Kelley Robinson, a Black, queer woman, named president of Human Rights Campaign
Kelley Robinson, a Black, queer woman, named president of Human Rights Campaign
Tag Archives: Human Rights Campaign
Meet Kelley Robinson, the New President of the Human Rights Campaign
Meet Kelley Robinson, the New President of the Human Rights Campaign
Human Rights Campaign removes LGBT preferred employer status from Fox News
Human Rights Campaign removes LGBT preferred employer status from Fox News
Human Rights Campaign removes LGBT preferred employer status from Fox News
HRC Statement on Hallmark’s Apology and Promise to Reinstate Ad Featuring Same-Sex Couple
HRC Statement on Hallmark’s Apology and Promise to Reinstate Ad Featuring Same-Sex Couple
HRC President Alphonso David released the following statement on Hallmark’s apology and promise to reinstate a previously pulled ad that featured a same-sex couple:
“After thousands of voices expressed their outrage over Hallmark’s decision, the company did the right thing by reversing this decision. Now, Hallmark is on the right path forward. In conversations with the company on Saturday — and by mobilizing our grassroots army — the Human Rights Campaign was able to voice our community’s outrage and garner nearly 70,000 signatures to let Hallmark know that LGBTQ people won’t be erased. Now, the Human Rights Campaign looks forward to working with Hallmark to ensure that the company is one that lives into its values and pursues meaningful LGBTQ representation, both inside the workplace and in the content it creates.”
Tell Hallmark Shame on You!
Tell Hallmark Shame on You!
The Hallmark Channel just pulled an ad for Zola.com that featured a same-sex couple — shamefully caving to pressure from an anti-LGBTQ group. We must send them a message.
By backing down on visibility and representation, Hallmark has failed our community and all of their customers. And for a brand all about love, it is disheartening to see Hallmark leading with fear and discrimination.
Join the Human Rights Campaign in calling them out by adding your name to our letter.
www.hrc.org/blog/tell-hallmark-shame-on-you?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
HRC Foundation Kicks Off Second Workplace LGBT Inclusion Survey in Chile
HRC Foundation Kicks Off Second Workplace LGBT Inclusion Survey in Chile
Today, HRC Foundation, in partnership with Fundación Iguales, Chile’s largest LGBT advocacy group, launched its second HRC Equidad CL: Programa de Equidad Laboral survey evaluating LGBT-inclusive policies and best practices at major Chilean employers. The second annual HRC survey showcases businesses and corporations promoting equality for LGBT employees in workplaces across Chile.
HRC was joined at a kickoff event today — hosted by Accor Hotels — by corporate leaders and representatives of major employers committed to continuing their efforts to create an inclusive corporate culture by participating in the HRC Equidad CL survey. In the coming months, the Chile-based program will collect responses to the survey and measure the growth of the program in its second year.
In last year’s inaugural survey, 15 companies earned top ratings and received the HRC Foundation’s designation of “Best Place to Work for the LGBT Community” or “Mejores Lugares para Trabajar LGBT,” reflecting their commitment to LGBT equality and adoption of vital LGBT-inclusive employment policies and practices. The Chilean-based survey, inspired by HRC’s annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI) — the premier benchmarking tool on corporate LGBT-inclusive policies and practices in the U.S. — is HRC’s first in-country program in South America and the second in Latin America following the successful model of HRC Equidad MX in Mexico.
The HRC Equidad CL survey assesses businesses and multinational companies based on three core pillars of LGBT inclusion:
- Adoption of non-discrimination policies;
- Creation of employee resource groups or diversity councils; and
- Engagement in public activities to support LGBT inclusion.
“Business leaders in Chile are driving critical progress for our community by building workplaces that are inclusive and welcoming to all,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “As the new president of the Human Rights Campaign, I’m excited to see how HRC Equidad CL has been a powerful instrument for positive change in Chile and throughout the region. By advancing equality, more and more corporations are helping employees and economies thrive.”
“Every year, we see a growing number of businesses and corporations around the world understand the value of promoting an LGBT-inclusive workplace,” said Beck Bailey, director of HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program. “Having these important companies participate in the HRC Equidad CL survey represents a significant step in raising awareness of workplace equality among Chilean-based businesses. We are excited to continue working with Fundación Iguales to expand our efforts and commitment to promoting LGBT inclusion across workplaces in Chile.”
“For Empresas SB it is important to measure their advances in sexual diversity and to be in tune with the best work practices that guarantee discrimination-free work spaces,” said Matías Verdugo, CEO of Empresas SB. “Equidad CL gives us the possibility to measure ourselves every year with the best companies in the field and to incorporate more practices in favor of the LGBT + community.”
“In its second year, the HRC Equidad CL program is already driving tangible change within businesses and corporations across the nation,” said Emilio Maldonado, HRC Equidad CL Implementing Partner. “We are excited to continue working with major employers to promote and grow LGBT-inclusive workplaces for all their employees and to witness this growth with Human Rights Campaign to carry on our collaborative efforts to achieve LGBT inclusion in Chile.”
Through its CEI, Equidad MX and Equidad CL programs, the HRC Foundation has established guidelines to implement LGBTQ-inclusive policies, practices and benefits across national and international corporations impacting more than 30.6 million employees worldwide. This endeavor is complemented by the HRC Global program, which supports the work of communities throughout the world in advocacy of the full rights of LGBTQ people around the world. This year, HRC announced a major initiative to pursue strategic litigation in countries where they can make a difference as part of broader efforts in the movement for LGBTQ equality.
Learn more at hrc.im/equidadCL and hrc.im/GlobalWorkplacePrograms for more information about HRC’s Global Workplace Programs.
100 Days In: Alphonso David is Building the Future of the Human Rights Campaign
100 Days In: Alphonso David is Building the Future of the Human Rights Campaign
Today, HRC celebrated the first 100 days of Alphonso David’s trailblazing and transformative tenure as the president of the Human Rights Campaign.
“Over the past 100 days, I have met with national leaders, supporters, advocates and volunteers — many of whom are living on the frontlines of our community’s struggle for equality,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “They have shared with me how meaningful and impactful the work of the Human Rights Campaign has been, and they have also challenged us to do better, to learn faster and to lean in on the issues that matter most to those who need us the most.
“One hundred days in, I am proud of what we have already accomplished together,” David continued. “We have launched new initiatives that will empower and support our community’s most marginalized members, protect foundational rights and institutions of our democracy, deepen our commitment to ensuring racial justice in all that we do, and expand our national footprint. And this is only the beginning. For 40 years, the Human Rights Campaign has been working to build a society in which every person can thrive — no matter who they are or whom they love. Now, as we turn toward 2020 and the most important election of our lifetimes, I am more committed and hopeful than ever because of the stronger organization, movement and nation that we are building together.”
In his first official act as president of the Human Rights Campaign, Alphonso David embarked on a national tour of seven key cities to meet with and rally HRC members, advocates, voters and pro-equality candidates ahead of the 2019 and 2020 elections.
This tour, as well as ongoing conversations with community leaders, members and partners, led the launch of several events and initiatives to advance equity and equality within and outside the LGBTQ movement, including:
- Launching the Power of our Pride Town Hall with our partners at CNN– the first time in history that a major cable news network aired a presidential event devoted to LGBTQ issues.
- Partnering with Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight to help combat voter suppression in the critically important upcoming 2020 election. This new partnership will bring together the organizations’ expertise in voter protection and voter mobilization to ensure fair and open elections in 2020 and beyond.
- Deepening and expanding HRC’s work dedicated to seeking justice for transgender people with new initiatives that address their urgent needs, specifically in communities deeply affected by racism, sexism and transphobia. This major effort will be rooted in collaborative, community-based work focused on economic empowerment; capacity-building programs; targeted task forces in many of the communities hardest hit by the epidemic of anti-trans violence; and expanded public education campaigns.
- Expanding HRC’s legal efforts by joining with seven of the nation’s top law firms to bring strategic impact litigation challenging anti-LGBTQ legislative and policy actions domestically and internationally, including the relentless attacks on LGBTQ equality by the Trump-Pence administration.
- Recommitting the organization to deepening its racial justice work and releasing a statement of principles on racial equity and inclusion.
- Expanding HRC’s national footprint and engagement by opening offices in New York and Los Angeles.
During the first 100 days of his tenure as the president of the Human Rights Campaign, Alphonso David has also:
- Mobilized with our grassroots army to get out the vote in Virginia’s historic 2019 election — which resulted in the re-election of some of our greatest champions and the election of the first pro-equality majority in both chambers of Virginia’s legislature.
- Shared his dream for a united movement and nation at his first National Dinner.
- Joined thousands of advocates and allies at the first-ever National Trans Visibility March.
- Continued to emphasize the importance of defeating Donald Trump and Mike Pence in 2020 while highlighting their anti-LGBTQ record at every turn.
In the next few months, David will be working with HRC staff, members, supporters and volunteers to develop these new initiatives and others; to strengthen the organization’s existing work; and to kick our electoral efforts into high gear in advance of the most important election of our lifetimes.
In 2018, HRC mobilized 57 million Equality Voters in targeted states and districts nationwide to help elect pro-equality leaders at every level of the ballot. In 2017, HRC identified six priority states for their importance in both 2018 and 2020: Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In those states, pro-equality candidates won 5/5 Senate seats, 4/6 Governor’s mansions and broke anti-equality trifectas or supermajorities in 4/6 states. Now, in addition to electing pro-equality candidates nationwide, HRC will build upon the tremendous successes in these states and across the country to defeat Donald Trump and Mike Pence while electing a pro-equality president in 2020.
Visit of María Encarnación Roca Trías, Justice & VP of the Spanish Constitutional Court
Visit of María Encarnación Roca Trías, Justice & VP of the Spanish Constitutional Court
SpainInTheUSA posted a photo:
Sarah Warbelow, Legal Director of the Human Rights Campaign, and Justice Roca Trías at the Atlantic Council for “Women’s Rights, LGBTI Rights, and the Future”
HRC Applauds New Pro-Equality Majorities in Virginia Legislature
HRC Applauds New Pro-Equality Majorities in Virginia Legislature
Today, HRC celebrated Virginia’s newly elected pro-equality majorities in both the House and Senate.
“Tonight’s election results send a powerful message that Virginians support a bold, progressive vision for the future of the Commonwealth,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “For far too long, anti-LGBTQ politicians have had a chokehold on Virginia’s legislative process and blocked efforts to pass statewide LGBTQ non-discrimination protections, sowing hate and division while putting the lives and livelihoods of LGBTQ Virginians at risk. The Human Rights Campaign worked tirelessly to turn out the 1.2 million Equality Voters in Virginia, and tonight we elected new leadership in Richmond that will put Virginians first. We look forward to working with the new majority to ensure these critically important protections are finally passed into law.”
For years, the Human Rights Campaign has worked with Equality Virginia and others to expand Virginia’s non-discrimination protections to include LGBTQ people. However, despite majorities in both the House and Senate supporting the legislation, Speaker Kirk Cox refused to bring the legislation up for a vote. Cox and Majority Leader Tim Hugo not only acted counter to members of their own caucus and the Virginia public, but also counter to the desires of their own base. According to polling, these measures have overwhelming support among Virginians, including a majority of Virginia Republicans. Over the past several elections, HRC has successfully elected pro-equality champions at every level of Virginia’s state government and will continue to engage in this important work in the weeks and months leading up to this November’s election.
In August, the Human Rights Campaign endorsed 27 candidates and committed to invest over $250,000 to elect pro-equality candidates across Virginia. The endorsements marked the beginning of HRC’s largest ever field, digital and direct mail program in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
From Northern Virginia to Hampton Roads, HRC field organizers were deployed to mobilize 1.2 million Equality Voters across the commonwealth. In 2018, HRC used sophisticated analytics to identify and mobilize 57 million “Equality Voters” nationwide who prioritize LGBTQ-inclusive policies including marriage equality, equitable family law, and laws that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. HRC targeted and turned out these voters in the 27 districts where HRC made an endorsement.
Human Rights Campaign Applauds Historic California Poll Worker Training
Human Rights Campaign Applauds Historic California Poll Worker Training
HRC applauded the California Secretary of State Alex Padilla’s announcement of a new historic training for poll workers to ease voter access for transgender and gender non-confirming voters.
“Across the country, transgender and gender non-conforming people deal with unique ballot access issues, especially in states with voter ID laws, that are often overlooked,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “That’s why HRC announced a six-figure partnership with Stacey Abrams and Fair Fight to help fight against voter suppression and ensure that every LGBTQ person is able to vote. “Trainings like California’s are critically important to ensure that the LGBTQ community has fair and equal access to cast ballots. Other states and municipalities must follow suit. Thank you to Secretary Padilla and Equality California for their leadership.”
Earlier this year, HRC announced a six-figure investment in Fair Fight’s crucial work and plans to leverage the existing resources and staff power HRC brings to bear. Voter suppression is a scourge our country faces in states across the nation. Georgia’s 2018 elections shined a bright light on mismanagement, malfeasance, irregularities and more, and this partnership between the Human Rights Campaign and Fair Fight will work to expose both recent and decades-long actions and inactions by the state to thwart the right to vote.
Voter suppression also impacts LGBTQ people, who far too often face disproportionate barriers in accessing their right to vote. For example, a transgender woman may be turned away from voting because she is unable to get her name changed legally in the state where she lives. These types of challenges are often compounded for LGBTQ people of color who face additional barriers that the Human Rights Campaign and Fair Fight are dedicated to exposing and changing.
In the 2018 elections, HRC helped register more than 32,000 voters and recruited more than 4,200 volunteers, who worked over 8,500 shifts and clocked more than 30,000 volunteer hours. In the critical final four days of the campaign, HRC staff and volunteers in get-out-the-vote efforts alone knocked on more than 80,000 doors, and held 36,400 conversations with voters at their doors and by phone on behalf of our endorsed candidates.
