Tag Archives: HRC

DADT: What Did The White House Decide And When Did They Decide It?

The Advocate’s Kerry Eleveld reports that the White House may have made the decision not to pursue a 2010 repeal of DADT as early as February, yet the president still pledged its repeal this year during his State Of The Union address. Early in the year, multiple sources say some administration officials counseled the president against acting on the military’s …

Read More »

Shake-Up Continues At HRC

Less than a week ago, HRC Communications Director Brad Luna was told his position “has been eliminated.” Following several days of rumors, today Luna’s deputy, Trevor Thomas, confirmed his departure as well. On Monday, I will begin my new role as a communications consultant for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), a non-partisan, non-profit, legal services and policy organization dedicated to …

Read More »

Joe Solmonese: We Are Going To Bring Down DADT This Year

Pam Spaulding reports from Saturday’s HRC gala in Raleigh. HRCs’ President Joe Solmonese delivered some news at the HRC Carolinas Gala on Saturday night. I was there reporting for the Blend as he made these emphatic statements to the members of the LGBT community and allies from North and South Carolina in attendance at the Raleigh Convention Center about what …

Read More »

Joe Solmonese Wins Fashion Award

Washington Life Magazine has named HRC executive director Joe Solomnese the “Elegant Activist” in its annual fashion awards. John Aravosis at AmericaBlog: And who says the emperor has no clothes. It would almost be funny if the Human Rights Campaign hadn’t actually cooperated with the “award” by telling the magazine who Solmonese’s favorite designers were (Ann Demeulemeester, Billy Reid, and …

Read More »

Dan Choi On HRC: I Feel So Betrayed

“When I heard Kathy Griffin was going to be a spokeswoman for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, I wondered about that. I have great respect for her as an advocate. But if [the Human Rights Campaign] thinks that having a rally at Freedom Plaza with a comedienne is the right approach, I have to wonder. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is not …

Read More »

Gilbert Baker’s Take On Yesterday

Rainbow flag creator Gilbert Baker showed Times Square what he thinks of staging a reality show episode around a critical LGBT rights issue. Click over to Wayne Anderson at World Of Wonder for more photos from today’s protest in NYC. Andy Humm at Gay City News has the story.

Read More »

The HRC Wants You To Know Their Side

Concerned about the “Lt. Dan Choi Kanye’d the HRC” story being reported on some blogs (including this one), the HRC has posted the following elaboration of their earlier comment. Singer Tom Goss kicked off the event followed by the first American wounded in the Iraq war, retired Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva. Also speaking were Ben Mishkin of Servicemembers Legal …

Read More »

Dan Choi Kanye’s Kathy Griffin & The HRC

According to some reports, Lt. Dan Choi was not scheduled to speak at the HRC press conference with Kathy Griffin at DC City Hall today. We’re hearing that he asked to appear at the podium, but was told “this is Kathy’s show.” (Or something to that effect.) Apparently, Choi took the podium anyway. Via Kerry Eleveld at the Advocate: “You’ve …

Read More »

DADT Controversy: Kathy Griffin Criticized For Calling Congressman A “Big Queen”

Gay heroine Kathy Griffin is in DC to participate in the HRC’s lobby day for the repeal of DADT. But today she’s under fire by some for her remarks to Capitol Hill’s Roll Call. Kathy Griffin might be a D-list diva, but she says House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) is royalty — of a sort. “I’m meeting with this …

Read More »

Live Video: DC’s First Gay Marriages

The first legal same-sex marriages take place this morning in our nation’s capital. HRC’s live video stream below is slated to begin broadcasting at 9:45am EST. You can send messages of congratulations to the couples at the video link. UPDATE: The three ceremonies are concluded. And I’m out of tissues.

Read More »

Clay Aiken Speaks At NC HRC Gala

Pam Spaulding recorded the below clip of pop star Clay Aiken’s speech at Saturday’s HRC gala in North Carolina. Not bad, Clay. Visit Pam’s House Blend for full coverage of the event.

Read More »

HRC Issues Plan For DADT Repeal

Probably in response to Tuesday’s blog swarm, the Human Rights Campaign today issued a five point plan regarding the repeal of DADT. Guiding our work over the next months will be a number of key principles: * Continued Presidential Leadership We have – and will continue to — call on the White House to include DADT repeal language in the …

Read More »

Palm Center: DADT Repeal In Grave Peril

The Palm Center’s Nathaniel Frank today says that the repeal of DADT is in “grave peril” and that LGBT rights groups must step up the pressure on the president. Bloggers this week called for the President to take the lead, but also focused their attention on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the most powerful gay rights group in the world, …

Read More »

Blog Swarm: Ask HRC To Demand Obama Work To Repeal DADT This Year

UPDATE: Today’s blog swarm has been picked up by FireDogLake, Mediaite, the Advocate, and numerous gay and gay-friendly blogs. Thus far, HRC’s official blog has remained silent, although its Palm Springs affiliate basically said it is a waste to time to contact HRC on this issue. I happen to think that’s true, but not entirely for the reasons given. —— …

Read More »

SLIDESHOW: HRC 2010 NYC Gala

Here’s a short slideshow from Saturday’s HRC gala in NYC, courtesy of my able photographer Dr. Jeff. Except for the HRC’s official photographer, media were kept tightly corraled in a roped-off pen in front of the HRC backdrop, so we were pretty much unable to photograph or interview attendees. After all the big shots were trotted off the pre-show stage, …

Read More »

Gov. Paterson At The HRC Gala

NY Gov. David Paterson took to the media pit podium for some brief remarks in praise of the HRC prior to last night’s fundraising gala in the adjoining grand ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria. My apologies for the shaky camera work, I was getting jostled by the CNN crew on my right. At the end of the clip, I pan …

Read More »

Gillibrand Pledges Budget Amendment To Block Funding For DADT Enforcement

At the Human Rights Campaign’s $400/plate black tie gala at NYC’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, last night Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced that she would be submitting an amendment to the federal budget that would block the use of funds to enforce DADT. Gillibrand, the evening’s keynote speaker, also praised Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Admiral Mike Mullen for last week’s declaration …

Read More »

Reactions To SOTU Mention Of DADT

National Stonewall Democrats: Tonight, National Stonewall Democrats commend President Barack Obama for calling for the end of the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. We are concerned that President Obama did not address workplace discrimination during his first State of the Union address to Congress. Human Rights Campaign: …

Read More »

Backlash Begins: Gay Orgs Denounce Anti-Trans Letterman Skit

GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign have issued denouncements of last night’s anti-trans skit on the David Letterman show. GLAAD is asking that notes of complaint be sent to CBS. The HRC has sent a message directly to Letterman. GLAAD: Depicting people reacting in horror to transgender individuals is a dangerous stereotype for popular media to perpetuate because it contributes …

Read More »

The Right’s Newest Martyr

As expected, the wingnutosphere is rallying around fired Maine reporter Larry Grard, who was dismissed from the Morning Sentinel after 19 years following his “in your face” email to the Human Rights Campaign on the morning after the vote to repeal same-sex marriage. Catholic League: As a Catholic, Grard has a right to hold, express and defend the teachings of …

Read More »