Why? I believe that all people deserve full protection under the law against discrimination. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act are not solely LGBT issues; they are issues of fundamental fairness. More important, they are American issues. ENDA would expand federal employment discrimination protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity. DPBO would provide certain benefits to domestic partners of federal employees.

What role do you believe advocates and advocacy groups played in the campaign? HRC, particularly President Joe Solmonese, played a critical role in the repeal effort. It has always had a solid reputation for its thoughtful,

No organization, including the federal government, can succeed without the most talented, energetic and committed workforce possible. And no one should be prevented from making a living based solely on who they are.

WWW.HRC.ORG

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con’t from page 23 What sets “Welcoming Schools” apart from other initiatives? It’s unique in that it gives schools a comprehensive, “whole school” approach to improving school climate for all students and families, noted Kahn. “While there is an emphasis on LGBT inclusion, it also addresses diversity and bias very broadly and doesn’t leave anyone or any community out of the conversation,” she says. It looks at all types of family diversity — from single-parent families, families who recently came to the United States from other countries, families with different cultural and religious traditions, blended families, two-mom and twodad families, and all others — with the goal of ensuring that all students see themselves and their families reflected and represented within the school community, she said.

con’t from page 15 oldest buddies and told them I was gay, they hugged me and they said. ‘This doesn’t change anything.’ When I choked out the words, ‘I’m gay,’ to my mom and dad, the first thing they said was ‘We love you.’ And then my mother told me that she still expected grandkids from me! [Laughter.]

photo: Ann Johansson / Corbis

“Any difficulties I had in coming out were internal. My struggles were mostly within myself. The immediate world around me was incredibly supportive; it couldn’t have been more supportive. I was raised and educated in a place where I felt safe and secure, I was never bullied, and my family encouraged me to self investigation. What was shocking about that lie that I told that night in Hollywood Hills was how easily I could take all the steps I had made toward making the best and open version of myself back. Because in that moment, in a few words, I slipped back into the closet.

Similarly, Welcoming Schools’ anti-bullying component covers all types of bias, including race and ethnicity, learning ability, size, family structure and anti-LGBT bias. While it improves the experience of students with LGBT parents and young children who may have an emerging LGBT identity, it goes much further. “That’s why so many educators and administrators are responding positively and finding value in many aspects of the program,” Kahn said. “One of the key features of Welcoming Schools that makes it tremendously valuable as a resource is flexibility,” says Christopher McGinley, superintendent of the Lower Merion School District in Ardmore, Penn. “Our community is diverse in language, race, culture and family identity. Welcoming Schools give us a framework to having meaningful discussions with our teachers and staff members.” Consequently, teachers and staff members can focus more on “supporting children for who

they are as we help them to grow and learn,” McGinley noted. “Learning more about identity and family diversity has helped us to more effectively engage families and support children.” One important strength is the staff development component, the pilot data shows. In each pilot site, the educators and support professionals in the schools felt much more prepared to answer questions, to intervene effectively and to “model” inclusion after our training sessions. “If the adults in the school community don’t have the skills, the language, the tools to address bias and create ‘teachable moments’ with their students, nothing will change,” noted Kahn. “By engaging everyone — the principal, the cafeteria staff, the teachers and the librarians — the overall climate of the school begins to shift.” Gelnaw, an early childhood educator, is a member of HRC’s Welcoming Schools National Advisory Council.

few years, I have been taking class in fine woodworking… most of my classmates are retired contractors, firemen and engineers, and most of them have never met an actor before. Each class starts with an introduction. And I say, ‘My name is Luke MacFarlane and I’m an actor.’ And they say, ‘Oh, would I know you from anything?’ And I say, ‘Well, right now I’m on a show called “Brothers and Sisters.”’… And they say ‘Oh, “Brothers and Sisters!”’ And then they say, ‘Well, what do you play?’ And I say, ‘I play the husband of one of the brothers.’ ‘Ooohhh’ is usually the response. Recently, one of my shop mates wandered over to me and admitted that he had seen my show because his wife watches it. And then he asked me what it was like kissing a guy. I told him I liked it. But I could see that I was starting to make him nervous, and then he asked me, ‘So are you gay in real life?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I am.’ And I swear to you that it was like coming out for the first time all over again.

“It was then that I realized how fragile my resolve was. And that if I was going to truly be gay, I was going to have to come out every single day of my life.

“I wish I could say at this point, he said, ‘Cool.’ But instead, he became uncomfortable and he told me that I was the first gay person he had ever met. For the remainder of the class, he kept his distance, and I was obviously disappointed by the way that conversation went down.

“It’s something that we do in small ways. Like asking for a room with a single bed when we’re on vacation with our partners. And it’s something that we do in large ways, like telling our commanding officers that we’re gay. For the past

“I would like to think that on some level, I helped move his acceptance of gay people just a tiny step forward. And that is all we can do.

Luke MacFarlane of “Brothers and Sisters”

WWW.HRC.ORG

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MAKING PROGRESS OVER PREJUDICE. Ensuring equality and mutual respect in our society often starts with asserting your own rights as well as your respect for the rights of others. For nearly 31 years, on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has shown tireless leadership on gay rights and gender identity issues. Recognized as the largest civil rights organization for LGBT Americans, the HRC represents a grassroots force of more than 750,000 members and supporters nationwide. We value our long standing partnership with HRC as they support our efforts in building a more sustainable energy future for all. www.shell.com

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