HRC QUARTERLY STAFF Moving Ahead with Historically Black Colleges on GLBT Equality Kim I
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POLITICAL NEWS FOR GLBT AMERICA HRCQUARTERLY BUILDING EQUALITY HRC’S NEW HOME TAKES SHAPE KERRY SPEAKS • PRIDE IQ • LANDRIEU’S WIN • ON CAMPUS SPRING 2003 HRC inside QUARTERLY On the March . 6 HRC SENIOR STAFF HRC volunteers take to the streets in annual pride parades Elizabeth Birch Executive Director COVER STORY: HRC’s Home Base . .7 Harvey Hurdle Chief Operating Officer Headquarters building takes shape Jacquelyn J. Bennett Administration Director Beyond Majority Rule . .10 Seth Kilbourn New Congress poses challenges for advancing GLBT equality National Field Director Kevin Layton The Cost of Being Gay . .13 General Counsel Inequities abound under Social Security system and Legal Director Kim I. Mills Education Director Q&A with Mary Landrieu . .15 Cathy Nelson Her triumph, gay allies, what’s ahead Development Director Jeff Sachse Eyes on the White House . .16 Capital Campaign President Kerry seeks to build on strong civil rights record in Senate David M. Smith Communications Director Professional Opinions . .17 and Senior Strategist Key groups voice support for gay parenting Christopher Speron Capital Campaign Director Local Heroes . .18 Winnie Stachelberg Political Director Groups keep up state and local pressure Russell Vert Finance Director Campus Crusade . .20 HRC QUARTERLY STAFF Moving ahead with historically black colleges on GLBT equality Kim I. Mills Executive Editor Bells Are Ringing . .21 Janice Hughes Young activists go door to door for equality Managing Editor James A. Decker Equality Boutique . .23 Publications Coordinator Merchandise program about much more than selling Jennie Smith Editorial Coordinator International Affairs . .24 CONTRIBUTORS Some countries surpass U.S. on gay issues Tim Bresnahan, Brandon Braud, Alice Budisatrijo, Frank Butler, Kevin Connell, Michael Crawford, Jill Eynon, Collin Foulds, Jordan Kilby, Kristina Petronko DESIGN OmniStudio Inc. COVER Taran Z DEPARTMENTS TO JOIN HRC, PLEASE CALL 800/777-HRC3 MICHAEL CRAWFORD PHOTO: TTY: 202/216-1572 InBox ................................................3 OR VISIT WWW.HRC.ORG UpFront ..............................................4 HRC Quarterly is a publication of the Human Rights Pride & Prejudice ..................................28 Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Founda- tion. HRC Quarterly (ISSN 1092-5791) is published Events ..............................................28 quarterly by HRC, 919 18th St., N.W., Ste. 800, Wash- ington, D.C. 20006. Copyright 2003, HRC Quarterly. All Revved Up! All rights reserved. Subscription rates: free to member- ship. Printed in the USA. HRC’s Brandon Braud (R) and friends at Atlanta Black Pride. See p. 6. The Human Rights Campaign and HRC Foundation names and Equality logos are trademarks of the Human Rights Campaign and HRC Foundation. SPRING 2003 HRC QUARTERLY 1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gwen Baba CA, Joe Barrows CO, Terry Bean OR, Michael Berman DC, Tammara Billik CA, Timothy Boggs DC, Mary Breslauer MA, Tom Buche CO, Philip Burgess IL, Dennis Coleman TX, Stampp Corbin OH, Rebecca Covell TX, Lawrie Demorest GA, Amy Errett CA, Julia Fitz-Randolph CO (ex-officio), Mark French MN, Emily Giske NY, Mitchell Gold NC, Stephanie Hart NY, Mary Jo Hudson OH, Barry Karas CA, Marty Lieberman WA, Andy Linsky CA, Candy Marcum TX, from the editor David Medina DC, David Muck TX, Lucilo Peña TX, letter Dana Perlman CA, Trevor Potter DC, Victoria Raymont IL, Karla Rikansrud CO, George Rosenfield CA, Abby Rubenfeld TN, Judy Shepard WY, Mary Snider DC, RC’s headquarters building is taking shape. As I write this, construction Andrew Tobias FL, Tony Varona NY Hcrews are laying cables, drywalling and working furiously to complete BOARD OF GOVERNORS the renovation of our beautiful new home. What seemed an unattainable Michael Abrams IL, Ann Adams IL, Patrick Adams CA, dream so many years ago is soon to be reality. In this issue of HRC Quarterly, Matthew Bacon IL, Desi Bailey WA, Claire Baker TX, Alan Becker CO, David Beckwith CA, Les Bendtsen MN, we bring you scenes from a building. We hope you find these images inspir- Tracy Benson IL, Kelly Bliss TN, Elspeth Bloodgood OK, ing because our capital campaign continues to need your help! Bob Brandt MN, Kenneth Britt GA, Natalie Butto FL, Thomas Chaderjian IL, Bruce Chemel TX, Richard Also in this issue, we focus on our work at the grassroots as Senior Field Chizmadia MI, Christina Cobb MA, Dennis Coleman Organizer Sally Green looks at the past successes and future plans for HRC’s TX, Kathy Copelin PA, Kim Cromwell MA, Bryan Curtis TN, Catherine D’Amato MA, Jay Dascenzo OH, Equality Fund grant program. Going global, Liz Seaton, senior staff counsel, Scott Dixon GA, Timothy Downing OH, Tom Dreher compares and contrasts marriage laws around the world with the situation in CA, Fran Dunaway WA, Clint Eddy WA, Don Epstein the United States while guest columnist Michael Heflin of Amnesty Interna- MN, Anne Fay TX, Glen Paul Freedman GA, Jody Gates LA, Stephen Gilhooly TX, David Gillespie GA, tional describes some of the horrific conditions under which our GLBT sisters Ronald Ginsburg DC, Randy Glass CA, Stephen Gold- and brothers live, and die, in other countries. berg TX, Kelley Green MO, David Greer DC, Rodney Grozier IL, Carolyn Hall TX, Jacqueline Hammond Lisa Bennett, deputy director for HRC FamilyNet, looks at some of the OH, Gwen Hare PA, Jay Harter OR, Sandra Hartness remarkable policy statements coming from prestigious professional organiza- CA, Patrick Herning CA, Stella Hess TX, Pamela Holder TX, Ernest Horne MI, John Isa DC, Harry Jackson OH, tions in support of our families — even as we provide a snapshot of the Bob Jakosh CA, Julie Johnson TX, Jeff Jones OH, inequities under the Social Security program. Kathleen Kennedy VA, Russ Klettke IL, Wayne Kreuscher IN, Brian Kutinsky MI, Kirk Lamoreaux NY, Michael J. On the political front, Senior Policy Advocate Tracey St. Pierre lays out the Lappin GA, Barbara Lund MN, Cynthia Mack VA, Joni challenges we face in the 108th Congress, Political Director Winnie Stachel- Madison NC, Thomas Maynard IN, Julia McDevitt berg has a candid conversation with Louisiana Democratic Sen. Mary Lan- OH, Todd McKinley CO, Lynette Molnar MA, Erin Moore TX, Phillip Moore OH, Richard Myracle NC, drieu, and Mark Shields, communications associate director, profiles Barb Neligan TN, Ken Oakes PA, Jay Oppenheimer TX, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. Michael Palmer DC, Paul Palmer FL, Terrence Penrod OH, Philip Pessin IL, Shannon Pierce MN, David You may have picked up this issue of HRC Quarterly at a GLBT pride cel- Posteraro OH, Kevin Powers, MA, Trisha Pray IL, Sabri- ebration. If so, we hope that you met some of our staff or loyal volunteers, that na Riddle CA, Karla Rikansrud CO, Robert Ripley LA, Henry Robin NY, Arthur Roger LA, Henry Rosales CO, you’ll take our pride IQ test, and — if you’re not already a member – that Daniel Salera MA, Rebecca Schiff MA, Carl Schmid you’ll join the Human Rights Campaign. DC, Timothy Schneider MN, D. Heidi Schulz WA, Mark Seib GA, Alan Semonian MI, Richard Silver CA, As always, we welcome your feedback. Sheryl Smith CA, Staci Smith CA, Michael Spann TX, Jill Stauffer MA, Dalia Stokes TX, John Sullivan MN, Rebecca Tillet NY, George Tomczyk NJ, Dean Trantalis FL, Ted Trimpa CO, Dawn Tritaik MD, Teresa Tuschhoff MO, Alan Uphold CA, Eric Vanderpool CA, Kammie Vasagam DC, Janis Verruso MN, Kay Wagner CO, Mark Walsh MA, Thomas Webber MA, Cheryl Ann Welsh NC, Bradley White CA, David White FL, Kim I. Mills Scott Wiener CA, Ed Wierman MA, Lynne Wiggins DC, Cynthia Wilsky GA, Frank Woo CA, Craig Executive Editor Zodikoff CA [email protected] HRC FOUNDATION BOARD Gwen Baba CA, Vic Basile DC, Terry Bean OR, Edith Dee Cofrin GA, Lawrie Demorest GA, Harry Jackson OH, Marty Lieberman IL, Candy Marcum TX, Hilary Rosen DC, Worth Ross TX, Andrea Sharrin DC 2 SPRING 2003 HRC QUARTERLY inbox A Kinder, Gentler HRC? means also believing that couples — HRC Aiming High I just wanted to say that I’m very regardless of sexual orientation — need I am a lesbian serving in the U.S. Air impressed with the new content on the not be married to maintain a relationship Force abroad. I just saw an HRC public HRC website. It’s great to see so much of lifelong commitment. This treatment service announcement on the Armed information on issues that reach beyond by health insurance companies is also Forces Network. I’m impressed, amazed the Beltway and into the lives of everyday unfair and deserves equal treatment. and above all thankful. Your efforts to LGBT folks. It’s also great to see you cov- C. M. educate the military audience are er diverse topics that I haven’t traditional- incredibly necessary. Editor’s reply: According to data compiled by ly associated with HRC, like aging and HRC WorkNet, approximately two-thirds of With much gratitude, transgender issues. Is this a sign of a the employers that offer domestic partner Anonymous kinder, gentler HRC? health insurance offer it to opposite- and For information on military issues, visit David Mariner same-sex partners. We suggest you approach www.hrc.org/documentingcourage. Washington, D.C. your employer with facts and statistics you I first joined your organization back in can find at www.hrc.org/worknet and the early ’90s. I didn’t renew my member- make a business case for changing carriers. ship because I felt you were ignoring Good luck! transgender issues. Now that is no longer the case and I am happy to support you Dads in Limbo once again. I have four kids and a partner of two Gloria Eskew years, but my partner has not been able Long Beach, Calif. to meet my children. The judge, at my ex-wife’s urging, felt that would be best Editor’s reply: HRC added gender identity for the kids.