Tag: HRC

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Human Rights Campaign names Chad Griffin as new president

Chad Griffin

Chad Griffin, the Los Angeles-based political consultant whose central role in the Proposition 8 lawsuit turned him into a national LGBT rights figure, has been named president of the Human Rights Campaign.

A major fundraiser for the Obama campaign who began his career in the early days of the Clinton White House, Griffin will replace current president Joe Solmonese at the helm of the $40 million organization on June 11, HRC announced Friday following a board of directors vote. Solmonese, who joined HRC as president in 2005 and said in August that he would leave after his contract expires at the end of this month, will continue in his role until June. Solmonese was named a national co-chair for the Obama campaign last month.

In its pick of Griffin as president, HRC has chosen someone who was shaped from an early age by Washington political culture yet who is not defined by it, having spent the vast majority of his career outside the Beltway.

Griffin, 38, is a fervent supporter of President Obama with personal ties to White House officials, but has pushed the bipartisan case for marriage equality, notably hiring former George W. Bush solicitor general Theodore Olson to co-lead the Prop. 8 suit and aligning with conservatives including gay former Republican National Committee chair Ken Mehlman, who has raised money for the legal effort.

Griffin has been openly critical of the president’s ‘evolving’ position on marriage equality, calling Obama’s indicated support for state’s rights on deciding who can marry “a step backwards.” And, central to the job, Griffin has a proven ability to be a formidable fundraiser.

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Caesars Entertainment rates a perfect score from Human Rights Campaign

Caesars Entertainment Corporation was awarded its fifth consecutive perfect rating from the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Corporate Equality Index. The Corporate Equality Index rates businesses based on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workplace policies.

“Caesars Entertainment is proud to be the only gaming company this year to have received a perfect rating from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation on its Corporate Equality Index,” said Fred Keeton, vice president of finance, external affairs and chief diversity officer for Caesars Entertainment.

“Through leading edge diversity initiatives and our valued relationship with this important organization, we look forward to the coming years and plan to continue to lead the way in LGBT workplace equality.”

The ‘five-peat’ is a reflection of Caesars long-time commitment to create and facilitate programs and policies that are offered to all of its employees and guests. Specific to its LGBT employees, the company enforces its comprehensive non-discrimination policies, provides domestic partner benefits (including health care) and will offer benefit coverage for gender reassignment.

Keeton stressed that the company is a large supporter of the LGBT community and seeks to provide a world-class experience for all of its guests. LGBT guests are treated with the utmost respect and are encouraged to take part in pioneered LGBT events and offerings (e.g. Gay weddings and commitment ceremonies, honeymoon packages, nightlife and PRIDE events).

The Corporate Equality Index 2012 report is available at www.hrc.org/cei.

I’m proud to have a “one degree of separation” with Caesars Entertainment as my husband Michael is the national press rep for Chippendales, which is at the Rio Hotel and Casino – a Caesars property in Las Vegas. I’ve always been very proud of the fact that gay men are always welcome at Chippendales, and always treated with respect at the show.

With the huge amount of recreation travel dollars the LGBT community can spend, it pays to make sure we spend our money where it’s appreciated. I encourage everyone to take a look at the Corporate Equality Index to know where and to who your dollars go.

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New poll shows christians support LGBT equality

The poll, done by HRC and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, shows that Christians of all ages support LGBT equality.

In fact, 68 percent of Christians favor protecting LGBT people from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations compared.

74 percent of Christians (compared to 76 percent overall) favor a law to prohibit bullying and harassment against minority groups in schools, including LGBT students or the children of LGBT parents.

70 percent of Christians believe that when religious leaders condemn LGBT people it does more harm than good.

A majority of Christians – 52 percent – also oppose the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act, according to a previous HRC poll by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research poll.

Finally, an astounding 86 percent of Christians believe their faith leads them to the conclusion that the law should treat all people equally, including LGBT people.

More graphics at this link.

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Barbara Bush supports marriage equality

Barbara Bush, daughter of President George W. Bush, has taped a video urging the passage of marriage equality in NY State.

From the NY Times article: “Ms. Bush is the latest child of a prominent Republican leader to embrace same-sex marriage, long considered anathema to the conservative movement. Gay rights advocates have been quick to seize on the generational split as evidence that the acceptance of same-sex marriage is blind to party affiliation and family values.”

Marriage equality advocates point to other children of prominent Republican politicians who have also embraced the idea and fairness of same-sex marriage. Among those are Meghan McCain, daughter of Sen. John McCain, and Mary Cheney, daughter of former Vice-President Dick Cheney.