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2011 Annual Report Goes to Those Plans to Life

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2011 Annual Report Goes to Those Plans to Life THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN AND HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION DESIGNED2 HRC 2011 BY ANNUALCOLUMN REPORT FIVE FOR HRC FROM THE PRESIDENT The Human Rights Campaign’s 2011 Annual Report goes to those plans to life. Our members are people who don’t just press on the heels of two historic victories in the fight for equality: hope for fairness and equality but write, call and donate to help us the repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that achieve it. The passion is evident, and it is inspiring. That’s prevented open service for lesbians and gays serving in our why every year, our movement grows. HRC now boasts more than nation’s military, and the bipartisan passage of marriage equality 1 million members and supporters. That’s more than 1 million fair- in New York. minded Americans eager to step up, speak out and take their While these victories are cause for celebration, they also place on the right side of history. warrant some reflection. Both captured headlines for several But we’re not there yet. Forces that stand against marriage Sincerely, weeks and months but they were years in the making, and neither equality remain strong and vocal in many states. The National would have come about without two essential things: Organization for Marriage has proclaimed it has $20 million to spend on anti-equality efforts in the year ahead. LGBT children 1. The strategic expertise and successful leveraging of still face bullies in schools and transgender individuals can be resources by HRC. fired based solely on their gender identity in 35 states. JOE SOLMONESE 2. The vocal activism of HRC members and supporters. So as you review our 2011 Annual Report, please relish President, Human Rights our achievements. We have come so far and we’ve worked hard Campaign and Human Rights In all we do at HRC, we use our hard-working staff’s collective to get here. But we must not let our recent victories or Campaign Foundation experience to guide our efforts through effective strategies and increasing strength lull us into complacency. Now is the plans. But it is our members and supporters who bring time to mobilize, organize and push forward with all we’ve got. FROM THE HRC BOARD CO-CHAIRS For those of us involved in the fight for equality, watching our Now it’s time to build on that success and bring more of these movement grow brings tremendous pride and satisfaction — and people into our movement. Fair-minded people have shown us the positive momentum we’ve seen in 2011 is truly inspiring. they are out there. Now we need to invite them to stand by our Like never before, HRC is bringing fair-minded people side. together — and we’re learning that they are everywhere. On We’re kicking off this far-reaching mobilization effort with basic civil rights issues such as employment and housing, huge HRC’s new “On the Road to Equality” bus tour, among many other Sincerely, majorities now support protections for LGBT people. A majority of projects and plans. Traveling across the country, we’re reaching Americans also support marriage for same-sex couples, and 77 out to people in the most conservative states to show them that percent of men say they “could be close friends with a gay man.” no matter where they live, all fair-minded people can play an active The cynics might respond, “Well, it’s about time.” But for role in our movement. those of us at HRC who have dedicated so much to LGBT equality, Each time we add a member to our organization — a supporter seeing this kind of attitude shift is a testament to decades of hard to our fight — we boost our strength and propel ourselves down REBECCA TILLET AND TIM DOWNING work. People in America are more open, more accepting and more the road to full equality. Human Rights Campaign fair-minded because of our relentless pursuit of equality — and it’s Board Co-Chairs wonderful to see. FROM THE HRC FOUNDATION BOARD CO-CHAIRS In any social movement, achieving legislative victories is only families, is empowering LGBT people to make informed choices one of the ways we measure success. Changes in people’s lives about where they seek care. matter just as much. That’s why the HRC Foundation focuses on Our Religion and Faith Program continues to change the the human scale of our work, with programs aimed at making conversation about LGBT people and faith. A HRC poll revealed life more livable, fair and welcoming for LGBT people and their that 85 percent of people now say that their faith leads them to families. And we’re making a difference. conclude that “the law should treat all people equally, including The All Children — All Families initiative on behalf of LGBT LGBT people.” Sincerely, foster and adoptive parents now has 50 participating agencies The work of the HRC Foundation is national in scale, but across the country. That means more children are finding nurturing personal in impact — felt when LGBT people visit a partner or child homes, and more LGBT people have the opportunity to parent. in a hospital … are able to go to their jobs without fear of being The Welcoming Schools initiative informed more than 2,000 fired … are welcomed in their faith community … walk through parents and educators this year about how to confront issues of school hallways with the confidence of knowing that harassment family diversity, gender stereotyping, bullying and name-calling in will not be tolerated … and more. Real lives, real changes, and real ANNE FAY AND ANDY LINSKY schools. hope for a fair and equal future. Human Rights Campaign The HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index, which Foundation Board Co-Chairs assesses hospitals’ policies and practices for LGBT patients and Thank you for making it possible. HRC 2011 ANNUAL REPORT 3 THE ROAD TO 4 HRC 2011 ANNUAL REPORT THE SIGNS OF CHANGE & PROGRESS THERE’S SOMETHING BIG HAPPENING. discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, the every walk of life vividly shows that change. In 2011, people nationwide accepted and stepping forward of new and outspoken allies, Across the country, minds are opening, hearts broadly supported allowing lesbian and gay including George W. Bush’s daughter, Barbara, are warming and people are taking their place people to serve openly in the military through and much, much more. The Human Rights on the right side of history by supporting the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In 2011, Campaign’s work is making a big difference. full equality for their lesbian, gay, bisexual we also saw the historic passage of marriage And new polling by HRC of Americans across and transgender friends, family members, equality in New York, an increased focus on the every region, every faith, every age and from colleagues and neighbors. SOURCE: HRC POLLING 2011, FOR PAGES 3-10 HRC 2011 ANNUAL REPORT 5 WEDDING BELLS RING IN NEW YORK Cheers of celebration were heard across the nation this on to pass the landmark legislation. It was not an easy win. summer when Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York signed All along the way, the extremist National Organization for a bill granting same-sex couples in the Empire State Marriage and others tried to stand in our path. NOM alone the rights and responsibilities of marriage. The historic spent $500,000 on hate-filled ads in an attempt to keep victory was years in the making, with HRC leading the discrimination the law of the land. But HRC, along with our on-the-ground campaign that resulted in 150,000-plus allies, pressed on and pushed hard, and refused to relent constituent contacts to targeted state senators who went until we scored this major victory for equality. HRC’S WINNING STRATEGY IN NEW YORK: MOBILIZE, EDUCATE, ACTIVATE DELIVERED MORE THAN GENERATED MORE THAN 75,515 47,199 postcards from constituents e-mails from New Yorkers to state senators to their state lawmakers SPURRED MORE THAN RELEASED video testimonials featuring celebrities, 25,622 51 sports and media phone calls from constituents figures, everyday people to state senators and politicians RAN TWICE-WEEKLY PHONE BANKS like the ones attended by Chelsea Clinton and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg THE SKUNK AT THE CEREMONY The National Organization for Marriage dropped $500,000 on ads in New York against marriage equality and promised to spend $2 million to take down Republicans who voted for equality. 6 HRC 2011 ANNUAL REPORT WITHOUT HRC’S THANKS FOR ALL SUPPORT, I WOULD YOU DID TO MAKE NOT BE IN THE THIS A REALITY. — N.Y. GOV. ANDREW CUOMO TO HRC FIELD TEAM STATE SENATE. ON THE MARRIAGE EQUALITY VICTORY IN NY — SEN. TIM KENNEDY, D-BUFFALO IT TAKES TIME TO BAKE A WEDDING CAKE HISTORY HAS BEEN HRC’s campaign for marriage in New York began in 2007, helping pick up a marriage equality supporter in the state Senate. HRC MADE IN NEW YORK. built on that effort in 2008. In 2010, it helped elect three new pro- THIS VICTORY SENDS A MESSAGE THAT equality candidates to the state Senate, deploying field staff to do grassroots organizing for a number of candidates and contributing MARRIAGE EQUALITY ACROSS THE $145,000. In total, we spent close to $1 million to secure marriage COUNTRY WILL BE A REALITY VERY SOON. equality. — HRC PRESIDENT JOE SOLMONESE MORE GOOD NEWS FOR MARRIAGE A SALUTE TO OPEN SERVICE This year, President Obama stood with the majority of Americans in saying his In July, President Obama signed the certification for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t administration would no longer support the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act.
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