Dear Friend,

It’s hard to believe that it’s already April.  This month is going to be an exciting and historic one for us, particularly when it comes to action on hate crimes legislation.  Very soon, the Senate companion bill to H.R. 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, will be introduced by Senators Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, and Gordon Smith, R-Oregon.  In addition, on April 17th, we will be holding our lobby day for faith leaders, HRC’s Clergy Call for Justice and Equality (www.hrc.org/clergycall). 

It should be no surprise, therefore, that anti-GLBT zealots are desperately trying to stop momentum on this important legislation.  Some, such as the Family Research Council, have even resorted to lying.  They are making the absurd argument that the bill would effectively criminalize people’s thoughts.  And, they conveniently ignore the fact that we have 40 years of judicial history to disprove this red herring.  (click here to read our press release)  This is actually really good news for us.  The more disingenuous and shriller the Religious Right becomes, the less effective they are.  It also certainly doesn’t help their cause that former American Family Association lawyer, Joe Murray, is taking them to task in a thoughtful new op-ed on the subject. (To read his article, click here)

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, President Bush weighed in on the military’s ban on out soldiers.  He sidestepped the question of whether he thought homosexuality was immoral, but he did call the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” statute “good policy.”  He clearly doesn’t appreciate the undue and discriminatory burden this places on gay and lesbian soldiers, nor how this government-sanctioned deception undermines our military’s effectiveness.  Despite his comments, we are continuing to build support for the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, a bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  Be sure to check and see if your representative is a supporter of the legislation.  (Click here to find the list of Representatives supporting the Military Readiness Enhancement Act) 

Across the states this week, we have had a mixed, but mostly positive set of results.  In Maryland, an effort to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex couples from marrying failed, but, unfortunately, so did an effort to pass a transgender non-discrimination bill.  And, in Indiana, an effort in the state House of Representatives to ban recognition of our relationships also failed. (Last fall, HRC funneled significant financial and staff resources to move the Indiana legislature towards a more fair-minded majority and it’s great to see how that strategic investment is paying off.) 

In Connecticut, the debate to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples continues after last week’s state legislative hearing.  The New York Times (click here to read their op-ed) endorsed the legislation and more heroes in this effort emerged, including state legislator, Toni Walker, a straight African American ally.  (Watch her very powerful testimony, courtesy of Love Makes A Family, here)  Finally, New Hampshire is getting closer to passing a civil union law after the state House of Representatives overwhelmingly endorsed the legislation, 243-129. The state Senate must now move on the bill.  (New Hampshire was also a targeted state where we invested significant resources to create a more GLBT-friendly political environment.)

Switching from politics to sports, I’m happy to report that, while the Final Four may be over, our recent panel on homophobia in sports continues to get great media coverage.  If you’d like to hear what our Coming Out Project spokesman, John Amaechi, told the NCAA Atlanta audience, as well as what Billy Bean, Joey Fisher, David Kopay, Terri O’Connell and Esera Tuaolo had to say, be sure to check out the clips on YouTube. (Watch the clip here)

Finally, I have an important and exciting staff change to announce.  Earlier this week, Betsy Pursell accepted the position as HRC’s new Vice President of Public Education and Outreach. Formerly our Director of Foundation Relations, Betsy brings 26 years of academic and non-profit management experience to her new job.  Overseeing many of our programs, including our Religion and Faith program, our Workplace program, and our Family program, she will have her hands full.  We are excited to have her on-board in this new capacity.

That’s all for this week.  Have a great weekend!

Joe Solmonese
President, Human Rights Campaign

P.S. Listeners to our radio show, please make a note: next week, we are moving permanently to XM Channel 120 from Channel 200.  Mary Breslauer and I will still have our live regular spot, however, on Monday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. EST.  And, this week, you won’t want to miss the show!  We will be talking to legendary independent filmmaker John Waters, as well as prize-winning author Mark Doty, The Politico's Jeanne Cummings, and openly gay Arkansas Representative Kathy Webb.