HRC's reply (my apologies for the delay in posting)

Hi folks. I should've posted this earlier. It's the reply I eventually got from HRC after I wrote to them last month.



Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 17:21:48 -0400
From: <***********@hrc.org>
Subject: RE: Membership letter from Joe Solmonese
To:


Dear Timothy,

Thank you so much for contacting HRC regarding your concerns about our most recent direct mail package.

Please let me assure you that the sentence in question was unfortunately a complete oversight on our part—and will be rectified immediately. We are truly grateful you have brought this to our attention so quickly. The sentence should have read and in future print will read: We are all connected by a common thread---the simple belief that every American deserves to be treated equally, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We are also taking the extra step of looking over all materials to make sure that we are being truly reflective and inclusive of all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. So thank you for this reminder as well.

Joe has had the opportunity to meet with several transgender leaders across the country since he's started, including Mara Keisling and Caedan Dempsey in Washington, D.C., Pauline Park in New York, Rachel Crandall in Michigan and others. He's valued the discussions he's had with these leaders and will continue to meet with transgender community members throughout his tour across America.

And we are also grateful that Jay was willing to be highlighted in our staff section. He is one of the most dynamic and valued members of the HRC team. So thank you for acknowledging this.

This unfortunate omission you uncovered is in no way reflective of the organizations sincere commitment to working for transgender rights in this country. HRC’s official position is one of full support for transgender-inclusive workplace and hate crimes legislation. Period.

As you may know, on 8/7/04, the Human Rights Campaign Board of Directors adopted a policy to support a modernized version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The adopted resolution reads: “The Human Rights Campaign adopts a policy that we will only support ENDA if it is inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.” The updated language includes gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation to ensure that every gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender American is protected from employment discrimination.

HRC has long supported inclusive legislation but took this action in anticipation of ENDA’s reintroduction in the 109th Congress. HRC staff will continue to work tirelessly to ensure passage of a comprehensive ENDA. Additionally, HRC meets with leadership of other advocacy groups on a regular and ongoing basis to discuss federal legislation and other issues and has never pressured our allies to not support inclusive language in our legislation.

Our efforts are indeed ongoing and wide-ranging. In several cities across the country, we have held town hall meetings on transgender issues, and partnered with GLBT groups to pass inclusive state laws and local ordinances. Last year, we gave Equality Fund grants to GLBT groups in five states to help them pass transgender-inclusive legislation. We also work with corporations to get company non-discrimination policies to include gender identity alongside other protected classes. We look forward to the day when all GLBT Americans have equal protection under the law and will continue to be a leader in making that dream a reality.

I would also like to provide you with an informational document that also highlights the work and progress HRC will continue to pursue in the transgender community. Please see the Microsoft Word attachment labeled “HRC & Transgender Work.”

Again, please accept our sincere apologies. And thank you for not just walking away, but giving me the opportunity to respond to this issue. Trust that it will be handled appropriately, and it is things like this that will make the organization ultimately better and stronger.

Please don’t hesitate to get back in touch with me if you require any clarification on any of these points, as HRC is more than willing to keep an open dialogue on these issues and welcomes feedback and inquires from the LGBT community. If I can be of any further assistance, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

And thank you for your membership. Your support is truly valued and appreciated—and I would hate for that to change.


Respectfully,

Laura Dalrymple


_____________________________________________
Laura A. Dalrymple
Member Services Manager
Human Rights Campaign
1640 Rhode Island Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036-3278
email laura.dalrymple@hrc.org
direct phone 202.216.1525
fax 202.216.1505
web www.hrc.org

working for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equal rights. =

It's Pride weekend!

Tonight, a friend of mine from chorus said the following:

"I think I'm going to have sex with a stranger in order to sleep in air conditioning tonight."

I am not making this up.

Oregon's gorilla speaks

This is really major.

On behalf of Nike, Inc., I write in support of passage of Senate Bill 1000 and Senate Bill 1073.

SB 1000 will prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation and services and education on the basis of sexual orientation. The bill will also create civil unions and extend a set of rights and responsibilities to same-sex permanent partners. Senate Bill 1073, another bill under consideration by the legislature, contains similar provisions relating to the creation of civil unions.

Nike has a record of leadership in support of diversity and non-discrimination, as recognized by the Human Rights Campaign. Nike is committed to diversity and inclusion and strives to treat our employees equally without regard to sexual orientation or marital status.

The non-discrimination provisions contained within SB 1000 are consistent with Nike's corporate policies and practices and our support of similar legislation at the federal and state level. We strongly support the non-discrimination provisions in SB 1000, as this legislation will extend a set of basic rights to many Oregonians.

Nike also supports the provisions in SB 1073 and SB 1000 creating civil unions and extending a set of rights and responsibilities to same-sex permanent partners, which are consistent with their financial and non-financial commitments. Supporting the creation of civil unions is a meaningful complement to the non-discrimination position Nike has taken previously. And, civil unions promote inclusion by providing all our employees the opportunity to enter into lasting permanent relationships without regard to sexual orientation. As a global company, we have employees in other countries who can opt to register civil unions or an equivalent status.

One of the Nike Maxims is to "Do the Right Thing," which asks our employees not to look for things that make us different, but to look for things that make us better. Many of our employees' lives will be better because of the passage of these bills.

Sincerely,
Wes Coleman
Nike, Vice President of Global Human Resources

Secrets of defensive driving

I'm so glad I've just completed the National Safety Council's online Defensive Driving Course. I am sure it will make me a better, more careful, more courteous driver. In addition, it will erase my recent speeding ticket from my record and keep my friends at the insurance company from worrying their little heads about it.

The Defensive Driving Course is a rigorous, five-part affair. One of its very special features is that you cannot advance to the next screen until the nice man has finished reading out loud the text on the current screen. It makes for a memorable afternoon.

Here are screen shots that show some of the learning experiences that I'll especially cherish.


Seat Belts



Control



What It's All About

Bill and Hill

"I'd like to thank the Gay Men's Chorus. I was back there,
feverishly trying to write down all those lines. If someone
would furnish me with the lyrics to that song, I'd call
Hillary and give her those best lines tonight. I would be
eternally grateful"

- Bill Clinton at the Gay Men's Chorus of LA

next CGMC show: pride weekend

No police liaison to the gay community

“It is the policy of the Chief of Police not to conduct liaison with any group which deliberately engages in criminal actions. In that the laws of the State of California proscribe the kind of activity which would characterize a person as a homosexual, your type of organization falls into the category wherein we do not conduct liaison activities.”

---Chief of Staff, office of the Chief of Police of Los Angeles, in a letter to the Gay Community Alliance, November 16, 1971

Brand-Free (but slightly Politics-Laden)

Photographed tonight, near Silverlake, here in LA.

Just got finished with a conference near LA where some of the hottest members of my department made brief appearances. Now I'm staying on, doin' some research, and stayin' with one of my favorite exes.

Last night someone in the club asked if I could get her cocaine. I'm going with the theory that this is simply because of my highly visible West Hollywood authenticity, rather than any sign that I look like I do a lot of coke.