HRC refuses to join coalition, only trans HRC board member resigns

Again, I’ll be brief, because this story is everywhere.

Refuses to join coalition is really a diplomatic way of say that the Human Rights Campaign lied. It’s been HRC’s policy since 2004 to not support employment non-discrimination legislation that does not include trans people. Last month, HRC Joe Solmonese reiterated this position, telling the nation’s largest annual gathering of trans people:

We try to walk a thin line in terms of keeping everything in play, and making sure that we move forward but always being clear that we absolutely do not support and in fact oppose any legislation that is not absolutely inclusive, and we have sent that message loud and clear to the Hill.

Here’s the video.

And on October 2nd, the HRC board of directors released this statement:

Therefore, we are not able to support, nor will we encourage Members of Congress to vote against, the newly introduced sexual orientation only bill.

This led Donna Rose, the only trans person on HRC’s 40-member board of directors, to resign, writing a heartfelt and eloquent letter, which she has made public. If you click on any links today, please read Donna’s letter.

Obviously, there’s been a lot of blow back over this.

First, with regards to HRC’s position, I’m angry. I’m a lesbian, and I’ve got plenty of queer friends and acquaintances. I want them to be protected against discrimination, regardless of where they may move to. Because removing trans people from ENDA effectively means that it will be decades before trans people are protected from employment discrimination, I’m in a bind. I really don’t want to tell my queer friends that they need to call their representative and work to make sure that legislation that protects their rights gets voted down. It makes me sick to my stomach to be in this position.

Thankfully, HRC is in the underwhelming minority on this one. The major GLBT advocacy groups in my state have already come out against a trans-exclusive ENDA. It’s really gratifying and sobering to see the response of all of the GLBT groups that have been willing to stand up for me, and really, for all of us.