HRC Back Story

DEVELOPING: The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld reported today that Brian Bond, an openly gay political veteran with strong ties to the LGBT community, will be named by President-elect Barack Obama as deputy director of the Office of Public Liaison:

Bond, a political veteran who has headed the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and held several positions at the Democratic National Committee, will have managerial and strategic responsibilities for the entire Public Liaison office as well as function as the point person on LGBT issues. The liaison office is tasked with communicating and promoting presidential policies to individual constituency groups and serving as a sounding board for the president on policies that affect certain interest groups.

Several LGBT insiders on Capitol Hill said Bond, who served as director of constituencies for the president-elect during his campaign, was a great fit for the position. “He’s a very skillful and experienced political strategist,” said Bob Witeck, CEO of the D.C.-based Witeck-Combs Communications, who has known Bond for 15 years. “His knowledge of our community and the competence he has in working with both leaders and activists is immense.”

...Witeck said Bond’s years at the Victory Fund were a great training ground for the responsibilities he will assume. “Its mission is really to make our elected and appointed officials better policy people,” he explained. “So that connection -- from his role at the Victory Fund into the realm of the Democratic Party and ultimately the White House -- is to translate those skills into getting and keeping openly LGBT political leaders and policy makers in positions where they can do the most good.”

Bond will report to Tina Tchen, a top Chicago attorney who will lead the Office of Public Liaison. 

Following two months of negotiations, New York’s State Senate Democrats have chosen Senator Malcolm Smith to lead the new majority that Democrats won last November. Chris Edelson, HRC's state legislative director, talks more about the New York election results in this guest post:  

Last November’s election results hit us hard on the issue of marriage equality.   One piece of good news, however, came from New York, where control of the Senate changed hands. 

That was good news because the marriage equality bill that passed the New York Assembly by an 85-61 margin in June 2007 had gone nowhere in the old Senate, which was controlled by a majority leader who was a committed opponent of equality and declared the marriage equality bill “dead on arrival”.  

We were thrilled by the election results in New York, and proud of the work we did on key campaigns, but we have anxiously followed negotiations over the past two months regarding leadership of the new majority.  Sen. Malcolm Smith (pictured), a supporter of marriage equality, emerged as the leading candidate to become the new Senate President and Majority Leader, but members of his party tried to force him to agree that, if he became leader, the Senate would not vote on a marriage equality bill this year.

We urged Sen. Smith to stand on principle, and we asked members in New York to urge Sen. Smith to reject the pressure and re-affirm his commitment to marriage equality  You took up the call, and thousands of you emailed Sen. Smith.  Sen. Smith heard your voice and stuck by his own convictions, saying that “civil rights should never be a bargaining chip.”

Sen. Smith was able to win the leadership fight while continuing to stand for equality.  He was sworn in yesterday as Senate President and Majority Leader. 

We’re proud of the work you did.  We’re proud of openly gay Assemblymember Danny O’Donnell for his leadership in winning passage of the bill in the Assembly and moving one step closer to marrying his partner John.  We’re proud of openly gay Senator Tom Duane for his leadership on marriage equality.   We’re proud of the work HRC did in helping to move New York toward equality in last November’s election, and we’re looking forward to working with you and with supporters of equality throughout the state to win marriage equality in New York in this coming legislative session.

It’s not going to be easy—it makes a huge difference to have a new Senate leader who supports equality, but we still have to make sure there are enough votes for a marriage bill to pass the Senate (and to pass the Assembly again). 

We will need your help in contacting your legislators and telling your stories, so that legislators understand why marriage equality is so important to New Yorkers.

Thank you for your work for equality and here’s to a new Senate leader in New York who stands for equality.

Today the Obama transition team announced that Lisa Hazirjian and her partner Michelle are one of the 16 American families that have been chosen to participate in the Delegation of Americans joining the Obamas and the Bidens on their historic train trip from Philadelphia to Washington, DC.  Lisa and Michelle will participate in all official Inaugural events as honored guests of the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect.

Lisa is a member of the Equality Ohio board and was a participant in HRC's 2008 Camp Equality election skills training in Columbus.

According to her bio at Equality Ohio:

Lisa’s record of involvement in progressive causes runs the gamut from combating mortgage redlining by analyzing Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, to holding HIV prevention workshops in migrant farmworker camps, to leading the campaign to establish same-sex partner benefits for graduate and professional students at her alma mater, to coordinating the Obama campaign’s LGBT outreach activities in the greater Cleveland area. While she remains passionate about many other issues, right now nothing surpasses her determination to see the passage of fully-inclusive employment non-discrimination legislation.

(Not to mention Lisa attended Duke University, the alma mater of your Back Story blogger...GO DEVILS!)

Here's the official press release:

President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden Invite Guests on Inaugural Whistle Stop Tour

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee announced that a group of everyday Americans has been invited by President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden to join them on the Whistle Stop Tour to Washington, D.C. the Saturday before the Inauguration.

These everyday Americans from all walks of life have made extraordinary contributions to the life of this country - the worker who became a champion for workers’ rights, the soldier who became an advocate for servicemen and women suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; those who have lost their jobs and struggle bravely to cope in economic turmoil, and those who work tirelessly to make real the dream of a better future for their children.

“Each one of these families has their own remarkable story to add to our American story, and we’re thrilled they’ve agreed to join us as we travel to Washington,“ said Josh Earnest, PIC Communications Director. 

The invited guests include the following:  Mark Dowell, Crestwood, KY; Matt Kuntz, Helena, MT; Jim and Alicia Girardeau, Kansas City, MO; Juliana Sanchez, Albuquerque, NM; Rosa Mendoza, Las Vegas, NV; Lisa Hazirjian, Cleveland, OH; Kirsten Meehan, Dover, NH; Roy Gross, Taylor, MI; Shandra Jackson, Arlington, TX; Quincy Lucas, Dover, DE; Patricia Stiles, Parker, CO; Gregg Weaver, Fairless Hills, PA; Tony Fischer, Cinncinati, OH; Lilly Ledbetter, Jacksonville, AL; Mike and Cheryl Fisher, Beech Grove, IN; and Randy Wehrman, LeClair, IA.

The PIC previously announced details of the Whistle Stop Tour.  In the tradition of past Presidents-elect, there will be a series of events open to the public as the First and Second families make their way to the nation’s capital.  The group of Americans traveling with the Obamas and Bidens will also appear on stage with them at the public events.

In keeping with the theme of the 2009 Inauguration, “Renewing America’s Promise,“ the President-elect and Vice President-elect will hold events in some of the cities instrumental to that promise: Philadelphia, where that promise was realized; Baltimore, where that promise was defended, then immortalized in our national anthem; and Washington, where Americans of all backgrounds will gather over four days, united in common purpose and resolved to renew that promise once more.

Saturday morning, January 17^th, President-elect Obama and his family will hold an event in Philadelphia before boarding a train for Wilmington, Delaware, where they will be joined by Vice President-elect Biden and his family.  Together, the families will travel to Baltimore and hold another event, before finally arriving in Washington, D.C.

For the latest information on the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, please visit www.pic2009.org.

This morning, HRC President Joe Solmonese joined members of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) at a Capitol Hill press conference to urge the Senate to confirm the nomination of Eric Holder for Attorney General. Hearings on his nomination in the Senate Judiciary Committee are expected to begin January 15.

Holder has demonstrated his commitment to protecting citizens from victimization and he has worked vigorously throughout his career to reduce crime and increase neighborhood safety. He supports rigorous enforcement of existing laws, data collection and research about hate violence, and passing legislation that would give the federal government both the authority to prosecute these crimes and the power to assist local governments that are pursuing justice.

HRC supports a full examination of Eric Holder’s record is confident that the totality of his record will show that he is extraordinarily qualified for the position of Attorney General.

LCCR executive director Wade Henderson, Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (pictured, first photo) and Maryland Senator Ben Cardin (at the podium, second photo) gave remarks at the event to express their support for the Holder nomination.

As the confirmation process begins for President-elect Obama’s nominees, HRC is actively supporting the nomination of Eric Holder as Attorney General.  Tomorrow, HRC will join members of the civil rights community and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) at a Capitol Hill press conference to urge the Senate to confirm Holder.

WHEN:  Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. ET
 
WHERE: 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building

WHO:  Sens. Whitehouse and Cardin along with leaders representing the civil rights community

The Human Rights Campaign announced its support for Eric Holder as a signee of a December 18 letter sent by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Read a copy of the letter here (PDF).

After graduating from Columbia Law School, Eric Holder joined the Department of Justice’s Attorney General's Honors Program.  In 1988 he was appointed Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  In 1993 President Clinton nominated Mr. Holder for the position of United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, and he was confirmed later that year.  In this role he worked vigorously to reduce crime and increase neighborhood safety. 

Notably, Holder used his positions to emphasize hate crimes enforcement to ensure that bias-motivated crimes would receive adequate resources, attention, and punishment.  Hate crimes continued to be a priority for Mr. Holder after his 1997 appointment by President Clinton to Deputy Attorney General.  His dedication to the issue of addressing hate-motivated violence is exemplified in his 1999 testimony before the House Judiciary Committee.  Read the text of his remarks at: http://www.hrc.org/11605.htm

President-elect Barack Obama announced today that he has selected Brad Kiley, an openly gay man, to serve as the director of the Office of Management and Administration. 

Kiley, who currently serves as operations director for Obama's transition team, will be responsible for White House operations, including travel, budgeting and salaries.

Read more of his bio at the Center for American Progress.

Chris Edelson, HRC's state legislative director, informed me that he was a guest on Reporter's Roundtable with host Denise Rolark Barnes, a program of the DC government local cable channel. Edelson took part in a debate on Prop 8 against the Family Research Council's Peter Sprigg. Yes, that Peter Sprigg who said he would like to export homosexuals from the United States.

The segment featuring Chris begins around 11:10. Deborah Simmons from the Washington Times also takes part in the discussion.

Watch the video here.

Today, the newly-elected members of the U.S. House and Senate will be sworn-in on Capitol Hill at12 noon as the 111th Congress begins.

The Human Rights Campaign PAC endorsed 212 Members that were elected to the U.S. House and 16 Members elected in the U.S. Senate in the 2008 election cycle. 

For a full list of 2008 election results, visit: http://www.hrc.org/equality08/returns.htm

The 111th Congress includes freshmen Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), elected from Boulder’s 2nd Congressional district, who joins Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) as the only openly gay and lesbian Members of Congress.  In addition, Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO) roundly defeated Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO), the ringleader of the campaign to write discrimination into the U.S. Constitution.  

In Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Mark Schauer defeated right-winger Rep. Tim Walberg, who garnered a zero percent on the HRC scorecard.  In the 9th Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Gary Peters, who supports  marriage equality, defeated Rep. Joe Knollenberg.

In the U.S. Senate, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who supported the passage of her state’s 2007 civil unions law, has come out in support of passing a fully inclusive workplace protections bill and inclusive hate crimes legislation.  Sen. Shaheen is joined by Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO) and his cousin Tom Udall (D-NM), both who have supported fully inclusive workplace and hate crimes protections previously as Members in the U.S. House.

In 2008, HRC engaged in "Year to Win," the largest electoral campaign in the history of the organization, launching an aggressive $7 million election effort to mobilize and motivate millions of LGBT and allied voters.  HRC raised $767,634 for fair-minded U.S. Senate candidates.  In addition, HRC raised $275,250 for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in the 2008 election cycle.  HRC PAC also contributed $112,312 to U.S. Senate candidates.  For U.S. House candidates, HRC PAC contributed $915,500 and raised $100,304.  In addition, HRC raised $116,000 for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the 2008 election cycle.

Here is the list of 2009 freshman U.S. Senators endorsed by HRC:
–Mark Begich (D-Alaska)
–Mark Udall (D-Colorado)
–Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire)
–Tom Udall (D-New Mexico)
–Kay Hagan (D-North Carolina)
–Al Franken (D-Minnesota)

2009 freshman U.S. House Members endorsed by HRC:
Adler, John H (New Jersey Democrat, District 3)
Boccieri, John A (Ohio Democrat, District 16)
Connolly, Gerry (Virginia Democrat, District 11)
Dahlkemper, Kathleen (Pennsylvania Democrat, District 3)
Driehaus, Steven Leo (Ohio Democrat, District 1)
Fudge, Marcia L (Ohio Democrat, District 11)
Grayson, Alan Mark (Florida Democrat, District 8)
Halvorson, Deborah "Debbie" (Illinois Democrat, District 11)
Heinrich, Martin (New Mexico Democrat, District 1)
Kilroy, Mary Jo (Ohio Democrat, District 15)
Kirkpatrick, Ann (Arizona Democrat, District 1)
Kosmas, Suzanne (Florida Democrat, District 24)
Lujan, Ben R (New Mexico Democrat, District 3)
Maffei, Dan (New York Democrat, District 25)
Markey, Betsy (Colorado Democrat, District 4)
Massa, Eric (New York Democrat, District 29)
McMahon, Michael E (New York Democrat, District 13)
Peters, Gary (Michigan Democrat, District 9)
Pingree, Chellie (Maine Democrat, District 1)
Polis, Jared (Colorado Democrat, District 2)
Schauer, Mark (Michigan Democrat, District 7)
Schrader, Kurt (Oregon Democrat, District 5)
Teague, Harry (New Mexico Democrat, District 2)
Titus, Dina (Nevada Democrat, District 3)
Tonko, Paul (New York Democrat, District 21

TAKE ACTION: HRC is encouraging all of its members and supporters to contact their new Members of Congress and the U.S. Senators to support pro-equality legislation in the 111th Congress.  You can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak to your representative or senator based on your zip code.

HRC’s 2009 legislative agenda includes:

• Fully inclusive hate crimes legislation;

• Fully inclusive employment non-discrimination act;

• Family Matters: Protections and Benefits for Lesbian and Gay Couples and their Children (www.hrc.org/familymatters).

• HIV/AIDS:  As health care reform is likely to take center stage early in 2009, HRC will work to insure that the critical needs of people of HIV/AIDS are part of those health proposals, including the The Early Treatment for HIV Act (“ETHA”) and The Responsible Education About Life Act.

• Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell:  HRC will continue to build support for the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (“MREA”), which would repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and replace it with a policy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation.

• Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA):  would address the pervasive problem of bullying of LGBT students by amending the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education/No Child Left Behind Act).

Earlier today, the Washington Post reported in a front-page story that Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine has been chosen as the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). According to Post reporter Michael D. Shear, the Obama transition team will formally announce Kaine's selection sometime this week. Kaine, who helped turn Virginia from a red state to a blue state in the presidential election, will succeed former Vermont Governor Howard Dean as leader of the Democratic Party.

Kaine was a driving force in expanding the number and influence of progressives in the Virginia legislature and, as a fierce supporter of Obama, will bring those same skills to the DNC: 

For Obama, Kaine will be a true loyalist who carries out the new president's political agenda amid upcoming battles over the economy, foreign policy, health care and the environment. Kaine became one of the first governors to endorse Obama after the two men forged a close relationship during the Virginian's 2005 gubernatorial race.

During the 2007 elections, HRC dispatched staff and volunteers to Virginia to help elect more fair-minded candidates to the legislature. That year, HRC was called the Democrats' "secret women number one" by the Raising Kane blog and worked with the Virginia Democratic Party to help fair-minded candidates recapture the state senate and increase their numbers in the lower house.

DEVELOPING: Minnesota election officials are soon expected to declare Al Franken the winner of a long-contested battle for U.S. Senate. The announcement is expected on the heels of the Minnesota Supreme Court ruling today to deny a challenge by the incumbent, Sen. Norm Coleman (R), to have additional absentee ballots counted to make up his 225-vote deficit against Franken.

The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza has more details at The Fix:

The Court -- in an opinion issued this afternoon and signed by Chief Justice Alan Page ( a member of the Purple People Eaters) -- said that Coleman's attempt to include these rejected absentees did not meet the criteria for counting ballots laid out in a previous ruling, specifically that both sides had to agree for any additional ballots to be counted.

"Because the parties and the respective counties have not agreed as to any of these additional ballots, the merits of this dispute (and any other disputes with respect to absentee ballots) are the proper subject of an election contest," wrote Page.

This ruling comes just hours before the state Canvassing Board is expected to officially declare Franken the winner, twin developments that are likely to add to the momentum the Democrat has been building for the last week or so.

The Minnesota Supreme Court's ruling brings Franken closer to finally winning the seat, although Coleman has the right to bring additional legal challenges:

That challenge is likely to have three main prongs: that the 654 absentee ballots have been wrongly excluded, that roughly 150 ballots have been double-counted, and that 130 ballots that disappeared from a church between election night Nov. 4 and the manual recount should not be included in the final tally.

Democrats insist that even if all three of those challenges are resolved in Coleman's favor, he still does not have the votes to make up his current deficit.

The Human Rights Campaign was proud to endorse Al Franken for U.S. Senate.  As a comedian, writer and radio talk show host, Al Franken has always been outspoken, and his support of LGBT issues has been no exception. Franken backs pro-equality positions for key legislation such as increased HIV/AIDS funding, fair employment laws, and the repeal of the military’s discriminatory policy. Franken also opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment, which Coleman backed in 2004 and 2006.