C-16 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE Pride Guide 2002

HRC is engaged in the political process on many levels

by Wayne Besen

Washington, D.C.-The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. The group has 450,000 members nationwide, and members in every state.

HRC is currently working on a variety of issues. For example, HRC has helped move the Employment Non-Discrimination Act through Congress. If passed, ENDA would prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. Specifically, it would bar employers from using a person's sexual ori-

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entation as the basis for employment decisions, including hiring, firing, promotion or compensation.

Recently, a Senate committee recommended that ENDA be voted on by the full Senate. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., has committed to securing a vote on this bill before the end of the session.

HRC has garnered support for ENDA through its work with the business community, with 65 companies, including 29 major corporations, having endorsed the legislation. Some of the companies that have endorsed ENDA are AT&T, Coors, Xerox, FleetBoston, Eastman Kodak, HewlettPackard, Microsoft, General Mills and Shell Oil. This was made possible because of HRC's pioneering project, WorkNet, which works for GLBT equality in the business community.

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HRC is also working with Congress to pass hate crime legislation known as the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act. This measure offers a sensible approach to help combat violent crimes. It would extend basic hate crime protections to all Americans in all communities by adding real or perceived sexual orientation to the categories covered and by removing the federally-protected activity requirement. The bill would also provide federal technical and financial assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.

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The organization also sponsors National Coming Out Day, on October 11. "Being Out Rocks"-celebrating openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender musicians is the theme for this year's event. Melissa Etheridge, Ani DiFranco, the Indigo Girls, k.d. lang, Michael Stipe and RuPaul are among the 19 openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender musicians who have lent their names to a poster heralding the 2002 theme.

The poster's tag line is, "You may feel like just a face in the crowd but coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender makes you a star!"

HRC is also about to start Youth College,

election cycle, HRC chooses 20 talented, energetic participants, ages 18 to 24, to come to Washington, D.C., for a week of interactive training on how to run a winning campaign. Nationally

recognized political professionals and HRC's expert employees conduct workshops on all aspects of campaigns, including writing a field plan, raising money and getting out the vote. During the training, groups of participants complete a hands-on simulation, implementing the workshops and running their own mock campaigns. After mastering the basic skills, participants spend two and a half months-from late August through Election Day-in regular staff positions in targeted political campaigns or ballot initiatives around the country. During the campaign, graduates are supported with stipends and housing from HRC.

As you can see, HRC is engaged in the political process on many levels. To find out more about the organization or to become a member, please visit http://www.hrc.org.

Wayne Besen is assistant communications director for the Human Rights Campaign.

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